S) "25 Then Jehu said to Bidkar his officer, 'Take him up and cast him into the property of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite, for I remember when you and I were riding together after Ahab his father, that the Lord laid this oracle against him: 26 "Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons," says the Lord, "and I will repay you in this property," says the Lord. Now then, take and cast him into the property, according to the word of the Lord.'"
2 Kings 9:25-26 (NASB)
O) At the beginning of this chapter, the LORD tells Elisha, to have Jehu anointed as the new king of Israel (vv.1-3). Through some military maneuvers, a short skirmish ensues (vv.14-24), and Jehu assassinates the previous king of Israel, Jehoram (of Ahab and Jezebel). What is particularly noteworthy of this passage, is that Jehu seems to be choosing to have an oracle fulfilled. In 1 Kings 21, Elijah prophesies that Ahab will be buried in the vineyard of Naboth (because he murdered Naboth and stole that vineyard), but in the end, Ahab humbles himself and the LORD relents, allowing that the calamity will not happen directly to Ahab, but his descendants.
A) This is an interesting exercise in the realm of "free will" versus "fate" argument. When God speaks what will happen, how much of a role do we really have in that thing coming to pass? God declares the end from the beginning (see Isaiah 46:10), but was God simple relaying what He knew Jehu would choose to do? Or, is it that God forced Jehu to fulfill this oracle? Does it even matter? Jehu was acting in obedience when he rebelled against an evil king. Probably, I won't ever overthrow an evil government. However, if I walk in obedience, I might very well fulfill an oracle that God has spoken to someone. If I know about that spoken word ahead of time, I think it's really only confirming the direction I heard from the LORD in the first place, as it likely did for Jehu.
P) Father, I know I don't get to know the big picture in the same way You do (and who could comprehend all of Your ways), but I do want to walk in obedience. Please open my eyes and ears, to know Your will for my life. Maybe I'll never rebel against and evil king, but I would love for my life, if even in a small way, to be an answer to someone else's prayer. Use me, according to Your will, God. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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