Moment of Meditation: Too Good to Be True (2 Chronicles 18:4)

Original Broadcast: November 2009

Monthly Theme: Judah's Kings

And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel,
"Inquire first for the word of the LORD."
(2 Chronicles 18:4)

Too Good To Be True

Jehoshaphat, Asa's son, allied himself in marriage with King Ahab of Israel. During one of their alliance meetings, Ahab talks Jehoshaphat into battle against Ramoth-gilead. Jehoshaphat, who "walked in the earlier ways of his father David" (17:3), said, "Inquire first for the word of the LORD."

Jehoshaphat didn't want to undertake such a great task without consulting God's Word through His prophets. Ahab brought four hundred prophets, maybe the same four hundred prophets that battled Elijah, who all prophesied great victory for the two kings in battle.

Jehoshaphat thought it rather odd that all four hundred would prophesy the exact same thing with the exact same words. He asks Ahab, "Is there not here another prophet of the LORD of whom we may inquire?" Ahab said, "There is yet one man ... but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me" (vv6-7).

Jehoshaphat knew that some things were too good to be true. Many times these things turn out to be not as good as they claim. There is one thing that is as good as it seems. That's the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We inquire of the Lord and we find out that He sent Jesus to die for our sins. Jesus died and offers you everlasting life. This life comes by faith. The Gospel isn't too good to be true. It's the ultimate good and God's ultimate gift to you. Amen.