God will not be mocked.

Israel (in the north) and Judah (in the south) are now being led by kings who are not walking together with God.  They are leading their people to do things like burning their children up on altars as a sacrifice to Baal, sleeping with temple prostitutes as worship of Baal, and killing prophets of the LORD who oppose Baal.  The people of God are not walking together with God.

Meanwhile, Elisha the prophet had summoned a member of the group of prophets. "Get ready to travel," he told him, "and take this flask of olive oil with you. Go to Ramoth-gilead, and find Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi.” (2 Kings 9:1-2a NLT)

Sometimes, when we look around us, we see people doing some pretty terrible things as well.  Sometimes, they are doing those things while claiming to walk together with God.  Sometimes, they do those terrible things all in the name of God (saying that God led them to do it).  When we see this, it is really easy to lose heart.  “What is God doing,” we may ask. “Isn’t God going to do something about this?”

“Call him into a private room away from his friends, and pour the oil over his head. Say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: I anoint you to be the king over Israel.' Then open the door and run for your life!" (2 Kings 9:2-3 NLT)

It is in those moments that it comforts me to remember the truth.  It may seem like God is not doing anything.  Maybe it feels like God can’t do anything.  But the truth is that God has a plan.  God’s plan is already in action.  God will not be mocked.

So the young prophet did as he was told and went to Ramoth-gilead. (2 Kings 9:4 NLT)

How about you?  Do you struggle with evil in the world?  Does that evil show up close to home?  Does it bother you to see people living out evil and claiming that they are doing it because they are called by God?  Does it help you to remember that God will not be mocked?