There are many people who conclude that someone is righteous and what they teach and follow must be what God approves of because they see Yahweh at work in and through that person. It sounds good on the surface, but what does scripture say?
The LORD works through evil people to serve His purposes as He sees fit. He does not just work through the righteous. 2 Kings is just one example. Pharaoh who stood against Moses during the plagues is another. There are many others as well. Pay attention to Jeroboam son of Joash in the following scripture.
Azariah (Uzziah) Succeeds Amaziah in Judah
17Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel. 18Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 19They conspired against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there. 20Then they brought him on horses and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David. 21All the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah. 22He built Elath and restored it to Judah after the king slept with his fathers.
23In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel became king in Samaria, and reigned forty-one years. 24He did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel sin. 25He restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the LORD, the God of Israel, which He spoke through His servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was of Gath-hepher. 26For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, which was very bitter; for there was neither bond nor free, nor was there any helper for Israel. 27The LORD did not say that He would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, but He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.
Zechariah Reigns over Israel
28Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam and all that he did and his might, how he fought and how he recovered for Israel, Damascus and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 29And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel, and Zechariah his son became king in his place.
Jeroboam son of Joash did evil in the LORD’s sight but the LORD still used Him to save Israel. In this case the LORD was moved to show mercy on and help His people Israel and thus used someone who was unrighteous. The simple message is that just because someone can be seen with Yahweh working through them does not mean that person is necessarily walking in the proper relationship with the LORD, following His statutes and commands.
We must test everything against the written word of God in the Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to give us discernment. The Holy Spirit will not contradict the written word, properly understood and in context. If we the LORD is working through someone, great. Pay attention. However, do not simply adopt all that they say or teach or how they live. Test everything and hold fast to what is good.
I invite you to pray with me:
Father, Please help your people (including me) to have discernment in whom we follow. Let us not simply follow everyone you may be using, but rather with the help of Holy Spirit, let us have discernment to test the teachings and actions of others against your unchanging holy Bible. Amen.
Shalom
Devotion by John in service to Christ
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