2 Kings 3:8-12: a reflection

8Then he said, “Which way shall we go up?” Jehoram answered, “The way of the wilderness of Edom.” 9So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom, and they marched for seven days along a circuitous route. There was no water for the army or for the animals that followed them. 10The king of Israel said, “Alas! For the LORD has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.” 11But Jehoshaphat said, “Isn’t there a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD by him?” One of the king of Israel’s servants answered, “Elisha the son of Shaphat, who poured water on the hands of Elijah, is here.” 12Jehoshaphat said, “The LORD’s word is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.

Three kings, marching together against Moab, take a route through the wilderness and find themselves in a crisis: after seven days, there is no water for the army or the animals. The king of Israel despairs, sure they have been brought out to be handed over to the enemy. But Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, asks a different question: Is there not a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD by him? Only now, in the crisis, does the thought come to seek God's word, and they go to find Elisha.

Notice Jehoshaphat's instinct in the crisis: to seek the LORD's word. The kings had set out and marched for days on their own plans, without inquiring of God; and now, stuck in a waterless crisis, Jehoshaphat turns to seek a word from the LORD. It is a good instinct, though it comes late; better to seek God's guidance in trouble than never to seek it. Yet the crisis might have been avoided had they sought God before they set out.

That speaks to how we handle our own decisions and troubles. Like these kings, we often make our plans and set out on our own, seeking God's guidance only once we have marched ourselves into a crisis. It is good to seek God even then, as Jehoshaphat did; God is gracious to guide us when we finally turn to him. But better still is to seek God's guidance before we act, to inquire of the LORD at the outset rather than only when we are stuck. Seek God's word and guidance, not only in the crisis, but before you set out; and when you do find yourself in trouble, turn to him as Jehoshaphat did, rather than only despairing.

Lord, three kings marched for days on their own plans and found themselves in a waterless crisis, and only then did Jehoshaphat think to ask, is there not a prophet of the LORD to inquire by? Teach me from both his good instinct and its lateness. Like these kings, I often make my plans and set out on my own, seeking your guidance only once I have marched myself into trouble. Thank you that you are gracious to guide me even then, when I finally turn to you. But help me learn to seek your word and guidance before I act, to inquire of you at the outset, rather than only when I am stuck. Give me the instinct to seek you first, and when I do find myself in a crisis, help me turn to you as Jehoshaphat did, rather than despairing. Guide me by your word, in the crisis and before it.