It was a very great battle that day. Army fought against army, with chariots and cavalry and foot soldiers in a fierce display and strong muscles pulling bowstrings and shooting deadly arrows against the enemy.
The enemy’s first purpose was to get the king, but in this case there were two kings, King Ahab and King Jehoshaphat. These two kings had a pact to fight together against their enemy. I think King Ahab must have been afraid, because he said to King Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, but you put on your robes. Probably King Ahab was doubly afraid, because God had told him that he would die in this battle, and he was not planning to let that happen. He was going to make sure that he was not the one who would die. He thought his little plan was going to change the word of God.
It was a good plan, and perhaps you have a good plan too. You have heard that God will punish unbelieving sinners in hell, but you are not planning to let this happen to you. You have your own plan, even though God says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked” (Galatians 6:77Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7)).
It happened just as King Ahab had expected. The enemy swarmed around King Jehoshaphat, who was wearing royal robes. But that king was a true believer, and when he saw his danger, he cried out to the Lord, and God helped him and caused the enemy to leave him alone.
I suppose King Ahab watched all this. But just then one of the enemy archers drew his bow, just on a guess, and that arrow flew straight into a joint in King Ahab’s armor . . . and it went deep.
Take me out of the battle, King Ahab cried to his chariot driver. I am badly wounded!
For the rest of the day, King Ahab stayed where he could see the fighting, but just as the sun was setting, he died.
Can you change God’s word? Never! Is there no hope for a sinner? Can a poor sinner be saved from an eternity in hell before he leaves this world?
The Son of God, who is called the Word, has come into our world as a baby, and as a man He has died to take the sinner’s place. All God’s judgment against sin rolled over Him. He loves you and will be your Savior, if you will come. God has written His Word in a book, the Bible, and He has also sent His Son as the living Word to show you all that is in His heart.
Yes, there is hell, and without Christ you cannot escape it, because His Word is forever unchangeable. But there is heaven for those who will admit that they are sinners and are sorry for their sins and will believe that Christ died on the cross for them. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believ-eth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)).
Jesus loves you and wants you. Will you come?