FATHER KNOWS BEST
Suggested Reading: 1 Kings 20
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The Damascus Gate in Jerusalem leads to the Damascus road, which runs from the capital city of Israel to the capital of Syria. This was a major thoroughfare even in the days of King Ahab and King Ben Hadad.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: 1 Kings 20:43
So the King of Israel went to his house sullen and displeased, and came to Samaria.
Here is a prime example of a failure in godly leadership by King Ahab. The Lord arranged tests for Ahab in which he failed. While Ahab still had his title as King, his wife, Jezebel, had become the real leader. Yesterday’s reading began with the words, “And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done.” Then Jezebel took over. Verse two of 1 Kings 19 says, “Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah saying….” There is no doubt that after the Mt. Carmel confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal, Ahab knew what was right and what he should do. He was too weak as a leader to take his place of authority as King and as a husband. Now in today’s reading, Ahab continues to waffle in his decisions. While Jezebel is not mentioned in the 20th chapter, we can be sure that Ahab continued in the pattern already established. No doubt he “told Jezebel all.” God was seeking to lead Ahab, but while Ahab knew the victory God gave initially over Ben Hadad, he failed to follow God’s leading fully. Ahab’s reaction to the final word of a prophet of God, probably a graduate of Elijah’s School of the Prophets, caused him to pout in a childish way. Ahab needed to call on God fervently, man up, and lead according to the way God instructed him. He failed to do so. His leadership was slipping away.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, there is a lesson for me to learn here. Two characters in today’s reading failed to follow through as You had instructed. May I hear Your instructions clearly and may I have the intestinal fortitude to follow through. Please keep me from being “sullen and displeased.” I need Your strength, Lord. In the Name of the strongest Leader ever, the Lord Jesus, Himself, Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
The night before last, as Norma-Jean and I were about to close our eyes in sleep, I turned to her and said, “Thank you darling for your support of my leadership.” I didn’t bring this up, but in our marriage ceremony of 55 years ago, she actually promised to obey me. In this day of political correctness, that sounds positively old fashioned. In my early days of ministry, it was generally agreed that the internal discussions of the Board of Deacons in the churches I pastored, and later in the Board of Crossroads, stayed there, and a Deacon or Director would not do as Ahab did in telling all to his wife. From a personal point of view, I wanted to leave these matters inside the Boardroom. I very much wanted my home and my marriage relationship to concentrate on our family and our relationship as husband and wife. I think I can say that the result was harmony in our home, and great success in the ministry to which God called me. For this I give God the glory. Please forgive me if I’ve offended anyone here. It’s just that every time I read about Jezebel, I’m amazed at her control. Why, even Elijah, fresh from the victory of God sending the fire to consume the sacrifice, was overpowered by her. Thanks again Norma-Jean that you were willing to let me be a strong leader without interference on the home front.
Readers may be aware that I’m in chemo treatment for acute leukemia. Rose is the lead nurse for most of the time I’m in treatment. In her youth, she was the best friend to my eldest daughter, Elaine. She was often at our house as a child and also as a teen. One time she and Elaine were sitting on the stairs in a very serious conversation (we had a good laugh about this the other day) when I heard Rose say, “Your father is so old fashioned.” They were not aware that I had come within hearing distance. Elaine agreed with her friend. Shortly after I mentioned to them what I had accidently heard and that I was not deliberately eves dropping. They laughed nervously, and I laughed heartily, confessing that they were absolutely right in their assessment of who I am. I don’t remember the full conversation, but we might remember that those were the days when one of the top TV show reruns was called, “Father Knows Best.” I pled guilty as charged, and I assured these wonderful teenagers that I had no intention of changing.
Yours for hearing from God. Father God knows best!
David
This is the original Damascus Gate from the time of Jesus. It's below the level of the current gate.
Dear Mr. Mainse,
A heart warming reflection 🙂
You are in my prayers for a full recovery.
Thank you for this wonderful blog 🙂
Blessings to all 🙂
Diane
I ditto the comments of everyone else…It is a good thing that some
males…Jesus Filled, are still old -fashioned…I think this is needed in
our world today..God Bless you and Norma-Jean on a wonderful
marriage of many years…and your enduring faith…I pray for your
healing…the many years of your ministry has changed lives and brought more souls to the kingdom
In Christ Jesus
Amen
I believe that one of the most important principles we can ever learn in life is obedience to God. Do you notice a consistency in theme as we read through the scriptures? Obedience to God brings blessing and intimacy with God, dis-obedience brings separation and broken relationship with God. Belief in Jesus Christ for salvation is only the beginning of a walk with the Lord, obedience to His word and obediently following the prompting of the Holy Spirit comprises the ‘journey’ through this life. If we can learn to be obedient to God’s principles, we will surely be walking in His ways and keeping in close relationship with Him forevermore. Have a blessed day blog-buddies!
Thank you Scott for words of wisdom? bless your day.
Catherine
I agree with you Scott and thank you David M for your personal story
its good to have friends and family with you to help or be with.
God bless you and Norma Jean Ihope both of you can get outside its a sunny day and its sunny and its going to get warm.
Lianne Hogg
:
It is wonderful to hear how your relationship with Norma Jean was such that each of you had interdependent strength and qualities. You were not enmeshed where your identities and rolls clashed, but instead harmonized relating to one another. Today’s reading revealed weakness in Ahabs character where he became indecisiveness and not in line with Gods leading. It is great to see couples who have balanced their leadership and have delineated their particular strengths and roles. This takes work and there are many examples of success. Praise our Lord for helping each of us! Have a great day, fellow bloggers!
You are a most wonderful father, to all of us, David Mainse. God bless you, fine sir! I am praying for you, now, and on my hands and knees as soon as I get off this blog. Knowing that God’s will is supreme and that our prayer connects us with Him and keeps our faith alive. I believe in miracles and that the power of our prayer can change anything. I pray, this morning, for your complete healing, restoration, and cleansing by the precious blood of the lamb of our Blessed Saviour and King, Christ Jesus! Amen, amen, and amen!!!
Amen to all of this Beverlee….you said it well. Catherine
Am so blessed daily by your blog!
You, yor family and ministry are in my prayers!
Thank you for your obedience in God’s calling!
Good Morning David,
I too pray healing and a full recovery for you. I want to response to a recent blog where you were speaking to the leadership of Sir John A MacDonald, our first prime minister. You mentioned getting a clearer picture of the man and his leadership, from Max Putnam. Well of course Max has passed away some years ago, but I am his neighbor and can tell you he was certainly a man of great integrity and leadership. I only knew him in his retirement years, but his wife, Peggy, is still an occasional visitor to our home. thank you for continued commitment to sharing God’s word.
I will have to do this study at home again on the old desktop – it’s McDonald’s day for raising money for McDonald’s house and it is NOISY. K-Lite FM is here with Matt Hayes. Lots of laughter and noise. I have been frustrated by all the leaders in the past day’s readings who would not follow the Lord’s instructons. It makes me realize though that we are so blessed to have the Bible in our hands. With all the social media (history in our face, Christian TV, the Holy Spirit as teacher) We have no excuse not to see the results of disodedience. We are blessed. Thanks for the comments and the teaching guys. God bless you all.
Wonderful sharing of your personal story today David, and the reading makes us really contemplate the results of obedience and disobedience. Lord help us to work it out with You in our own life. There is a lesson to be learned here. God bless you all today.
Great reading today and everyone’s comments. Our family received a wonderful miracle from God yesterday because of obedience….our God is so faithful.
Thank you David for sharing so much of your family life with all of us and I join my fellow bloggers in praying a healing for you. You were given a wonderful help mate in NOrma-Jean and we love you both.
Blessings to all today and may today’s reading about Ahab remind us to walk in the path God has laid out for us.
Good morning to everyone. Over the last couple days many of you have been a source of encouragement for me that I just thought I would return the favour by sharing a poem I wrote during an odd bump in the road in my faith journey. Catherine is right, God is faithful, and walking in obedience is the way to go, but often walking that road is difficult, so I dedicate this poem to those who might hit a bump or are experiencing one right now as a thank you for your kindness to me.
You Are There
I walk alone on a darkened road with endless miles before me.
I see no signs, I hear no sound, there are no clues to guide me.
My pace grows weary, my heart faints, my breath labours for rest,
and just when I think I cannot take another step, you are there Lord,
yet again, to carry me in your faithfulness.
Sometimes I forget your promises, and I keep asking you why.
Sometimes I don’t understand your reasons, or your silent replies.
Sometimes I beg for answers to aid me in my quest,
and just when I think I cannot endure another no, you are there Lord,
yet again, to acknowledge me in your faithfulness
Your love is beyond my comprehension, your means is beyond my hope
so I will wait for you in good times; I will wait for you in distress,
remembering, when I am confused about whom I can trust, you’ll be there Lord,
yet again, to remind me of your unending faithfulness.
Beautiful, Donna!!!! 🙂
Wonderful poem Donna and we can all apply it to what we go through. Blessings. ???
Did not type ??? Emotions ????
I needed to do something along the line of a daily walk in the Bible and the blog of David Mainse is perfect for me. I have had to really look at my discipline. I don’t want to get behind so I must do these lessons everyday immediately. It is a good lesson for me to learn again and again.
May 8 blog was deeply touching for me. It was posted at 3:16 a.m. I immediately thought of John 3:16. How wonderful to be reminded of God’s sole purpose in this world let alone our lives.
Thank you to Mr. Mainse for your dedication. God b less you.
I sent happy face and clapping hands!!!
Somehow emotions did not come through
I think God put Norma Jean in your path for a reason!! God’s Blessings on you and Norma Jean!!
Praying fervently for your complete healing!
God’s Blessing is on us bloggers for being able to see and read these posts of yours every day!!
Amen!! Amen!! & Amen!!
Nancy
Hi all, My prayer is with you David may God give you a healing touch, may He
give you peace and His strength,GOD bless you and Norma Jean this day and
allthe day’s of your life,
.Thank you all you bloggers God bless you too, and thank you for your comments…..R…
Dear David and precious fellow bloggers
So grateful for all your comments today .Talking about emotions I was so moved by every word expressed by each of you from David M personal words , Scotts wonderful teaching , Donnas beautiful poem . We are all so blessed to be able to share this daily blog and sink in to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in Jesus name
Amen Amen
Amen, Carole.
Wow reading today’s blogs was so insightful thanks for the comments and poem. The hymn “Trust and Obey” came to mind as I wrote this. God bless each one!!!!!
The May 8 blogs!!!!