Halloween is right around the corner. I’ve already seen a host of memes, pics and comments from those excited for the season of candy and costumes. I’m not sure why this need lurks in the hearts of humans, but we love to dress up, we love to disguise ourselves. Maybe as a kid you dressed up as your favorite superhero or cartoon character, as an adult maybe a movie star or classic sci-fi favorite. Regardless, the idea of making ourselves somebody else, somebody we are not, has always fascinated the minds of men and women the world over.
I specifically recall the masquerade balls held in 15th century Italy. Ornate and elaborate balls held for the upper class, all while the participants wore full masks to shield their true identity. It is no surprise that these events quickly became known for promoting and encouraging lude behavior since all identities were held secret. The idea that if you mask your identifying features you can do whatever you wish, your name (and reputation) being protected. But folks, others might not know what you’ve done but what about God? Your reputation might appear squeaky clean to the world, but God can see right through your costume. The question is, as you approach God this very day, are you in disguise?
It is no surprise that my intro will usher us right into the presence of just such a situation in God’s Word. Jeroboam, the evil king of one half of the Israelite kingdom has a huge problem, his son is deathly ill. And folks, regardless of what you think of God, when death comes knocking, there is a guarantee. You will go to God. Up to this point we have not seen any effort from Jeroboam to seek God. He has led his kingdom into total idolatry, he being the one that firmly holds the helm. But as his son lies dying, he does what all desperate sinners do as their last refuge, they cry out to God. But even now, Jeroboam only approaches cautiously, with trickery on his mind. Oh, the schemes of a diabolical heart that is constantly seeking to outthink and outwit God. Let’s catch up with Jeroboam and his scheme to approach God.
“At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. And Jeroboam said to his wife, “Arise, and disguise yourself, that it not be known that you are the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh. Behold, Ahijah the prophet is there, who said of me that I should be king over this people. Take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what shall happen to the child.”
Jeroboam's wife did so. She arose and went to Shiloh and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were dim because of his age. And the Lord said to Ahijah, “Behold, the wife of Jeroboam is coming to inquire of you concerning her son, for he is sick. Thus and thus shall you say to her.”
When she came, she pretended to be another woman. But when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, he said, “Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why do you pretend to be another? 1 Kings 14:1-6a
There are invaluable lessons here, let’s go spelunking into God's Word.
1) When we try to fool God, we unintentionally involve others. Jeroboam did not have a high view of God. But he knew in this instance that only the one true God would know the future of His son. He also knew that Almighty God could heal his son. But he also knew that his behavior before the Lord was abhorrent. He had broken just about every rule in the book, all while seeking his own glory, power, and control. Since he feels he cannot approach God (through one of His prophets) he sends his wife. Our self-imposed alienation to God will make us feel that others have a more direct and personal path to God. Not true. You see, our relationship with God is an intensely personal one. Jesus came to die for you, that’s as personal as it gets. No one can get close to God for you. No one can petition God for you. And no one can repent for you. It’s personal, you must admit your sin, ask forgiveness from God and repent of your sin. All on your own.
2) You can’t fool God with tasty treats or shiny stuff. Notice that in great arrogance Jeroboam has his wife pack a picnic basket of treats to appease the man of God. From time to time I will look around and point in a random direction and say to Margie, “look a rabbit!” When we first got married, she would always look, but now after 25 years of marriage, it’s turned into quite the joke. You see, I thought it was funny to see if I could distract her, to make her look at something else besides what was at hand. Friends, how many times have you tried this with God. Instead of going directly to God and dealing with the sin issues in your life, you try to distract or justify your behavior thinking God will look over at the imaginary rabbit you are trying to distract Him with. Bread, cakes and honey was not enough to throw God off of Jeroboam’s trail, and it won’t work for us either.
3) How well you know God changes a lot. Folks, how often do you seek out the very presence of God? I mean just you and Him. You seek out a quiet, still place and then you, in prayer, call Him right into that very place. You yearn for His presence; you plead with Him to bless you with His very arrival. In a miraculous promise from God, if you seek Him, He will show up.
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
“I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” Proverbs 8:17
“But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deuteronomy 4:29
In a very ironic part of our story, we see just how familiar Jeroboam and his wife were with calling on the man of God. They put on this elaborate charade to fool him and didn’t even know that he was blind! Come on, God has a great sense of humor, yes? Friends, is God a stranger to you today? He does not want to be. He is ready to meet with you.
4) You can’t fool God. You can put on any mask you choose, but you can’t fool the God that created you. You see, in our finite thinking we feel we can put on a costume or disguise and make God think that our sin unto Him is not quite so bad. But God does not look at us as the world does, God look directly upon our heart. (1 Sam 16:7) How are you approaching God today? Are you concealing some secret sin from Him? I’ve got a secret for you…you’re not, He knows. Are you harboring anger and resentment towards someone and your pride is not allowing you to take the high ground and apologize, even though you don’t think it was your fault? God sees this and knows what you’re holding onto. Are you secretly abusing alcohol or drugs, putting on a mask every day so the world will not know? God knows. Are you secretly looking at pornography late at night, thinking you are fooling the world? God knows. Is your selfish pride leading you to worship yourself, putting yourself before the rest of the world? God sees.
Folks, some of the most difficult days of my life have been when I approached God in full costume. I dressed up, looked good, smelled good and thought that I had God fooled. But as I would always learn later, I was only fooling myself. You can’t disguise your heart before God. I pray today that you will strip down all facades and lay bare your soul before the Lord. There’s nothing you can reveal to Him that will surprise Him; He already knows it all. But it is in this process, this process of honesty in revealing who you truly are under your mask, that the healing hand of God will be applied to your life.
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24
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