2 Kings 8: Self-Serving Interpretations

In the book of 2nd Kings, chapter 8, there is one of those confusing prophecies which makes you question if you really know how God works and thinks (see also 1 Kings 22). The king of Aram, Ben-Hadad, is very sick and sends his right-hand man, Hazael to ask Elisha about his future. Elisha says to him: “Go and say to him, ‘You will certainly recover.’ Nevertheless, the Lord has revealed to me that he will in fact die.” (2 Kings 8:10)

So Hazael goes back to Ben-Hadad, tells him the first part, and on the next day, smothers him to death with a water soaked cloth. (vs. 15)

Did God instruct Elisha to tell Hazael to lie? No. He likely did recover. But 'nevertheless' he died: murdered. Like many of the other prophecies of Elisha (cf. 2 Kings 7:2), these double-edged prophecies serve to reveal the character of the hearer. By how he responds, Hazael will show what kind of man he is. Watch the sequence of events.

First, he reveals himself by his reaction to the prophecy. After Elisha gives this prophecy, there is curious phrase: "He stared at him with a fixed gaze until Hazael was embarrassed." (vs. 11a) God knew that the coup attempt was already in Hazael's thoughts. Elisha watched his reaction. When there was none, "Then the man of God began to weep." (vs. 11b) He did not care about the king. The king's death was not a loss for Hazael, but an opportunity.

Second, he reveals himself by pretending to not understand. He tries to cover it up. “Why is my lord weeping?” asked Hazael. (vs. 12) When Elisha tells him that he will be responsible for terrible acts of violence against Israel's people, he is not insulted or horrified. Instead he asks how he would get that kind of power and position: "Hazael said, “How could your servant, a mere dog, accomplish such a feat?” (vs. 13a) There it is: ambition cloaked in false humility.

When Elisha tells him what he wants to hear: “The Lord has shown me that you will become king of Aram,” (vs. 13b), he does not pause to consider: "I could serve the king faithfully until he dies and he or the leaders will make me the next king." No, he takes Elisha's words as a mandate from heaven and carries out the coup against the king who trusted him with his life. He gains his secret desire at the cost of becoming the worst sort of man. He took the prophecy, not as a judgement, but as a get-out-of-jail-free card to carry out his own desires.

We also do this. Many times we select the parts of the truth we listen to; we select the parts of the truth we pass on to others; and we edit God's word so that it seems to authorize the accomplishment of what we want. Even at the cost of becoming the worst sort of man or woman. Check your ambitions, your big goals, your hearts desire, your unspoken wishes, and see if you aren't sacrificing your character on their altar. God will offer a test. Will you follow your own self-serving interpretation? Do you have people who can tell you when you're off course?

What good is it for someone to gain the world, yet forfeit their soul? (Mark 8:36)