How Can We Distinguish Between Someone Carrying Out God’s Will And Going Beyond It?

Q: My husband and I were reading about King Jehu. He sounds like a maniac, but he was also carrying out God's will. How can we tell what was the Lord's will and what was just overkill?

A: Jehu is a fascinating character. When discussing the kings of the divided kingdom, particularly the northern tribes of Israel and the southern tribes of Judah, we see that Judah had a mixture of good and bad kings, while Israel had all bad kings except for Jehu, who was almost good. Jehu initially seemed to have a zealous heart for God and wanted to do His will, but he eventually became more interested in his own will, his own victory, and his own power than in what God wanted.

In some ways, Jehu was the best of a bad bunch among the kings of the northern tribes of Israel. However, since the overall quality of those kings was so poor, that doesn't say much. Jehu did some good things and had opportunities to follow God's will, but he also went beyond it. It's important to recognize that while he was used by God to bring judgment against Ahab and Jezebel, his actions were not entirely aligned with God's heart.

Ultimately, distinguishing between carrying out God's will and going beyond it requires discernment. We must consider the motivations behind actions and whether they align with God's character and purposes. Jehu's story serves as a reminder that even those who are used by God can stray into self-serving actions.