One God Regards

"And Elisha said, "As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you."

2 Kings 3:14

I found this verse encouraging, that God regards His people even when they live among those who do not fear God.  King Jehoshaphat was asked by King Jeroham son of Ahab, along with the king of Edom, to attack Moab for refusing to pay tribute.  When there was no water and Jeroham imagined it was God's design to destroy them, Jehoshaphat requested they seek the counsel of a prophet of the God of Israel, and Elisha was summoned.  2 Kings 3:13 tells us, "Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, "What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother." But the king of Israel said to him, "No, for the LORD has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab."  Elisha then revealed God regarded or respected the presence of Jehoshaphat whom He knew.  Because that God-fearing king was among them, God was attentive to their request and needs.  How gracious is God to regard or be mindful of any person!

A sobering consequence of refusing to regard God is that He will not regard such people.  God said in 1 Samuel 2:30, "...them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed."  Yet the glorious truth remains that God has respect and looks upon all those who love and trust Him.  This was demonstrated early in the book of Genesis when Cain and Abel both offered sacrifices to God.  Genesis 4:3-5 reads, "And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. ⁴ Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, ⁵ but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell."  Notice how God first respected Abel, and then his offering was accepted.  We can have this backwards:  we believe it is on the account of the gift or offering we present God chooses to accept us when the opposite is true.  It was the humble, contrite heart of the person in the eyes of God that was of greater importance than the offering itself.  Cain's rage showed his pride and lack of the fear of God.

It certainly was a blessing for Jehoram and the king of Edom to have with them a man who feared God, one who was willing to humble himself and seek the LORD God of Israel for help in time of need.  If God regarded the needs of wicked kings for the sake of his servant Jehoshaphat, how confident we can be God hears and regards every Christian for the sake of Jesus Christ who lives to make intercession for us in the presence of God in heaven.  No longer need we make our requests through a prophet who has unique access to God, but we are invited personally to enter God's presence through prayer as beloved children of God by faith in Jesus.  Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  How awesome is the opportunity and privilege of believers to be regarded by God, that we can entreat Him to intervene in the lives of others who do not fear God so they might come to know Him too.  God regarded lost sinners by sending His Son Jesus to atone for our sins, and God regards our prayers because He regards every one redeemed with the blood of Christ.