Don't Get Mad

2 Kings 1:7

7 The king asked them, “What kind of man was it who came to meet you and told you this?”

Have you ever had to hear something you would've rather not? The king of Samaria fell through the roof and hurt himself very badly. God had not spoken in some time. So instead of asking God and waiting, the king decided he would consult a false god, Baal to see if he would live. God was aware of it and made it known to the prophet Elijah. God had Elijah meet the kings men on their way to consult the false god and delivered a message that the king would die. When the king's men returned to deliver the message, the king was angry. He demanded to know who was the deliverer of this unwelcomed news. The king's men described the man and immediately the king knew it was Elijah. The king sent his soldiers to kill Elijah. Elijah was given the authority by God to speak and what he spoke came to pass. The soldiers died.

There will be messages we must hear that we would prefer not to. But then we get upset with the person delivering the message. If it is something God wants you to hear, you will hear it like it or not. But when we turn our anger to the messenger the truth is, they are just that, the messenger. The anger is being directed at the wrong place. God can use anyone to deliver a message that is much needed. Getting angry with the messenger or not accepting the message doesn't change the validity of the message. But what it shows is that the anger is really with the source of the message and the fact that we can't have our own way. If the message is an unfavorable one and it is because our actions were not what they were supposed to be, then we can blame no one but ourselves. But we often do because many don't like to take responsibility. Take heart and know that if God is giving you a message that it means that you are in God's view and he would rather you get right because he wants no one to perish.