Christian Living
Wrong assumptions taken as facts or true, are detrimental.
What are some dangers of making assumptions?
Miscommunication, strained relationships, stress, anxiety, conflicts, ……death.
What is an assumption?
An assumption is something that you assume to be the case, even without proof. They are often preconceived misconceptions about a situation, person, group, or task
We cannot really live life without making assumptions, the human mind is wired to make assumptions which are many times low risk and correct. There’s a problem though when assumptions are incorrect, unverified and we run with them without proof. When we choose to project our fears to another without asking questions, making inquiries, or accepting their explanations as true, we inadvertently communicate our insecurities to the person at the receiving end. This destroys relationships and can sometimes be deadly.
Wrong assumptions taken as facts or true, are detrimental.
Josiah assumed he was fighting for God, but alas, he was fighting against God. By choosing to fight Necho despite his explanations, Josiah was meddling with God and it caused him his life.
Key Bible verse: 2 Chronicles 35 verse 21.
“But Neco sent messengers to Josiah. They said, “King Josiah, this war is not your problem. I didn’t come to fight against you. I came to fight my enemies. God told me to hurry. He is on my side, so don’t bother me. If you fight against me, God will destroy you!” 2 Chronicles 35:21 ERV
◦ Josiah was king of Judah, he became king at 8years of age.
◦ At an early age, 16years, (that is 8years after he became king), he started seeking after the God of David (2 Chronicles 34:1-3).
◦ At 20years (12years after he became king), he began purging Judah and Jerusalem of idolatry by massively destroying idol worship sites (2 Chronicles 34:3-7)
◦ Josiah was a stickler for keeping God’s laws and word (2 Chronicles 34: 19-21), he led Israel to repentance, helping to restore diligence to serve the Lord in Israel.
◦ He succeeded in restoring true worship, bringing Israel to recommit to God (2 Chronicles 34:20-33).
◦ He kept the Passover like no other king had done in a long time, since the days of Samuel the prophet (2 Chronicles 35:18).
◦ The Bible records that Josiah did what was right in God’s sight, following closely in the footsteps of king David (2 Chronicles 34 vs 1 & 33).
Despite all the good works recorded for king Josiah, he died in battle, in a battle he needn’t fight.
This is what happened……
◦ After all the good works recorded for Josiah, after he had prepared the temple, etc
◦ Necho king of Egypt came to war against Carchemish at the Euphrates.
Necho wasn’t fighting Judah or king Josiah, no, he clearly identified his enemy as Carchemish
Carchemish, an important ancient city of the northern Hittite empire, located on the border between Turkey and Syria, was one of the decisive battle locations in world history. The armies of Babylon and Egypt often met here in battle (Jer. 46:2; 2 Chr.35:20).
Now according to Necho, he was acting based on God’s instructions and he clearly communicated this to Josiah….
“I didn’t come to fight against you. I came to fight my enemies. God told me to hurry.”
◦ But king Josiah wouldn’t listen to him.
Now considering Josiah’s personality, values and commitment to ‘defending’ God and doing what’s right in God’s sight, his response to Necho wasn’t really surprising, only that this time he was not on God’s side, he made the wrong assumption and the wrong call.
◦ Instead of listening to Necho, Josiah disguised himself and still went down to war against Necho. He chose to fight Necho while pretending that he wasn’t really fighting him.
◦ That day, Josiah breathed his last; he sustained deadly wounds in the battle and although his men rushed him back to Jerusalem, he died.
“Then King Josiah was shot by arrows while he was in the battle. He told his servants, “Take me away, I am wounded badly!” So the servants took Josiah out of his chariot and put him in another chariot he had brought with him to the battle. Then they took Josiah to Jerusalem. He died there and was buried in the tombs where his ancestors were buried. All the people of Judah and Jerusalem were very sad because Josiah was dead.”
2 Chronicles 35:23-24 ERV
◦ Sad!
Question: what is one thing that was missing from Josiah’s actions?
◦ He should have inquired of God if Necho’s claims were correct. Was Necho really acting on God’s instructions or was he bluffing or pretending?
◦ I think that it was easy for Josiah to assume that Necho was lying or pretending because he himself considered pretense as an option when he disguised himself to war. Secondly, he must have thought that an Egyptian shouldn’t know more about what God wants than him an Israelite.
Two wrong assumptions!
◦ People often see others in the light of who they are and what is possible with them- how they can act in given situations. People also often project their beliefs on others, judging them based on that as well as on their past experiences.
Making Assumptions and running with them without proof can be dangerous.
◦ Josiah thought he was fighting for God (as usual), rather he was fighting against God.
◦ Josiah must have also assumed that Necho was lying or pretending.
Don’t fight the wrong battles based on assumptions.
Shalom!
