Herod couldn’t make up his mind. He was furious at John the Baptist for telling him that it was unlawful that he married his brother’s wife (presumably while his brother was still living), and wanted to put John to death. But, on the other hand, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet (Matthew 14:5). So, being of two minds, he settled somewhere in-between, alternately indicating his desire to have John executed, and his awe of John’s power and influence. And though this worked for a time, such double-mindedness never satisfies, in that it eventually leads one away from God’s will, and into events beyond one’s control.
Such was the case with John. His widely-published antipathy to John infected the heart of his wife, Herodias, such that she conspired in a remarkably inventive way to have the head of John the Baptist. Herod’s rash promise to the daughter of Herodias — whatever she might ask – was Herodias’ opportunity, and she struck with a vengeance. Herod’s response: He was grieved (Matthew 14:9), apparently sad that his threats had finally boxed him into the corner he never really wanted to enter to fight the people who loved John. But there he was, trapped by his own double-mindedness.
The double-minded, as James reminds us, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord (James 1:7). In fact, trouble, not from the Lord, as was certainly the case with Herod and John the Baptist, will be all that they receive.
So, dear friend, if you sense that double-mindedness in you, don’t linger on the fence any longer. Ask God to remove you from this perilous perch. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded…Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you (James 4:8,10). Return with Him to that single-minded love and devotion through which He can work miracles in and through you.
