The King and the Madman

In ancient times, a kind-hearted king ruled over a small kingdom. He meant well, but he wasn’t very wise. This made him restless, because he was always searching for intelligent and capable people who could help his kingdom grow and protect it from enemies. His current advisors only gave long speeches, took their salaries, and offered nothing useful. Their empty suggestions frustrated him.

One day, bothered by these thoughts, the king decided to take a trip to the forest with his courtiers. He hoped that a change of scenery might clear his mind or bring him some answers. After spending the day exploring, the group began their journey back. On the way, they noticed a strange sight.

Under a large tree sat a man who looked half-mad, mumbling to himself. From a distance he seemed crazy, but something about him caught the king’s interest. The king wondered if this was just a madman… or someone with unusual wisdom hidden behind his odd behavior.

Driven by curiosity, the king approached the man. The stranger looked wild, but his words carried a strange confidence. The king gently asked, “Young man, are you insane? Why are you talking to yourself?”

The man smiled and replied, “Insane? No. You and your entire court are insane. I’m perfectly fine. In fact, I’m thinking about cutting down this entire forest, building magnificent palaces, and becoming the king myself.”

His boldness shocked everyone. Statements like this came only from true fools… or from the extremely brave and intelligent.

The king quietly observed him. When he asked his courtiers for advice, their hidden jealousy surfaced. Whispering among themselves, they feared that if this man impressed the king, they would lose their influence. So they convinced the king to bring the man to the palace. “If he’s brave, he’ll be useful. If he’s truly mad, we can get rid of him later.”

The king agreed and brought the man along. But on the way, the stranger suddenly turned his horse and tried to run. The guards chased him down and brought him back.

When they reached the palace, the king was shocked. People were cheering loudly. They congratulated him again and again. Confused, the king asked why.

The crowd replied, “Your Majesty, the path you usually use had an enemy army waiting in ambush. We were certain you wouldn’t survive. But you changed your route… and saved yourself.”

The king immediately looked at the strange man. Had he not dragged the king off the normal path while trying to escape… the king would have been killed. Understanding this, the king ordered a special chair for the man and declared, “From today, he stays with me.”

The courtiers protested, insisting he was dangerous and foolish. But the king silenced them. “He saved my life when none of you even knew the danger existed.”

The man sat proudly beside the king, and from that moment a new conflict began. The courtiers could not tolerate a so-called madman sitting at their level. Jealousy consumed them, and they started plotting to bring him down.

But when God decides to honor someone, no force can drag them down.

Soon, some people approached the man politely. They pretended to advise him, warning that palace rules were strict and one wrong action could get him punished. Frightened, he begged them for guidance. They took advantage and tricked him.

A chief advisor whispered, “Our tradition is that the court begins only when someone slaps the king to wake him up.”

The man believed him and said, “Slap? I can even kick him if needed.”

The courtiers laughed secretly and encouraged him.

The next day, when the king sat on his throne, the man walked up and slapped him so hard that the crown flew off. But when the crown hit the floor, a deadly scorpion crawled out from under it. The king froze. Had the crown been on his head, the scorpion would have stung him.

The king hugged the man tightly. “You saved my life again.”

The king rewarded him with a feast and even gave him a beautiful palace. The courtiers burned with jealousy. They tried again.

They told him, “Tomorrow, when the king sits, pull his chair from behind. You’ll receive half the kingdom.”

The next morning, the man followed their plan. But the king, steady on his feet, didn’t fall. When he turned, he saw that one of the chair’s legs had already cracked inside. If he had sat fully, it would have collapsed and injured him.

Again, the king embraced him. “You saved me a third time.”

He awarded him high honor and made him the general of the army. The courtiers were furious. Their plans kept backfiring, and the man kept rising higher.

Finally, they created a deadly plot. They secretly contacted the king of a neighboring kingdom and pushed him into declaring war. They convinced their own king to go to battle and made sure the madman would lead the army, hoping he would die there.

The two armies met at the forest border. Before the fight began, the man stepped forward and shouted, “I will face your king myself!” The enemy king accepted.

As they stood in the middle of the jungle, a fierce lion suddenly leapt out and attacked the enemy king. The man rushed forward, fought the lion bravely, and killed it. He carried the injured enemy king back to safety.

The story shows how destiny works. When God decides to protect someone, even traps become blessings. When He chooses to honor someone, no jealousy, no conspiracy, no army can stop it.