Lessons on Jehoshaphat (3)â€”Decisions and Consequences - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

The LORD is near - Monday, November 30, 2021
by Jacob Redekop, Brian Reynolds, John van Dijk, Eugene P. Vedder Jr

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Lessons on Jehoshaphat (3)â€”Decisions and Consequences

Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage.
2 Chronicles 18:1

Lessons on Jehoshaphat (3)â€”Decisions and Consequences
Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance. He had these blessings because the Lord was with him , just as we enjoy our spiritual blessings in Christ when the Holy Spirit of God is not grieved in us and can communicate them to us freely. All this certainly gave Jehoshaphat a lot of influence around him. But how did he use this influence?

We read that "Jehoshaphat was at peace with the king of Israel" (1 Ki. 22:44). To use our influence to be at peace and bring peace is an excellent thing. Are we not exhorted to live in peace with all men if it is possible? Sometimes it is not possible because it would be against the teaching or principles found in the Word of God. But if it is possible, as much as it depends on us, we should seek to be at peace (Rom. 12:18). So in this, Jehoshaphat makes very good use of his influence. But to be at peace with all men does not mean we should seek to associate ourselves or make alliances with them (cf. 2 Cor. 6:14).

Unfortunately, we read that Jehoshaphat allied himself with Ahab by marriage. Maybe everything looked good at first: a beautiful wedding, the consolidation of peace, interesting political prospects. The relation between both kingdoms got warmer: "After certain years he went down to Ahab, to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that were with him" (2 Chr. 18:2). Were not things working well? But later, this decision would have profound negative impacts on the kingdom when Jehoram would reign, and near catastrophic consequences on David's house when Athaliah would take the throne by violence.

We do not always know the consequences of our acts and decisions. But if we walk according to the Word of God, the Lord will keep us and guide us, and give us His peace.

Alexandre Leclerc

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