Unholy Alliances Bring Unnecessary Stresses

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Jehoshaphat was indeed a good king for Judah. But he made an alliance with none other than Ahab. 

2 Chronicles 18:1 (ESV) Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor, and he made a marriage alliance with Ahab.

How did this happen? Why would he align his kingdom with that of the most wicked king in Israel? Perhaps the answer is in the next verse:

2 Chronicles 18:2 (ESV) After some years he went down to Ahab in Samaria. And Ahab killed an abundance of sheep and oxen for him and for the people who were with him, and induced him to go up against Ramoth-gilead.

Ahab allured Jehoshaphat with flattery and offerings. You know he had to be doing this before the marriage and after the marriage, Ahab laid it on thick so that Jehoshaphat would bring the blessings the Lord brought to his nation to Ahab's nation.

This is often the reality of the world. Unbelievers do not want God but they will gladly use the blessings of God wherever they can find them. Ahab wanted protection in war and Jehoshaphat's strong and powerful kingdom would produce a better chance for victory. 

2 Chronicles 18:3 (ESV) Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?” He answered him, “I am as you are, my people as your people. We will be with you in the war.”

Now what we find in the chapter is that Ahab is surrounded by "yes-men" prophets enticing him to fight this battle while Jehoshaphat seeks the word of the Lord. 
2 Chronicles 18:6 (ESV) But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here another prophet of the LORD of whom we may inquire?”

Ahab eventually brings in the prophet Micaiah to prophesy and after a strange back and forth, Micaiah predicts disaster. Micaiah stands alone in the face of intimidation and coercion. We need men like him in our lives to tell the truth when we don't want to hear it. 

Amazingly, Jehoshaphat follows Ahab into battle regardless. And Ahab characteristically seeks to preserve himself from harm.

2 Chronicles 18:28–29 (ESV) So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 29 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes.” And the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.

What an absolutely horrible person Ahab is. Seeing the danger and hearing the prophetic word of destruction he's going to seek anonymity and set Jehoshaphat out there like bait. But the Lord preserves Jehoshaphat. As the enemy hunts him down they realize it is not Ahab. A random arrow is fired and it takes Ahab's life in a stunning turn of events. 

What is the lesson of this chapter for us? Jehoshaphat was a strong and righteous king whom God had blessed. What we see is that even though God's king chose unwisely at this moment the Lord protected and preserved him. The Lord will do that for His own but we always suffer the fear and worry of unnecessary battles. Consider all the frustrations Jehoshaphat would have avoided if he never made this alliance with Ahab. 

I wonder what alliances you might be seeking that are just giving you unrest? The Lord is all you need. He will protect and provide. Give yourself fully to Him and trust in His saving grace. 

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