Today’s Devotion
Topic: Becareful Of Your Alliances.
Text: 2 Chron 18: 28- 32
28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead. 29 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will enter the battle in disguise, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.
30 Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.” 31 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they thought, “This is the king of Israel.” So they turned to attack him, but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him. God drew them away from him, 32 for when the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they stopped pursuing him. Amen
“Now Jehoshaphat (king of Judah) had great wealth and honor, and he allied himself with Ahab (king of Isreal) by marriage. Some years later he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria. Ahab slaughtered many sheep and cattle for him and the people with him and urged him to attack Ramoth Gilead” (2 Chronic 18: 1- 2).
Although king Jehoshaphat insisted upon knowing God’s will before he would join Ahab in battle, he still didn’t heed the prophecy that came through Micaiah, the true prophet of God, warning against their decision to go to war. He rather decided to honor Ahab’s request as a sign of loyalty.
But Ahab was not the kind of person to associate with. He was wicked and cunning. He did evil in the sight of God. On the day of battle, he convinced Jehoshaphat to wear his royal robes while he, disguised himself. Well, but for the fact that Jehoshaphat feared God and cried for mercy on the battlefield, he would have been mistakened for Ahab and killed instantly.
Who are your friends beloved? How much do you trust them? What extent will you go for them even when you clearly know it is against God’s will? Meditate on this and begin to pray now. Ask for a discerning heart that wants to please God and not man. Also make a decision to break every ungodly alliances that are leading straight to your destruction. Let your relationship with God matter more to you than your loyalty to friends.
Remember that Jehoshaphat’s alliance with Ahab and his wife Jezebel through marriage was indeed a huge mistake already. Now all Ahab had to do was to kill several cows and sheep in honor of Jehoshaphat and subtly URGE him into his trap. Well, those who easily align with evil conspirators are easily manipulated with words and enticed with things that quickly lead to their destruction. Be very careful where you direct your loyalty.
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