Friends with the Enemy

 "And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? Therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD." II Chronicles 19:2

Read II Chronicles 17-19.

The Bible overflows with stories from which we could learn. Here, King Jehoshaphat, a king that had
worked to draw his people to God, stepped away from the counsel of God and joined with Ahaziah, the evil king of Israel. A relationship that seemed innocent: they would enter into trade agreements and build ships together. But this angered God, and God broke their ships. 

We see in the verse above God's testimony against Jehoshaphat. He helped the ungodly and loved them that hated God. If Jehoshaphat thought the Northern Kingdom Judah's (the southern kingdom) brother, then he would excuse his failure to follow God's counsel by reasoning that he was helping family and should love them. However, God was clear in the law He gave His people on how they were to deal with those family members who turned from God and worked evil. God clearly did not want His people associating with those who lived wicked lives and followed other gods.

King Jehoshaphat, in setting up a trade agreement and building ships with Ahaziah, had essentially determined not to rely on God for his prosperity. He demonstrated he wasn't content with what God had already given him. And it reflected a deterioration in his fellowship with his Lord.

Jehoshaphat and Ahaziah were kings, leaders of their nations. As such, how they led would affect the people of their countries. By the time Ahaziah had become king, God had done all He could to try to convince the people of Israel to return to Him, but they did not listen to the prophets He sent, nor did they gain understanding by the many 'curses' (see Deuteronomy 28) that befell them. The king was wicked and so were the people. 

The tribe of Judah was to be holy, separated from those nations who performed great wickedness in their worship of other gods. From Judah, the Messiah would come, the hope of all nations. Through the Messiah, all people could receive salvation and be reconciled from God. God's desire for all people to know Him, to receive forgiveness, drives His decision to sever the ties of Jehoshaphat with Ahaziah. 

"For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6

The people of Israel had been led astray by its leaders time and time again (see I Kings 11:1-12:33). God did not want that influence on Judah, and the judgment He made on Jehoshaphat's trade and ships was done to protect the people of Judah, and more specifically, the line of David. 

When our own government makes decisions that aligns us with those that hate God, we are in trouble. But our hope doesn't end with the government's decisions. Our God's love for us is greater than the government and greater than those that hate us and our God. Will we allow the Holy Spirit to reign in us as individuals so that our response is governed by His leading and not by our own nature? 

For us as individuals, we can learn from Jehoshaphat's error, and take heed with whom we join ourselves. While we are called to love our enemies, that doesn't mean we should unequally yoke ourselves to them. We may see great business opportunities or perhaps ways of climbing the corporate ladder by aligning ourselves with someone who doesn't love God and does wicked things. But at what cost? The future of Judah was weighed in the balances of Jehoshaphat's actions. God would not let anything hinder His plan of the coming Savior. The choices we make of who we associate with affects our loved ones, our children, our friends. We need to take care.

Praise God for His mercy. He stopped an alliance of what could have resulted in the destruction of Judah, and therefore the hope of salvation. God will do the same for us. He is in control, and while there are consequences, there is also mercy and grace. God desires good for us. He wants to show us His love for us. We can't know that love if we are walking with the enemy--the enemy doesn't want us to know it. But God chases after us. Are we willing to receive His admonishment as well as His blessing?

How have you conducted business as of late that reflects your faith in God? Who are the people who have the most influence over you? Are they people who influence you to strengthen your relationship with God or weaken it?

For further study, read: II Corinthians 6:14-18; Romans 12

"...I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:10b-13