Every once in a while, I am reading the Bible and think, “This is just like me!” Jehoshaphat was as king of Judah and someone I recently reread about and had this thought. Let me explain. Jehoshaphat was the son of Asa. Asa was an evil king who even went so far as to throw prophets in jail when he did not like their message (2 Chronicles 16:7- ff) Jehoshaphat means “God has judged.” Since the context demands the word, “judge,” to be negative, it means that he was named for suffering and pain. His family was a mess, and he was raised in a time of difficulty. Just like me!
Even through Jehoshaphat grew up in terrible times of turning away from God, he had a heart for God we see this in 2 Chronicles 17:3-9 where we are told that he followed God (v. 3), sought God (v. 4), obeyed God (v. 4), resisted others’ enticements to follow other “gods” (v. 6), and he taught others to do these things as well (vv. 7-9). Jehoshaphat had a heart for God. In addition to having a heart for God, Jehoshaphat was blessed by God. We read this is 2 Chronicles 17:10-18:1. God blessed Jehoshaphat with peace (v. 10). God blessed Jehoshaphat with flocks and herds of animals for food (v. 11). God blessed Jehoshaphat with military might (v. 12). God blessed him with riches (v. 13), protection (v 13), and honor (18:1). Jehoshaphat had a close relationship with God and was blessed by God. Just like me! (Now, I am not saying that I am great, but His grace is good in that I have a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. When I gave my life to Him in November of 1992, He came to live in me, and we began to have fellowship through relationship. He is faithful, even and especially when I am not.)
Now, before we go any further, you might be thinking, “Well, that is fine for you, but you don’t ever do anything wrong! You are a pastor! He was a king! You are not like me! You don’t understand my struggles!” Stop. Take a breath and read on. Jehoshaphat also made many serious mistakes. He worked so hard to keep false worship out of Judah, but then he offered his son to Ahab in marriage to Ahab and Jezebel’s daughter, Athaliah (18:1). In Bible times, with the wife comes the religion. That is one of the reasons God told Moses that the Israelites were not to intermarry with other religions. He did not want them drawn aside from following Him. He welcomed false religion into his house out of political expediency!
He also made a rash decision to go into war before asking God’s will (18:2-3). He stopped afterward and then wanted to know God’s will, but he had already agreed to go (18:4). I don’t know about you, but I have certainly made many decisions without Christ and then asked Him to bless the mess I have made. So, he is just like me! He also ignored the words of warning God gave him (18:5-7) and ignored the warning of doom (18:18-22, 28). He has been told the war would not go well and the people would be scattered. God had determined that Ahab was going to die in this war and yet, verse 28 of Chapter 18 says, “So the king of Israel (Ahab) and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up against Ramoth-Gilead. God had told them how bad it was going to be, and they did it anyway. This is also just like me.
God warns us not to do certain things, not because He wants to be a cosmic killjoy, but to protect us and His glory in us. Jehoshaphat even agreed to a ridiculous plan that made no sense. Ahab wanted to disguise himself to go into battle and leave Jehoshaphat as the target of the enemy. He thought this would frustrate God’s plan to kill Ahab in the battle. It would also mean that Jehoshaphat would become the target. Jehoshaphat agreed to do it! Over and over again, he made mistakes, just like me!
Here is the amazing part and where the hope comes from: he cried out to God from the middle of the mess he had made with his plans…and God saved him! (18:31) God delivered him! (19:1) God warned him not to do it again. (v. 2). God forgave him! (v. 3) God restored him! (v. 4) Just like me! And just like it can be for you. Do you know God through His Son, Jesus Christ? If not, let me invite you to call our church or visit our website, www.fbcwalters.com and you can know Him. If you know Him, you can still experience His deliverance, forgiveness and restoration Jehoshaphat experienced. God is the same yesterday, today and forever.