25/05/2017 - COUNTER COUP REVEALED

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So Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead?” And he answered him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will be with you in the war.” 2 Chronicles 18:3

Since the early formation of Israel, the Lord already warned His people not to enter into communion or partnership with anyone who did not serve Him, for there is demonic action at the heart of those who reject the Light. To believe in God is one thing and to worship and serve Him is quite something else. Does anyone who marries another that does not love the Father see their spouse loving and serving the Son? This is why the faithful believer cannot be united to the unbeliever or have any alliance with the other (2 Corinthians 6: 14-18).

To obtain Jehoshaphat’s support – the prodigious king who had assembled a great army from a small country and even more support from those that paid tribute – Ahab started to work out a plan that took time to be implemented. Ahab knew that he should not fight against Judah for he would certainly suffer defeat. It would be impossible to challenge Jehoshaphat’s fearful army that besides having men prepared to battle also counted with the help of the Lord.

Gradually Ahab started to weaken the King of Judah. First he gave his daughter in marriage to Jehoshaphat’s first born. After several years the King of Samaria felt that it was time to carry out his plan and invited Jehoshaphat to visit him. Do not be fooled by the wicked for he only is interested in himself. Arriving in Samaria, the King of Judah was lavishly received and commemorated which made him believe that the King of Israel, Ahab, loved him. Consequently he didn’t even remember God.

Being fooled, he was convinced by what he saw. The devil’s strategy is the same that he used to deceive Eve in the Garden of Eden. He opens people’s eyes to the person’s physical beauty, or to that person’s refined education and charming joy and just like the adulteress in Proverbs 5, takes the victim like a “mute lamb to the slaughterhouse”. The one that is fooled still believes that he found happiness far away from God. What crazy madness!

At the top of the party, having noticed that Jehoshaphat was now in his hands, the wicked king, through his strategies pressured him to lead his army to war against Syria. As if inebriated and fascinated by the reception offered to him, Jehoshaphat didn’t bother to think or to ask for time to pray. The Holy Scriptures say that to decide in haste is a snare (Proverbs 20:25) The King of Judah said yes that he would be with Ahab. Mercy!  Sometimes we also speak too much.

Jehoshaphat could not have consented to the King of Israel’s plan, for Ahab worshipped Baal; he was therefore wicked. Sometimes we are influenced by the demon’s talk and behave like Jehoshaphat. It is far better in any situation to consult the Lord. Those who answer hastefully, without hearing the Lord, disappoint Him. Had he prayed first about it, he would have avoided the mistake of committing to someone wicked.

The biblical text shows that Jehoshaphat was already sold to the devil, because by asking permission to pray to the Lord he demonstrated that he was not well. Ahab’s choice concerning God’s prophet should have served for Jehoshaphat to decline that invitation to adventure, but unfortunately he did not.

In Christ, with Love,

R. R. Soares