Ahab Disguised, But Jehoshaphat Cried Out ♡♡♡

"As soon as the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, "It is the king of Israel." So they turned to fight against him. And Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him: God drew them away from him. For as soon as the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate. Therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded" - 2 Chronicles 18:31-33 ESV

        Story time! - Are you ready for some more chronicle gist this Sunday? I got you :)

So I'd never seen this portion of scripture in 2 chronicles before, in the way that I saw it this week. Scripture tells us in the first few verses of 2 Chronicles 18 that between Jehoshaphat and Ahab was a marriage alliance. After some years, Jehoshaphat went down to Ahab in Samaria. The bible won't say specifically why, but it goes on to tell that Ahab killed an abundance of sheep and oxen for Jehoshaphat and for the people who were with him [verse 1-3]. Did Jehoshaphat go down to ask this from Ahab? or was Ahab being randomly super generous?  Not so sure. However, the last part of that verse caught my attention ---------->".....And induced him to go up against Ramoth-gilead". - Haha, ofcourse typical human behaviour. Scratch my back, I scratch yours.

So anyways, Jehoshaphat agrees to go up against Ramoth-gilead, but first counsels Ahab to seek the Lord before launching out. Good guy right? Right amount of intentions, and oh so "spirit filled".  Along the line, prophets are called before Ahab [about four hundred of them] *drops jaw* - who lie in the name of the Lord, giving Ahab the green light to go ahead. Except there was one certain prophet Micaiah, who Ahab didn't like very much, because he was a "prophet of doom". Ever heard the saying "the truth is always bitter"? Always true for those who hate it :)

To cut the long story short, Jehoshaphat encourages Ahab to listen to Micaiah. Micaiah gives a stern warning, about the pending disaster that was ahead, if Ahab and his men went ahead to Ramoth-gilead. Ahab refused to listen to the word of Lord or even enquire further what God expected of him. Off he went with his fighting men. Strangely, Jehoshaphat follows Ahab to Ramoth-gilead. I mean, what was the point of advising to seek counsel in the first place, if it was going to fall on deaf ears? But real talk - this can be you and I sometimes. Err, the right intentions but very weak at following through. Ahab thought he had it all figured out. He would now become the one dishing out advise & Jehoshaphat would now be the one taking it!  

"And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself and go to battle, but you wear your robes." And the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle" - 2 Chronicles 18:29

"Err, I'll be out there hiding myself, that way I'd be invisible to any disaster. No one will see me". Scripture says that it was a random bow that struck the king of Israel. All it took was a random bow my dear friends. What are the odds eh? We are pretty vulnerable when we step outside the covering of God. God sees through "our disguise'. God sees through any wall or front we may try to put up to shield ourselves. Let us know this and know it well.

And Jehoshaphat on the other hand? "He cried". He humbled out.- "And Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him: God drew them away from him. For as soon as the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him" - 2 chronicles 18: 28. What a come back. What a save that was.

What do we learn here? We learn, that Jehoshaphat in "his own robe" [Symbolic of his true identity and realest form] was visible and bare before God. He knew to humble out when it was required. He knew that if he could only cry out for help no matter how far he'd gone, God was able to come through still. Is this our heart posture when we've stepped out of the will of God?  Or are we like Ahab - rebellious, deviant, careless and nonchalant to the purposes of God? My hope and prayer is that we are more like Jehoshaphat.

God has no problem with prodigals and backsliders, but he has a problem with pretenders and phonies. May we always be before God in our truest and realest form, so he can truly meet us no matter where we are at. Amen

It's always LOVE from me

Shay