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.

2 Chronicles 18:29

For Meditation

I have never understood King Jehoshaphat and his decision to go to war with Ahab (2 Chronicles 18:29). But that is what an ungodly alliance could do to any good person. As Paul said, ‘Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character”’ (1 Cor. 15:33).

In the first place, Jehoshaphat should not have befriended the ungodly King Ahab. What was the attraction? What did he expect to gain from that alliance? Common ancestry alone should not decide such relationships. Ahab had taken a stand against God and polluted Israel with idolatry. That alone should have been the basis for Jehoshaphat’s rejection of Ahab’s proposal. We, too, must overcome that human weakness.

Being compatriots with someone should not force us into an alliance if the other party has no respect for our God. Bible calls it unequal yoking and speaks strongly against it (2 Cor. 6:14-16). He says, “Come out from them and be separate” (17). Those who go against His command set themselves on a slippery slope to more ungodly decisions and chaotic living.

Again, Jehoshaphat should have known better when he agreed to go to war with Ahab (2 Chron. 18:3). After asking Ahab to seek counsel from the Lord and all the drama that ensued (4-27), Jehoshaphat should have withdrawn from the agreement. The prophet Micaiah declared heaven’s decree against Ahab. The rogue king imprisoned God’s prophet and pressed on towards war. One does not need much discernment to walk away from such ungodliness, but Jehoshaphat remained committed to the war.

Worse of all, Jehoshaphat agreed to dress in his royal robes, while Ahab disguised himself for the war (2 Chron. 18:29). Ahab knew what he was doing. He set Jehoshaphat up for death in his place, as the prophet said. But who can mock God? Who can thwart His counsel and decree? God delivered Jehoshaphat (31-32), and Ahab died as Micaiah prophesied (33-34).

There is a lesson here for all of us. People may not care for us as we might think. Remember Peter’s pledge to the Lord and how he saved his skin three times with curses? (Lk. 22:54-62). How about increasing divorces these days?

Human love could give way at some point when our self-interest is threatened. That’s the elasticity of human love. But God’s love is absolute. It never ceases, nor wears out, for God is Love (1 Jn. 4:8). Even on the cross, Jesus forgave us (Lk. 23:34).

So, let us be careful in choosing our alliances. We need discernment and much of it. We need self-control and the strength of will and determination to say, “No” when we must (Titus 2:12). No relationship should be more important to us than our determination to glorify Jesus in our decisions.