A Pilgrimage Fueled By Hope

by Sharon W. Betters

TODAY’S TREASURE

Remember that we can find Jesus in every Old Testament story, on every page of the Bible. We might not see His name, but He is there. There is a beautiful taste of redemption in what looks like a total failure on the part of King Jehoshaphat.

It’s no mistake that right after the writer of 2 Chronicles 18 described the godly leadership of Jehoshaphat and the enormous tangible blessings God showered on him, that we learn of his alliance with King Ahab. The sequence of events begs the questions, “Jehoshaphat, what were you thinking? Help me understand why you turned to such an evil king for protection when the God, whom you love, whose Word you commissioned your priests to teach the people of Judah, had blessed you in unimaginable ways? Your mighty fighting men number over 1,000,000. Your enemies respect and honor you. Jehoshaphat, what were you thinking?”

Perhaps he would tell us that such an alliance was a very smart strategic move, keeping his enemy (King Ahab) close. Maybe he would say his trust in God’s ability to supernaturally protect them required his help. You know, God plus me. Maybe he would respond that, as a King, he thought he could influence the evil King Ahab to worship God, forgetting the clear instructions of God’s Word:

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good. A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.

Proverbs 13:20-22

A man of violence entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good.

Proverbs 16:29

Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

Proverbs 22:24-25

Instead of pulling Ahab up to a place of dependence on God, Ahab pulls Jehoshaphat down to him. The two kings plot their strategy and rush into battle without the blessing of God:

So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes.” And the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle. Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, “Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel.” 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.” And the battle continued that day, and the king of Israel was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians until evening. Then at sunset he died.

2 Chronicles 18:28-34

In spite of Ahab’s plan to escape notice by disguising himself as a soldier rather than the King, a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate. Somehow an arrow flew from this man’s random shot straight to Ahab and found its way into Ahab’s body through a tiny opening between his scale armor and breastplate. A coincidence? Or God’s judgment?

Jehoshaphat faces his own fierce battle when the enemy captains think he is the king of Israel and bear down on him. With no way out, Jehoshaphat cries out to the only One he knows can save him:

And Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him; God drew them away from him.

2 Chronicles 18:31

LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT

What an incredible picture of God’s mercy, a foretaste of the salvation purchased for God’s people by His beloved son, Jesus. Imagine Jehoshaphat’s emotions running wild as he raced for safety. He could not save himself, his bad choices took him to the edge of death, and in total dependence on God, he cried out for help. I wonder if words similar to this passage flowed from the king’s lips as he processed his complete disregard for God’s Word in his alliance with Ahab and the desperate fear he felt when the captains of the enemie’s army charged him:

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression
    for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever,
    because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us;
    he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins
    into the depths of the sea. You will show faithfulness to Jacob
    and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers
    from the days of old.

Micah 7:18-20

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As I write these beautiful, moving words, I think about that person who has lost hope that she can ever experience forgiveness or purpose because of sinful choices on her part. We may never meet, but please, friend, hear me on this. There is no place low enough, dark enough, or broken enough that Jesus is not ready to redeem. We all suffer consequences from our sin but God is drawn to weakness. He brings beauty from brokenness, just as we will see He did for Jehoshaphat. Take time right now to soak in this hopeful passage that describes the compassion and forgiveness that God is offering you today.

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Sharon W. Betters is a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, pastor’s wife, and cofounder of MARKINC Ministries, where she is the Director of Resource Development. Sharon is the author of several books, including Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness, and co-author with Susan Hunt of Aging with Grace. She is the co-host of the Help & Hope podcast and writes Daily Treasure, an online devotional.

Contact Sharon with comments or questions at d ailytreasure@markinc.org.

Undeserved Mercy