2 Chron. 21
We read yesterday that Jehoshaphat messed up by allying himself with evil King Ahab of Israel. It seems the marriage alliance he made was with his oldest son, who married one of Ahab’s daughters. And today we see more of the negative consequences of that poor decision. This is a great example of how the sins of the fathers play out in the lives of their children!
What is even more surprising to me is that Jehoshaphat “gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn.” (2 Chron. 21:3b). God reprimanded Jehoshaphat for partnering with evil. And Jehoshaphat suffered the negative results of those partnerships. Yet he still did not seem to understand the seriousness of those actions. He knew that his oldest son was joined to one who loved evil and hated the LORD because he was the one responsible for that union. Yet he gave this son the kingdom. He chose to do what was socially acceptable instead of what was right.
King David did not give the kingdom to his firstborn son. David himself was not the firstborn son. So why did Jehoshaphat feel compelled to turn the kingdom over to a man who was yoked to evil simply because he was his firstborn son? So many people suffered and were led astray because of Jehoshaphat’s blind spot. It makes me want to examine my own life to see if I have any such blinds spots of my own!
Obad. 1
We just read in 2 Chronicles 21 that Edom revolted from Judah in King Jehoram’s days. We also read how other nations invaded and plundered Judah’s land. And now we read in Obadiah 1 a prophecy of punishment on Edom for how they had dealt with Judah. I gotta say, I can’t blame Edom for revolting against King Jehoram, as he clearly took the nation away from God. Also, given the fact that it was God who incited the other nations against Judah, and knowing what God said about helping evil, I can’t really make a case to say that Edom should have run to Judah’s aid. So I’m a little confused here.
As is usually the case, I’m sure there is more to the story. My guess is that Edom did not revolt because they desired to follow God rather than to follow Judah down the path toward evil. And from Obadiah’s words, Edom didn’t just refrain from helping Judah, but gloated over them in their distress and possibly participated in other ways. I have no idea of the details, but it is clear to me that, though their actions as we read them in 2 Chronicles 21 seemed justifiable on the surface, their hearts were not in the right place. Motives are so important! So I think it is important for us to examine our motives before we take any action. Allowing our ungodly attitudes and perspectives to drive us into ungodly action can only lead to trouble.
2 Cor. 8
Giving is a privilege. The churches of Macedonia understood that. Though they themselves did not have much, Paul says that they earnestly begged to be allowed to take part in “the relief of the saints”. This isn’t about just any giving, mind you. This is about the kind of giving that allows us to take part in the work that God is doing in the lives of others. God gives us the resources. Then He gives us the opportunity to use those resources to be as Christ in some small way for somebody who needs it. And the really cool part is that we can be sure that what we give to God will be given back to us when we need it.