DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL BY PASTOR W.F.KUMUYI,WEDNESDAY 29th MAY 2019.
TOPIC: SAY NO TO UNEQUAL YOKE
BIBLE TEXT: 2 Chronicles 18:1-12
1. Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.2. And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramothgilead.3. And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramothgilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.4. And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.5. Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king’s hand.6. But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?7. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD; but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil; the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.8. And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.9. And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.10. And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed.11. And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper; for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.12. And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.
KEY VERSE: 2 Chronicles 18:3
“And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehosaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.”
DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL MESSAGE FOR TODAY
A yoke is a wooden bar that joins two oxen to each other and to the burden they pull. An unequally yoked team has one stronger ox and one weaker, or one taller and one shorter.
The weaker or shorter ox would walk more slowly than the taller, stronger one, causing the load to go around in circles. When oxen are unequally yoked, they cannot perform the task set before them. Instead of working together, they are at odds with one another.
From the text, Jehoshaphat, king of Judah paid a visit to King Ahab of the northern backslidden nation. And during the meeting of the two kings, Ahab asked Jehoshaphat to join him in fighting against the Syrians to reclaim Ramoth-gilead (a captured Israelites territory).
After a period of prolonged prophecy from four hundred sycophants and compromising prophets, Jehoshaphat asked for a different prophet to be brought so he could be double sure it was God’s will to proceed.
The king of Israel then asked a messenger to bring Micaiah, a true prophet of God, after he complained that Micaiah’s prophecy was always unfavorable to him. Micaiah kept to his calling and declared the true word of God, despite mounting pressure and intimidation.
A lot was wrong with this meeting of Jehoshaphat with Ahab who was a serial breaker of God’s commandments and an idolater. This was already an unequal yoke.
The problem again here was that Jehoshaphat pledged the army of Judah to fight alongside Israel’s idolatrous army without first enquiring from the Lord. Of course, the Lord would not support this kind of settlement with an evil man. Reading further in Scriptures, we found out that the compromise of Jehoshaphat brought the displeasure of God and was a blot on his leadership (2 Chronicles 19:1,2).
We must beware of unequal yoke in business, friendship, marriage and worship. Leaders over the flock of God must keep the church free from compromise and corruption. As believers, we must take our stand in the midst of a perverse and sinful generation.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Compromise starts in the little ways but does great damage.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Samuel 17-18
DAILY MANNA devotional shared via www.thedevotionals.com
