BIBLE READING: 2 CHRO.20; 1 THES 4:11-18.
“Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the Lord hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.” – 2 Chronicles 20:37 (KJV)
Romans 8:31 (KJV) says: “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” This is a question God is asking us the believers. It is noteworthy that any time God asks a question, he knows the answer. But he leaves us to think deeply and then answer the question. In this case, there are three personalities that can be against someone. The person himself/herself, Satan or God. Now when God is for a person, Satan cannot come near that person because all the avenue to go against the person by Satan would have been blocked by God. However, the person can be against himself. And when this happens, an avenue will be created for Satan to come in.
This is what happened when God created Adam and Eve. God was with them and so Satan was unable to go against them. It was incapacitated to harm them in any way. However, it knew the only way to create problems for Adam was to make him go against himself. So Satan decided to cause Adam and Eve to go against the directive of God. (Gen 3:4-6). And they eventually created an avenue by going against the directive of God not to eat the tree of knowledge. The result was that God cursed man.
That remains the problem of believers up to date. In our bible reading, Jehoshaphat was fervent for the Lord and so God was with him and built a shield of protection round him. 2 Chronicles 20:30 (KJV) says: “So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.” But then Jehoshaphat became too comfortable and decided to join force with the unbeliever; 2 Chronicles 20:35 (KJV): “And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly.” He forgot the instruction of God in 2 Corinthians 6:14 (KJV): “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”
The resultant effect is that God destroyed his works. 2 Chronicles 20:37 (KJV) says: “Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the Lord hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.”
Prayer point: Father, let me not destroy myself or my work by my actions in Jesus name.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero