Our Jealous God (Excerpt from 'Look Unto Me')

[The Lord is jealous for us. What an honor and privilege to know that He loves us to the extent of taking away anyone or anything that makes us less zealous for Him. Like Walter Martin said in context to believers marrying non-believers, "Just see what happens to 'God's property'..." He is too jealous for us to allow us to ever be truly contented outside of a relationship with Jesus as our First Love. --Dwayna]

January 13

Jehoshaphat built a fleet of trading ships to go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail-they were wrecked at Ezion Geber. (1 Kings 22:48)

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

Solomon's ships had returned in safety (see 1 Kings 9:26-28) but Jehoshaphat's fleet never even reached the land of gold. Our sovereign God may prosper one person while frustrating the desires of another, although both people may be in the same business and in the same place. Yet the Great Ruler is as good and wise in one case as in the other.

As we consider the above verse today may the Lord grant us the grace to bless Him for ships "wrecked at Ezion Geber" as well as for fleets filled with earthly blessings. And may we not envy someone who is seemingly more successful, nor complain about our losses as though we were the only ones to ever experience a particular trial. Like Jehoshaphat, we are precious in the Lord's sight, although our plans may end in disappointment.

The hidden cause of Jehoshaphat's loss is worthy of note for it is the root of much of the suffering of the Lord's people. The problem was his alliance with a sinful family, his fellowship with sinners. In 2 Chronicles 20:37 we see that God sent Eliezer to prophesy against Jehoshaphat, "Because you have made an alliance with Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy what you have made." The verse then concludes with, "The ships were wrecked and were not able to set sail to trade."

This was a fatherly chastisement that apparently became a blessing to him, however, for in the verse following this morning's text, we see him refusing to allow his servants to sail in the same ships with those of the wicked ruler, King Ahaziah. My prayer is that Jehoshaphat's experience may be a warning to the Lord's people to avoid being unequally "yoked together with unbelievers" (2 Cor. 6:14).

The destiny of believers who are willingly united in marriage, or any other way, with people of the world is typically a life of misery. Oh, may we have such a great love for Jesus that, like Him, we may be holy, harmless to others, pure and undefiled, and separate from sinners!

If this is not the case with us we can often expect to hear, "The LORD will destroy what you have made."

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

How often have we seen believers marry unbelievers thinking their experience will somehow defy God's truth, only to see their marriage end in divorce or survive in utter misery! "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows" (Gal. 6:7).

Often unmarried people are so consumed by their desire to be married they are willing to compromise God's Word. This is dangerous ground to tread, for an unhappy or broken marriage is typically lonelier than the single life.

Whether married or single, we should look to our loving Savior to meet our needs. "My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19).Father, help me submit my will to Yours alone. Thank You that I may trust You for the very best, for You have given me Your only Son!

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