“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14 NKJV)
When Jehoshaphat became the King of Judah, he sought his father’s God and walked in His commandments. Therefore, the LORD established the kingdom in his hand.
Jehoshaphat became increasingly powerful and built fortresses and storage cities in Judah. All Judah gave Jehoshaphat presents, so he had abundant honor and riches and mighty men of valor who served him (2 Chron. 17:3-19).
However, Jehoshaphat allied himself with Ahab—the wicked King of Israel, by marriage. When Jehoshaphat visited Ahab, Ahab asked, “Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead?” And he answered him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will be with you in the war.” (2 Chron. 18:3 NKJV).
While going to the battle, Ahab told Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.” (2 Chro. 18:29 NKJV).
Strangely, Jehoshaphat foolishly agreed to this subtle plan!
In the battle, when the captains of the chariots of the Syrian army saw Jehoshaphat, they mistook him for Ahab, the King of Israel. They thus surrounded him to attack and kill him, for the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots who were with him, saying, “Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel.” (2 Chron. 18:30 NKJV).
Because of his alliance with Ahab, the wicked king of Israel, Jehoshaphat almost lost his life in the battle that he had no business fighting but for the mercy and help of God (2 Chron. 18:31-32).
However, after Jehoshaphat returned safely to his house in Jerusalem, God sent His servant to rebuke and correct him for being unequally yoked together with the wicked. But sadly, Jehoshaphat would not heed God’s rebuke, correction, and warning (2 Chron. 19:1-3).
After the death of Ahab, Jehoshaphat allied himself again with Ahaziah, the King of Israel, who acted very wickedly. Jehoshaphat joined Ahaziah in doing business—making ships to go to Tarshish for gold. But God would not prosper such a business alliance.
2 Chronicles 20:35-37 – NKJV
35 After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted very wickedly.
36 And he allied himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made the ships in Ezion Geber.
37 But Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works.” Then the ships were wrecked, so that they were not able to go to Tarshish.
What a lesson for Christian businessmen and women today!
While the believers should not hate the unbelievers, the Scripture clearly warns against being unequally yoked together with the unbelievers either by marriage or business.
Many believers, like Jehoshaphat, have brought untold suffering, stress, loss, pain, or anguish upon themselves because of their alliances with the unbelievers.
2 Corinthians 6:14-16 – NKJV
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (NKJV).
Beloved, you will save yourself from unnecessary stress, battle, suffering, pain, or loss by heeding God’s caution or warning to avoid alliance with the unbelievers.
Remember Jehoshaphat!
1 Corinthians 15:33 – NKJV
33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.
Proverbs 12:26 – NKJV
26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.
Proverbs 13:20 – NKJV
20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.
Although King Solomon deeply loved God and had a wise and understanding heart, his heart was turned away from God when he allied himself by marriage with many ungodly women. Though Solomon started well, he ended awfully due to wrong alliances (1 Kings 11:1-6).
Suppose Jehoshaphat and Solomon could be negatively influenced, and their hearts are drawn away from God when they allied themselves with the ungodly. In that case, you better heed God’s warning to avoid an unholy alliance with the ungodly.
Apostle Paul admonishes and warns us against keeping company with believers who are walking disorderly.
1 Corinthians 5:9-11 – NKJV
9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people.
10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.
11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner–not even to eat with such a person.
2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 – NKJV
14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.
15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Don’t disdain, despise, or discard God’s warning, instruction, or correction today as Jehoshaphat and Solomon did in their days, and they ended awfully.
Proverbs 13:18 – NKJV
18 Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, but he who regards a rebuke will be honored.
Proverbs 15:5, 32 – NKJV
5 A fool despises his father’s instruction, but he who receives correction is prudent.
32 He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, but he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.
Don’t be deceived!
Don’t be a fool!
Heed your Heavenly Father’s instruction today!
Prayer:
My Dear Heavenly Father, I receive divine wisdom and boldness to disentangle myself from any unequal yoke with the unbelievers and even believers walking disorderly, in Jesus’ name. Amen.