Mon.’s Devo. -The Consequences of Rebellion

Read: 2 Chron. 21:1-23:21, Ro. 11:13-36, Ps. 22:1-18, Pr. 20:7 Jehoshaphat opened a door by joining Ahab in battle but Jehoram, his son, walked all the way through the door. He married Ahab’s daughter and followed the ways of Ahab instead of his own father. On Saturday, I wrote that Ahab and Jehoshaphat aligned themselves in marriage and I think this was the marriage they were talking about. They promised their children to be married. Terrible choice by Jehoshaphat. Jehoram killed all of his brothers….just in case they might try to usurp his throne. Because he rejected God, God shrunk his influence. The Edomites and the people of Libnah revolted against him and made their own kings. He rebuilt the high places and caused Judah to prostitute themselves with other gods. God sent Elijah to prophesy a plague that would be his punishment for all he had done. God also sent his enemies against him. They stole his wealth and his family from him. Then God sent the plague to his body. He died hated by his own people. When we are going the wrong way, God will send us adversity to get us to turn and be healed. Jehoshaphat never turned and neither did his son. But his grandson was hid in God for six years. He was brought forth in the seventh year, just as Jesus will be brought forth in the 7th millennium and declared king. God always wins in the end. In Romans we read that the Jew will be grafted back in to the vine of God’s family. It is all part of God’s plan. When Jesus cried out on the cross, “my God, why have you forsaken me” he was referring his disciples to this Psalms so they would read it and see it was talking about what he was experiencing at the moment. God NEVER abandoned Jesus on the cross and He will NEVER abandon us. Lord, may we walk with you the rest of our days.