Unity At Any Cost?

Harvest of Asher

Akko, Israel

Yeshua’s great prayer in John 17:21 is for us to be one as He and the Father are one. But do we believe in unity at any cost?

This question arose some 29 centuries ago during the time of King Jehoshaphat, son of Asa. In 2 Chronicles 20:31-37 we read that he walked in the way of his father, doing that which was right in the sight of the Lord. However, he did not remove the idols which remained on the high places throughout the Kingdom of Judah.

So Jehoshaphat was king over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. And he walked in the way of his father Asa, and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. Nevertheless the high places were not taken away, for as yet the people had not directed their hearts to the God of their fathers…

King Jehoshaphat was seeking unity between the (Southern) Kingdom of Judah and the (Northern) Kingdom of Israel. During his reign over Judah, there were two kings who ruled over Israel – Ahab and then his son Ahaziah. Seeking a strategic alliance through marriage, King Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram was wed to Athaliah, daughter of King Ahab and Jezebel (!) joining their families for political purposes.

Jehoshaphat made this alliance because of his desire for unity at any cost.

After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted very wickedly. And he allied himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made the ships in Ezion Geber. 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. (NKJV)

As a result of Jehoshaphat’s compromise, the prophet came and told him that the Lord had broken the treaty made with Ahaziah concerning ships to be sent to Tarshish (Ophir) for gold. The ships, due to sail from what is today Eilat, were destroyed. When King Ahaziah wanted to continue the plan to send ships – Jehoshaphat, finally heeding the words of the prophet, refused.

This sad story of King Jehoshaphat doesn’t end here but continues with the reign of his son Jehoram, who killed his six brothers to secure his position. I wonder if Jehoshaphat would have made the same decisions if he knew from the beginning that his desire for unity through compromise would open the door for God’s judgment?

The Word of God teaches us to walk in the light of holiness and not to live in compromise. We can learn from the example of King Jehoshaphat, that when opportunities come before us, we must use discernment. Our yes should be yes and our no should be no. We cannot compromise with idols nor with those who serve idols. We must be set apart to the LORD. The unity we seek comes only from Him.

SUPPORT NOW