Ships that Never Come In -- Posted 07-08-2008
II Chronicles 20, verses 31 - 37 reads as follows.
"And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty and five years old when he began to reign, and he
reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it, doing that which was right in the sight
of the Lord.
Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the
God of their fathers.
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Jehu the son of
Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.
And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly:
And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Ezion-gaber.
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."
Several things went very wrong in the life of this once "great king" of Judah.
1. King Jehoshaphat DID NOT eliminate the "high places" or "idol worship places."
2. King Jehoshaphat made a partnership with a KNOWN EVIL-DOER, King Ahaziah of Israel.
3. King Jehoshaphat made ships to sail to Tarshish (meaning the place of gems or stones).
4. King Jehoshaphat made the ships in Ezion-gaber (meaning a man's strong backbone).
One must understand that God hates idol worship! The first commandment given to Moses in Exodus 20:3 states,
"Thou shalt have no other Gods before me."
And again in Exodus 20:4 and 5.
"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or
that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor
serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the
third and fourth generation of them that hate me;"
As you can now plainly see, God considers idol worship unacceptable. God will not tolerate those who honor someone
or something more than Him. He said that He is a "jealous God." He alone is worthy of adoration, praise, and worship.
Furthermore, God will not accept anything less than complete dedication, total consecration, and absolute cooperation
from those who claim to love Him and those who desire to please Him.
It is God's desire that all men everywhere honor Him with their hearts, their minds, their souls, and their bodies.
Jehoshaphat's ship of acceptance never came in...
Scripture teaches specifically concerning becoming allies with evil. Read now several verses related to this very subject.
Isaiah 31:1 - "Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help..."
Exodus 34:12 - "Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou
goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:"
Psalm 1:1 - "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of
sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful."
Proverbs 24:1 - "Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them."
II Corinthians 6:14 - "Be ye not unequally yolked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath
righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?"
King Jehoshaphat strayed from the truth that he once held so dear. Why he thought he could "hook-up" with this evil
King Ahaziah and it please God is beyond my reasoning ability!
I often wonder the same thing about many in today's churches...
How can a man or woman confess to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and yet be "allied" with carnality
and fleshly lifestyles? Where have pastors and evangelists gone astray in their doctrine? Who changed the standard of the
Holy Bible? Surely NOT GOD!!!
Jehoshaphat's ship of dedication never came in...
These kings collectively decided to sail to Tarshish. Tarshish is known to mean "the place of gems or stones."
Recall from your memory when a certain man decided to dodge the will of God and boarded a ship headed to Tarshish.
Jonah decided this place of gems, or a place where the flesh could be satisfied, was better than God's will.
Let's face it! Gems and precious stones are beautiful. They are appealing. It's no wonder society has coined the
expression, "Diamonds are a girl's best friend."
The allure of the flesh is sometimes nearly irresistible. The desire to have more "stuff" is the motive of many in today's
society. And sadly, it's the motive for many "so-called" Christians!
But here is the real truth, my friend: God requires His children to overcome the drive within to "get,get,get!"
Examine these scriptures.
Romans 13:14 - "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts
thereof."
I Peter 4:2 - "That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will
of God."
See also these scriptures.
Luke 12:15 - "And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not
in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." (italics mine)
Mark 8:36 - "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"
King Jehoshaphat fell into the same trap many "Christians" have fallen into. The trap of "want."
So many have fallen off the scene because of their lust for things! They "wanted." The large majority of televangelists
have been deceived by this sin of want. This sin of covetousness. This sin of "not-overcoming" the flesh.
Jehoshaphat's ship of overcoming never came in...
Finally, these ships were built in a place called Ezion-gaber. Ezion-gaber is translated to mean a man's strong
backbone.
A man's strong backbone. The strength is found in the man. In HIS backbone. In HIS ability. In HIS strength.
One word my dear friends...PRIDE!!!
These ships were built in pride.
Remember the Titanic??? Remember that it was claimed to be "unsinkable?"
GUESS WHAT? IT IS STILL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA!!!
What caused it's demise? No...not an iceberg. It was pride that sank it!!
Observe these verses from God's Holy Word.
Proverbs 16:18 - "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."
Proverbs 21:4 - "An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin."
I John 2:16 - "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is
not of the Father, but is of the world."
God's desire is that you depend on Him. Not YOU!
It's a choice we all must make; do we follow our own thoughts, or do we heed the call of God?
Jehoshaphat's ship of humility never came in...
Sadly, for King Jehoshaphat his ships never came in. But it doesn't have to be that way for you.
Only you can decide.
II Corinthians 6:2 says,"...behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation.)” (emphasis mine)
Accept Christ Jesus into your life today. It's as simple as this small prayer...
Jesus, I realize and admit that I am a sinner, living as my flesh desires. I have not done as your Word instructs, and I am
sorry. I plead with you right now, to hear my humble prayer and I invite you to become the center of my life. I realize now, O
God, that I cannot make it in this life without you. I've tried for too long...
Please come into my life and abide in my soul...in my spiritual man. I need you to help me live as your Word commands. In
the name of Jesus...Amen.
If you have prayed this prayer...God has heard you.
Find a Bible-teaching church...and start attending.
Begin daily Bible reading...this is how God speaks to man.
And find time each day to pray to the Lord, in the name of Jesus, for this is now your spiritual lifeline with your Saviour.
Praise the Lord!!!
Evangelist Craig H Wright
| The Truths of God's Word An Outreach of Great Commission Holiness Ministries |
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