Can a leader be effective if there is jealousy, desire for renown, or blind ambition in a their life? In 2 Chronicles 21 and 22 the choice Jehoshaphat made to align with Ahab by marriage has an adverse effect on his sons. Did these wives taken from Israel by Jehoshaphat’s sons draw them away from God? Idolatry became the status quo for Judah just as it was for Israel. In the midst of Judah’s unfaithfulness God was not willing to destroy them because of His promise to David. Do you find encouragement inthe great faithfulness God proves continually?
How does God react towards this unfaithfulness? When Jehoshaphat ruled and kept his heart set towards following God Judah was blessed with a time of peace because the dread of God was upon the nations surrounding Judah. Once Judah started to play the harlot, just as Israel, God removed the dread of Himself from the surrounding nations and Judah was invaded.
When we volitionally follow God and seek to keep His commandments He may readily choose to shelter you from harm. When we play the harlot to whatever idol we choose God may use hardship to nudge us back to Him. Can any guarantee of favor from God be obtained? There is nothing good or bad that I can do that will change how God will choose to interact in my life. I believe that there is something that happens when we seek to follow God wholeheartedly but I cannot fully express that in words. I exhort you to cling to God with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength. How does submission to God work? It is a daily relationship that blossoms into a love for God as you learn who He is. It is a mystery to me but I am enjoying new facets to this sojourning with God on a daily basis.
