CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 851

“Relying on God – Unholy Alliances”

2 Chr 20:35-37 (NIV)  Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, who was guilty of wickedness.  He agreed with him to construct a fleet of trading ships. After these were built… Eliezer… prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have made an alliance with Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy what you have made.”  The ships were wrecked and were not able to set sail to trade.

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God wants us to rely on Him first.  His desire is that we lean on, trust, and depend on Him.  When we let our hearts grow cold and indifferent toward our relationship with God we distance ourselves from Him and are unable to lean upon Him.  Our misplaced trust in the material wealth of this world acts to further distance ourselves from God.  Yet another threat to our ability to continually rely on God comes from our forming and choosing to rely on worldly alliances first.

Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter.   As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. – 1 Ki 3:1; 11:4 (NIV)

Throughout the history of mankind, alliances have been formed in order to manipulate circumstances and to achieve an advantage over others.  In today’s Scriptures we see Jehoshaphat and Solomon, two faithful men of God, make serious strategic and tactical errors in forming alliances with the pagan nations that were enemies of God.  In our stubborn desire to maintain control of our circumstances we sometimes resort to almost anything rather than rely on God first.

Woe to the obstinate children,” declares the LORD, “to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin; who go down to Egypt without consulting me; who look for help to Pharaoh’s protection, to Egypt’s shade for refuge. – Isa 30:1-2 (NIV)”

What about you and me today?  What alliances have we made that God would not approve of?  Where and from whom have we sought help instead of seeking God first?  Have we entered into a business partnership that is on the shady side of truth and integrity?  Do we seek financial gain and security as investors in funds that derive a profit from ‘sin’ industries?  Are we unequally yoked in our personal relationships, our circle of friends and acquaintances?  The Scripture is as true today as it was when it was first written:

“Bad company ruins good morals.” — 1Cor 15:33

God is calling us to ally with Him first and foremost.  He wants us to be abandoned to Him and to rely on and trust in Him totally and completely.  May you learn to let the Holy Spirit guide you into holy alliances that God would have you enter into and avoid stepping out on your own.  May you have the strength of faith and resolve to break the yoke of any unholy alliances you may have already made and are now trusting in.  May you continually rely on God first to provide and guide you through all your circumstances.