Choose Partnerships Carefully - King Jehoshaphat

[Ahab] turned to Jehoshaphat and asked, “Will you join me in battle to recover Ramoth-gilead?” Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “Why, of course! You and I are as one. My troops are your troops, and my horses are your horses.”

1 Kings 22:4

History is filled with examples of foolish alliances. Among the worst was the Munich Pact, a 1938 peace treaty between British prime minister Neville Chamberlain and German chancellor Adolf Hitler. Following this agreement, which historians agree was just an attempt at appeasement, Chamberlain famously declared, “I believe it is peace for our time.”

The “peace” that Chamberlain brokered with one of history’s most notorious leaders didn’t last. Germany occupied Prague and invaded Poland the following year, forcing Chamberlain to declare war on Germany in September of 1939.

The Munich Pact and its aftermath were a reminder of the danger of entering into alliances with evil men who have no intent to keep the peace.

You can see the same lesson in the story of Jehoshaphat, the godly king of Judah. Like many other kings in that era, he began his reign by doing great things for his kingdom.

Jehoshaphat marred his legacy when he entered into an ill-advised—and eventually disastrous—military alliance with Ahab, the godless king of Israel (see 1 Kings 22:43-44). This alliance led to a stinging defeat for Israel and Jehoshaphat as well as a strong rebuke from the prophet Jehu (see 2 Chronicles 19:1-3).

Though Jehoshaphat erred when he entered into partnership with such an evil man, God spared him because he had otherwise served him faithfully as king of Israel.

Jehoshaphat made what could have been a great reign into a good one because of his compromise and lack of wisdom in dealing with Ahab.

Life will present you with opportunities to enter into all sorts of agreements or relationships in business, friendship, and even marriage. It’s important that you carefully consider which agreements, friendships, and alliances you will form, and with whom you will form them.