Resurrection Life of Jesus Church

THE GODHEAD
The Godhead watched the funeral for King Asa and paused the virtual time run to discuss the justification project to vindicate themselves against the accusation by Lucifer of their unrighteousness.

As they examined the life of Asa, they saw that he made the decision to adhere to faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as a teenager. The Godhead placed tutors in his life who had taught him from the five books of Moses. Asa demonstrated that he wanted to please God more than man when he stripped his mother of her title and destroyed her idol and place of worship.

Asa’s knowledge of the law caused him to remove the sodomites, destroy the high places of worship in Judah and restore true worship to the temple in Jerusalem. When he faced a million-man army from Ethiopia, he had stayed true to his faith in God and sought divine intervention. As a result, the Godhead blessed him financially and prospered him as the king of Judah.

But they noticed that when Lucifer challenged him with an attack from King Baasha of Israel, Asa deviated from his reliance upon God and started to use his own intelligence and experience to avoid a war with Israel. He bypassed the Lord because he was rich and figured he could handle the situation himself.

Using the gold and silver with which the Godhead had blessed him, Asa used the king of Syria as a mercenary to do the fighting on his behalf. Asa’s advisors thought this was a brilliant move since it saved the lives of many soldiers from Judah and left the dying to the Syrians.

The Godhead looked at each other, knowing their thoughts and ways were higher than anything mankind was capable of reasoning or achieving. Lucifer had been able to lure Asa into self-reliance instead of keeping his confidence and trust upon God at all times. Isaiah 55:8-9

When they sent the prophet Azariah to rebuke Asa with the intent of bringing him to repentance, Asa used his free will to defy them and treated Azariah badly, including the men who agreed with the Godhead and their prophet.

Such an affront could not go unpunished and they ordered an angel to strike Asa’s feet with a disease to bring him into submission. Asa got even angrier and tried in vain to find doctors that could cure him. Two years later the Godhead decided to end Asa’s life after he stubbornly refused to repent.

Would Jehoshaphat learn from his father’s mistake? The only way to find out was to resume the virtual time run and see what Jehoshaphat would do with his free will.

KING JEHOSHAPHAT
Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when Asa died and he became the new king of Judah. He was already married with children. Like his father, we don’t know anything about his marital life, but we can deduce that Jehoshaphat was a mature man when he ascended to the throne. 2 Chronicle 20:31

He believed that Judah should have a strong military and organized the army, set up garrisons in the different cities, including the territory that his father had taken from Israel. 2 Chronicles 17:1-2

Jehoshaphat was educated in the five books of Moses; he loved the Lord and prospered. verses 3-6

AN EDUCATION SYSTEM
Jehoshaphat was an intelligent man who realized that education was vital for the survival of the nation. He knew what had taken place in the northern kingdom with idol worship. Israel was on its seventh king, having fully walked away from the Lord.

He realized that he had been given the education necessary to run a nation. Every skilled worker in Judah, whether it was a carpenter, stone mason, shoemaker, iron smith, wagon builder, etc., had all served as an apprentice for a number of years before they were capable and proficient of producing a quality product.

God had spoken to Moses about the way each family was to educate their children.  Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Jehoshaphat decided to create a first-class educational system. 2 Chronicles 17:7-9

THE NATION FLOURISHES
When a nation turns to God, God will automatically bless that nation and prosper its people. Peace will break out and there will be joy in the land. Instead of war, the Philistines paid taxes to Judah. Even the fierce Arabs from the south brought gifts to the nation because the laws of God were being taught throughout Judah and business flourished. verses 10-13

Jehoshaphat had permanent garrisons stationed in different cities and various generals in command of a mobile army totaling 1.16 million men. verses 14-19

• Adnah (300,000 men)
• Jehohanan (280,000 men)
• Amasiah (200,000 men)
• Eliada (200,000 archers)
• Jehozabad (180,000 men)

ENTICED BY THE DEVIL
For some reason Jehoshaphat was attracted to his counterpart in Israel. King Ahab was the poster boy of a Luciferian disciple and the Bible does not reveal why Jehoshaphat was drawn to Ahab. 2 Chronicles 18:1

After a number of years as king, Jehoshaphat decided to conduct a state visit to Samaria and meet with Ahab. verse 2

Ahab knew that Jehoshaphat had an outstanding army and wanted help in taking back territories he had lost to Syria. verses 3-4

Ahab assembled his lying false prophets to make a good impression upon the king of Judah. verse 5

Jehoshaphat sought a real prophet of God and Micaiah delivered a message that Ahab did not like. verses 6-27

The battle did not go well and Ahab was killed. Jehoshaphat returned home to Jerusalem. verses 28-34

THE PROPHET JEHU
The Godhead was upset with Jehoshapaht. Why would he choose to mingle with a man that so deeply embraced sin? The prophet Jehu delivered a strong warning to the king. 2 Chronicles 19:1-3

Jehoshaphat decided to strengthen the judicial system in Judah. verses 4-11

He removed the sodomites who remained in Judah. 1 Kings 22:46

WAR RETURNED
Jehoshaphat broke the protective hedge the Godhead had erected around Judah when he made a pact with Ahab and now war was coming. 2 Chronicles 20:1-2

Jehoshaphat remembered the disaster that occurred with his father. Even with a large mobile army, he was determined not to make the same mistake and trust in his own strength. As a result, he sought the Lord for help against the mighty army that was coming to fight. verses 3-13

The prophet Jahaziel was sent to give Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah an answer to their prayers. verses 14-19

Jehoshaphat knew this was going to be a spiritual battle and he put singers in front to lead the army. The Godhead intervened just as prophesied and Judah did not lose a single soldier. verses 20-28

Great fear came upon the surrounding nations because God fought against the enemies of Judah. There was peace as long as Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. verses 29-32

MISTAKES
For all his good, Jehoshaphat committed certain mistakes:

1. He aligned himself with King Ahab of Israel and later with Azariah.

2. He allowed his son to marry a heathen girl named Athaliah.

3. He failed to remove the high places of worship in the parts of Israel he controlled.  verse 33

4. He started a joint venture of building a fleet with the sinful King Ahaziah of Israel. Jehoshaphat allowed the fleet to be a joint venture, but he refused to let any sailors from Israel sail to Ophir to trade for gold. The Godhead did not like this joint effort and the project failed. 1 Kings 22:48-49; 2 Chronicles 20: 35-37

SERPENT SEED
Jehoshaphat’s affinity with the kings of Israel laid the foundation for a severe reversal in Judah when he died.

He allowed his son to marry Ahab’s daughter and put on a royal wedding for the couple.

All the good that Jehoshaphat had done in Judah was erased the day he died and Jehoram became the next king. 2 Chronicles 21:5-6