When Our Sin Comes Back to Haunt Our Family
Jehoshaphat was one of the great kings of Israel. He served God faithfully and did many good things for his people. The Bible says that "His heart was devoted to the ways of the LORD" 2 Chron. 17:6. But he had one major flaw - he loved the people of his own race (Jews) more than he loved the God of the Jews.
The Kings of Israel (the northern kingdom) were wicked. They worshiped idols and violated every command of God they could find. One such evil king of Israel was Ahab. He and his wife Jezebel made up a special team of misfits - they murdered people, stole their property, promoted false religions, and killed the prophets of God. To this sort of people, Jehoshaphat decided to align himself.
So one day when Ahab wants to go to war with another city, Jehoshaphat joins him. Jehoshaphat says to Ahab "I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will join you in the war." (2 Chron. 18:3) Despite the warning of a prophet of God, Jehoshaphat went with Ahab.
Ahab paid with his life and Jehoshaphat almost got killed. Upon his return from battle a prophet rebuked Jehoshaphat saying "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD?" (2 Chron. 19:2) This area of pride or blind-spot in his life led him to take a daughter of Ahab as a wife for his son Jehoram. This was his greatest mistake.
After Jehoshaphat dies, Jehoram takes his father's throne. Then "he put all his brothers [the other sons of Jehoshaphat] to the sword with some of the princes of Israel...He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter of Ahab. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD." (2 Chron. 21:4-6)
So Johashaphat's sin of choosing to align himself with the wicked caused the murder of all his children. Even Jehoram was murdered by his officials for being so wicked.
May God give us the grace forsake pride and sin in our lives. It will come back to haunt us and maybe even our family. What pet sin are you allowing in your life today that can boomerang on your family tomorrow?
The Kings of Israel (the northern kingdom) were wicked. They worshiped idols and violated every command of God they could find. One such evil king of Israel was Ahab. He and his wife Jezebel made up a special team of misfits - they murdered people, stole their property, promoted false religions, and killed the prophets of God. To this sort of people, Jehoshaphat decided to align himself.
So one day when Ahab wants to go to war with another city, Jehoshaphat joins him. Jehoshaphat says to Ahab "I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will join you in the war." (2 Chron. 18:3) Despite the warning of a prophet of God, Jehoshaphat went with Ahab.
Ahab paid with his life and Jehoshaphat almost got killed. Upon his return from battle a prophet rebuked Jehoshaphat saying "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD?" (2 Chron. 19:2) This area of pride or blind-spot in his life led him to take a daughter of Ahab as a wife for his son Jehoram. This was his greatest mistake.
After Jehoshaphat dies, Jehoram takes his father's throne. Then "he put all his brothers [the other sons of Jehoshaphat] to the sword with some of the princes of Israel...He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter of Ahab. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD." (2 Chron. 21:4-6)
So Johashaphat's sin of choosing to align himself with the wicked caused the murder of all his children. Even Jehoram was murdered by his officials for being so wicked.
May God give us the grace forsake pride and sin in our lives. It will come back to haunt us and maybe even our family. What pet sin are you allowing in your life today that can boomerang on your family tomorrow?
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