It bugs me. Why? Because I know it reflects me.

Reading this morning in 2Chronicles about King Jehoshaphat of Judah — by all accounts, one of the “good kings.” He walked in the ways of David, seeking God and ordering his life according to the LORD’s commandments (2Chron. 17:3-4). He was bold in the ways of the LORD, even taking on the “high places” of false worship by taking them down (17:6). Not only did he seek to pursue and live by the word of God, he was active in helping his subjects to know it and live by it too (17:7-9). By God’s own assessment, he had set his heart to seek God (19:3). Thus, “the LORD established the kingdom in his hand” (17:5).

On the “faith scale” of zero-to-hero, Jehoshaphat trended pretty heavily on the “hero” side. So, it bugs me to read this:

Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor, and he made a marriage alliance with Ahab.

(2Chronicles 18:1 ESV)

He made a marriage alliance with Ahab . . .

What was he thinking?!? I don’t know for sure. But it has me thinking.

Jehoshaphat, good king, partners with Ahab, really, really, really bad king. God seeker couples himself with Baal worshiper. Someone with a passion for God pairs with someone whose life has been dedicated to the pursuit of idols. Talk about your unequal yoking; talk about righteousness partnering with lawlessness; talk about light fellowshiping with darkness (2Cor. 6:14). Then your talking about Jehoshaphat’s alliance with Ahab. So what’s up with that?

I don’t know. A strategic alliance for military purposes? Perhaps. A sentimental alliance with the wayward northern tribes of Jacob because of their shared gene pool? Could be. A short-sighted, astronomically miscalculated, bonehead move? Certainly (continue to read on in the chapter and see how Ahab plays Jehoshaphat like a fish). Nope, don’t know what Jehoshaphat was thinking.

But what I do know is that it bugs me. That I am bugged by the incongruity of Jehoshaphat’s heart and some of his actions. That I am bothered by the dissonance created because of his faithfulness and yet his foolishness. That I’m bewildered by what I think should be a mutual exclusivity between loving God and aligning oneself with God-haters (2Chron. 19:2b). Bugged because I know the dichotomy is real. And I know it because it’s real in me.

On the “follow scale” of “cast Him behind my back” (1Kings 14:9) vs. “love Him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength” (Mk. 12:3), I need to admit I’m a solid “some” — some of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Or, as Paul puts it, “I decide to do good, but I don t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway” (Rom. 7:17 MSG). Just like Jehoshaphat. Ugh!

This morning, Jehoshaphat’s a mirror reminding me that “the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do” (Gal. 5:17). That’s the reality. That’s how Jehoshaphat could set his his heart to seek God and still tether himself to Ahab. While pursuing the things of the Spirit, he was still battling the ways and the wisdom of the flesh. And that’s my reality. While being a new creation in Christ, I am still tripped up by the old man and his sinful nature. As the hymn writer so piercingly puts it, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the One I love.” Prone to do what is incompatible and unbecoming for a follower of Christ.

Thank God, for abiding, abundant, all-sufficient, amazing grace! Thank God, that on the cross all my sins — past, present, and future — were atoned for. Thank God, that while I may suffer the consequence of my sin, He will use even those consequences to train me so that I might increasingly “share His holiness” and know more and more “the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Heb. 12:10-11).

Mine is to confess, His is to forgive (1John 1:9). Mine is to repent, His is to wipe away my sin (Acts 3:19). Mine is to be humbled, His is to lift up (James 4:10).

And know what? When I think it about that way, I’m a lot less bugged and a lot more blessed.

Blessed because of His unfailing, unlimited grace.

Blessed only for His all-deserving, everlasting glory.