AVERT HIS WRATH
JUNE 30, 2025
TEXT: ” And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD” (2 Chronicles 19:2 )
“There’s no smoke without fire” is a common saying that means if something happens, there is usually a reason for it. This is often true for the bad and difficult things we face in life. Even if these events seem random or unfair, there are usually reasons behind them, even if we can’t see them right away. By looking closer at these reasons, we can understand and deal with our problems better.
The Bible says, “A curse causeless shall not come” (Prov. 26:2). Sadly, some Christians face problems and bad luck that seem to go against what God promises in His Word. Instead of looking inside themselves and asking God for help to understand why they are suffering, these believers might pray in the wrong way or fight the wrong battles. They may not see that their struggles could come from issues within themselves. In these cases, not knowing the truth can lead to solutions that don’t work and can even make the problems worse for these Christians.
In today’s scripture, God shows us an important reason why He might be angry with believers and how we can avoid this. Jehoshaphat has come back successfully from a battle where he teamed up with the bad king Ahab of Israel. God sent a messenger named Hanani to tell him that joining with evil people was wrong. The prophet’s message was clear: Jehoshaphat’s friendship with the wicked was the main reason for God’s anger and disapproval.
Taking the prophet’s warning seriously, Jehoshaphat quickly felt sorry for his mistakes and decided to fix them. He didn’t just admit his own wrongs; he also wanted to help everyone affected by his bad choices return to God. Because of his true regret and promise to make things right, Jehoshaphat was able to escape God’s full anger. He showed how important it is to admit our mistakes and ask for forgiveness and to make peace.
The Lord does not keep His displeasure with unequal yoke a secret. He strongly dislikes any relationship that a believer has with wicked and ungodly people. Those who ignore God’s view on this and choose to be close to the ungodly through marriage, business, friendship, worship, or any other close relationship put themselves at risk of facing God’s anger.
Do you think about why bad things happen in your life? Are you confused about why your business is failing even though you are trying hard? Do you wonder why peace and progress seem to be missing from your family? Do you ask yourself why it feels like you never receive God’s blessings? Before blaming someone else for these problems, think about whether they might be caused by a bad relationship or connection you have made.
SEARCHLIGHT: Whoever befriends the world becomes an opponent of God.
PRAYER: Almighty God, help me to resist the pull of the world’s temptations and instead seek true friendship with You. Guide me to honor You in every aspect of my life and shun relationships that turn my heart away from You. Amen.
BIBLE READING: Psalm 83-85; 1 peter 3
PASTOR MICHAEL OMOLE
