Sticky Gray Areas

2 Chronicles 19:7
⁷ Now let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Judge carefully, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.”

Our God is a just God. Jehoshaphat was King of Judah and Ahab was King of Israel. Ahab was not happy with a prophet named Micaiah. He wasn't happy because every word given to him was one of correction. Instead of taking the correction from God's mouthpiece, Ahab rejected it. Because of this, a prophesy of judgment against Ahab had been issued that would result in his death. To avoid death, Ahab attempted to set up his ally Jehoshaphat. When it was time for them to go to war, Ahab had entered the battle in disguise so that Jehoshaphat would be the one attacked. But God's justice prevailed. God stepped in! Jehoshaphat was protected and Ahab was killed. This is an example of justice served. Afterward, correction was pronounced by another prophet against Jehoshaphat because he conferred with a man he knew didn't act according to God. But he was given grace and still used because God saw some good in him.

The story is an illustration of God's justice prevailing. What's wrong is wrong and what's right is right. God sees no gray in that area. No one can escape God's correction regardless. However, God does judge the heart. If one's heart is still leaning in the direction of God, then he will still make use of them. Jehoshaphat was used to establish judges in the land. Their job was to judge according to God's standards not man. Why? Man sees a lot of gray and like Jehoshaphat, man can be swayed to judge according to what benefits him. For that reason, we cannot rely on our own judgment but must seek God in all we do. We can be easily swayed and like Jehoshaphat, can be unknowingly set up. But God's grace is extended to all through Jesus Christ. It doesn't mean we do not have consequences of our decisions and actions but it means we don't have to feel the full wrath and there is a window to get it right.  Something to think about the next time we see a sticky situation approaching.