2 Kings 3:13-15 KJV
Some people carry some Favour and Mercy that stand like a mighty tree with great branches of protective shadows from the hot baking sun. Some people carry the protective Favour and encompassing mercy of God that shield all those who move along with them. So, such people, whoever be their friends stand under the protective shadow of Favour and mercy; and whoever stand against them, chooses to stand in the hot scourging sun.
Such Umbrella Favour and Mercy was what Jehoshaphat, the God-fearing King of Judah, carry about wherever he went and the kings of Israel always wanted to be his friend. And because of this, he outlived about two or three kings of Israel, and each of the Kings were always standing under his Umbrella of Favour.
One of those kings of Israel was Joram, and this is what there Bible says about him:
2 Kings 3:1-3 NIV
[1] Joram son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned twelve years.
[2] He did evil in the eyes of the Lord,….
[3] ….he clung to the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.
And in I Kings 22:42-43, this is what the Bible says about Jehoshaphat, King of Judah:
1 Kings 22:42-43 NIV
[42] Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.
[43] In everything he followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.
Therefore, when the King of Israel was going to war with the King of Moab, he called, he called his friend, King of Edom and most importantly, Jehoshaphat, the King of Judah to go with him to war with the Moabites. On their way to the battle, they lost directions in the desert and had no water to drink. Jehoshaphat requested that they look for a Prophet of God to receive instruction from God. So, they came to the presence of Elisha, the prophet in place of Elijah.
When Elijah looked at the three Kings, the Bible says:
I Kings 3:13-15
[13] And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the Lord hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab.
[14] And Elisha said, As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.
[15] But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him.
Thus, Kings of Israel and the King of Edom stood under the Umbrella of favor carried by Jehoshaphat, King of Judah. The Lord would not have favored the two kings if not for the presence of King of Judah. If the two kings alone had gone to the battle, they would have died of thirst in the wilderness. But the presence of the King of Judah had given them favour for divine direction and victory over their enemies.
When the Prophet saw Jehoshaphat in their midst, who carried an Umbrella of favour and Mercy, the heaven opened up for help for the two kings and the Prophet received Word of Deliverance and Victory for them:
2 Kings 3:16-18 NIV
[16] and he said, “This is what the Lord says: I will fill this valley with pools of water.
[17] For this is what the Lord says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink.
[18] This is an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord; he will also deliver Moab into your hands.
The kings got deliverance and victory because of the Favour carried by Jehoshaphat, King of Judah.
In Acts 27: 20-24, because of the presence of Paul in the ship that was caught in a hurricane storming winds, the whole people in the ship would have perished in the shipwreck if not for the presence of Paul Apostle who carried an Umbrella of Favor and Mercy. The Bible says:
Acts 27:21-24
[21] After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss.
[22] But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.
[23] Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me
[24] and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’
Every child of God, Spirit filled and Blood-Washed carry an Umbrella of Favour and Mercy which covers them and their family and whoever goes along with them well. That was why God says of ABRAHAM that whoever cursed him He would curse. Whoever blessed him He would bless. Whoever goes against a Blood-Washed, Spirit-Filled child of God stands outside of God’s favour and Mercy.
So, do you now know who you are and What you carry?
Do you know why you must stand with God without straying away? Because you carry an Umbrella of Favour and Mercy which covers a lot of souls and shield a lot of destinies from destruction. The Faithfulness and Steadfastness of Joseph shielded the entire house of Jacob from famine the ravaged the Canaan land. Esther’s presence protected the tribe of Jews from the hand of Haman.
YOUR STANDING FOR GOD, IS NOT ABOUT YOU ALONE, BUT ABOUT A LOT OF SOULS AND DESTINIES.
It is well.
Aphorism CITY 