Focus: Unfitting Yokes

Text: 2Cor.6:14

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?"

There are yokes you don't need in your walk with God. God hates unequal yokes; they lack balance and fitness. They don't fit or align properly. Worldly yokes are dangerous and destructive. Paul pleads, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the YOKE OF BONDAGE" (Gal.5:1). Reject every yoke that is not of Christ. Reject the yoke of religion. It is written, "Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?" (Act.15:10). James cautions against putting on God's people the yoke of religion, because it tends to bondage.

The Lord Jesus instructs, "TAKE my YOKE upon you… FOR my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Mt.11:29,30). The yoke of Christ is purposeful and useful, and it fits well on your neck. You need the godly yokes of true fellowship, friendship and brotherhood. Paul refers to one of his brothers in Christ as "true yokefellow" (Phil.4:3).

On this matter of unequal yokes, we can learn from Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was a good and godly leader, but he allowed certain alliances that conflicted with and undermined his faith in God. First, we read that "Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and he joined affinity with Ahab" (2Chron.18:1). This is an unnecessary military alliance. Ahab was evil epitomized, and Jehoshaphat knew it. But he yoked himself with Ahab, and almost lost his life for it. He joined Ahab in battle against his enemies, and Ahab made him go to the battle in his royal robes, while he disguised himself. By doing so, he put Jehoshaphat in harm's way. Ahab outwitted Jehoshaphat. Ahab says to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle" (2Chron.18:29). You see deception! Worldly and carnal people are very crafty and deceitful.

The enemies had a strategy to focus on Ahab as their sole target. They positioned themselves to look out only for Ahab, and when they saw Jehoshaphat in his royal regalia, they thought he was Ahab. It was only by the timely intervention of God that he was able to escape being killed (2Chron.18:31-34). On his return to Jerusalem, a seer confronted him with these words, "Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? Therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD" (2Chron.19:2). Beware of certain alliances!

It is very unfortunate that Jehoshaphat did not learn his lessons, for after Ahab died, he continued the alliance with Ahaziah, Ahab's son. The Bible says, "And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah JOIN himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did VERY WICKEDLY" (2Chron.20:35). This time it is for both marital and commercial alliances. We read, "And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD" (2Chron.21:6). Jehoshaphat allowed Jehoram his son, to marry Ahab's daughter. That's marital alliance. Man doesn't learn much; he keeps repeating history, and as someone has said, "Each time history repeats itself, the price goes up." Even Jehoram's son repeated the same error. We read that "he ALSO walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly" (2Chron.22:3). He did what Jehoshaphat did by going to war with the son of Ahab, and came out of that battle mortally wounded (2Chron.22:5-7). O the mess of a faulty marital alliance! There is great danger in marrying into the family of Jezebel and Ahab. They are such a bad influence and a dangerous family for anyone to yoke himself together with.

Next we read that "Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber" (1Kgs.22:48). This is commercial deal that didn't go through. The ships were wrecked and the business flopped. When you inquire into the reason for this business failure, you will find out it has to do with a faulty commercial alliance. The Bible says, "Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish" (2Chron.20:37). Solomon's ship business thrived, but Jehoshaphat's own crashed because of unequal yoke (1Kgs.9:27). But this time I believe Jehoshaphat learned his lessons, for we read, "Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not" (1Kgs.22:49).

I tell you, the yoke of Christ is enough for you. His yoke fits so well. You need no other yokes. Make those who wear the yoke of Christ your true allies. Avoid wrong influences and unfitting alliances. Success in this life is possible with the right kind of company. You don't need unequal yokes.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter