[This is one in a series of mid-week Reflections published by Horley Baptist Church during November 2020]
In 1 Kings we read that “King Solomon also built ships at Ezion Geber, which is near Elath in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea”. “The king had a fleet of trading ships at sea along with the ships of Hiram. Once every three years it returned carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and peacocks.” In this way his maritime adventures brought great wealth to Solomon.
Jehoshaphat, a later king of Judah who is described as doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord, also built a fleet of trading ships. He had intended to replicate the success of Solomon’s ventures but this second fleet was wrecked at Ezion Geber before it had got very far.
Why is it that some ventures succeed and others fail? Both were initiated by godly men so those who wish to learn from these events must look elsewhere. Perhaps it was the destination – Solomon’s cargoes came from Ophir, often identified with an area to the east of India. Jehoshaphat’s fleet was intended to go to Tarshish, in southern Spain. (You will recall that Jonah tried the same, with no greater success.) Surely it was not realistic to send ships based at a Red Sea port to southern Spain before the days of the Suez Canal, especially when Joppa offered a more direct route.
Are there times when we let our ambitions override God-given common sense?
The Biblical accounts tell us that it was in fact the kings’ choice of partner which was key to the success or failure of their respective ventures. Solomon’s sailors worked with those of Hiram, a man who at least recognised and respected the Lord, the God of Israel, whereas Jehoshaphat chose Ahaziah, a man whose ways are described as wicked. Jehoshaphat was told “Because you have made an alliance with Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy what you have made” [2 Chronicles 20 v37].
Is there a lesson here? You may not be planning to go down to the sea in ships, or even to venture outside your own front door right now. As we have seen so dramatically this year:
“The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm for ever, the purposes of his heart through all generations” [Psalm 33].
Are His plans your plans too?
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Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © the Author
