1 Kings 22:48
Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber. Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber.
Jehoshaphat built ships at Ezion-geber to go to Ophir for gold, but they were broken there and never made the voyage. The venture was undertaken in alliance with Ahab and his house. That alliance was a grave mistake in a reign otherwise described as good.
The wreck was God's intervention to frustrate a selfish, sordid and worldly pursuit of wealth and to save Jehoshaphat from its snare. Such a frustrated ambition can become an alarm that turns loss into seeking God's guidance and praising him. Joining with ungodly earthly powers for support brings defeat even when the ally looks promising, as this disaster shows.