Burunche’s Blog

2 Kings 11:13 – 21 “When Athaliah heard the noise from the guards and the people, she went out to the people in the house of the LORD. And she looked out and saw the king standing by the pillar, according to the custom. The officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets.

Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason! Treason!”

And Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the house of the LORD.” So they seized Athaliah as she reached the horses’ entrance to the palace grounds, and there she was put to death.

Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people that they would be the LORD’s people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people.

So all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.

And Jehoiada the priest posted guards for the house of the LORD. He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD and entered the royal palace by way of the Gate of the Guards.

Then Joash took his seat on the royal throne, and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been put to the sword at the royal palace. Joash was seven years old when he became king.”

Righteous Jehoiada, the high priest, has arranged a hasty coronation for Joash. Traditionally, kings of Judah were crowned by having them stand next to the king’s pillar in the temple. The high priest would then anoint the king, confirming his ascension to the throne, and trumpets would sound a fanfare. There might also be priests blowing shofars.

Athaliah, the pretender to the throne, is relaxing in the palace when she suddenly hears all kinds of noise in the temple next door. Trumpets and shofars are blowing, and people are shouting so loudly that the earth is shaking. Athaliah hops up off her luxurious couch and stalks out of the palace, entering the temple by the royal entrance.  The sight that meets Athaliah’s eyes is the stuff of her worst nightmares. Jehoiada, the high priest, is standing at the king’s pillar with little Joash next to him. To make matters worse, Joash is wearing a simple crown, and all the people are screaming, “Long live King Joash! Long live the King! Hosannah!” Athaliah refuses to believe this is happening; tearing her clothes, she cries, “Treason! Treason!” But things soon get far worse for Athaliah.

As soon as Jehoiada sees Athaliah, he orders commanders of hundreds in charge of the army to drag Athaliah out of the temple and to kill anyone who tries to help her. Athaliah, meanwhile, has turned and is running back to the palace. The soldiers catch Athaliah just as she reaches the horses’ entrance to the palace grounds and kill her there, spilling her blood on the ground so that horses will trample it and dogs will lick it up. This daughter of wicked King Ahab who has schemed, murdered, manipulated, and terrorized the people of Judah has met a fitting end, one that was predicted by the prophet Elijah.

Jehoiada then proceeds to make a covenant between the people and the Lord, that they will be the Lord’s people. Fueled by a passion to see justice done, the people swarm to the temple of Baal and tear it down. The mob smashes the altars and idols to pieces and kills Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of his own altars. Joash ascends the throne, and all the people of Judah rejoice. There is peace in Jerusalem because Athaliah is no longer alive to practice her witchcraft and to terrorize people. King Joash is only seven years old, but Jehoiada is there to advise him. The nation draws a collective breath and sighs a sigh of relief.   

APPLICATION: The Book of Proverbs Chapter 29 has many things to say about just and unjust rulers. V. 2 “When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.” V.4. “By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down.” V.12 “If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.” V. 14 “If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will be established forever.” V. 16 “When the wicked thrive, so does sin, but the righteous will see their downfall.”

Queen Athaliah seized power; however, she was never anointed of the Lord to rule. As a usurper, Athaliah felt that she did not need the blessing of God; after all, she was serving Baal and all kinds of other demons. In the end, Athaliah died a shameful death and people celebrated when she died. The only people who might have felt sorry about Athaliah’s death were her chosen assassins and other agents who had made become rich serving Athaliah. But even these people were probably relieved. Athaliah was a woman with a whim of iron, and nobody could predict her next target. Today you might be Athaliah’s favorite, but tomorrow, you might find yourself with a garrot wire around your neck or a knife between your shoulder blades, quietly dying in a corner.

What happened to bring Athaliah down? People prayed! As the high priest, Jehoiada had a calling to intercede for his nation. Rest assured that as a righteous man, Jehoiada would have prayed long and hard to counteract the floodtide of evil that Athaliah brought to Judah. There were probably others in Judah who were just as grieved by Athaliah’s wickedness and who were also interceding.

Jehoiada was undoubtedly a brilliant man and an excellent tactician, but without Jehosheba hiding Joash and his nurse in the first place, there would have been no legitimate heir to be crowned as king. It was prayer that gave Jehosheba the courage to keep moving Joash and his nurse around the palace one step ahead of Athaliah. It was prayer that gave Jehoiada the inspiration for the timing of Joash’s coronation. And it was prayer that caused the nation of Judah to accept a seven – year – old as king in the face of stern opposition from wicked Athaliah.

Nations may have changed and dynasties have crumbled, but God is still on the throne. Are you upset about recent events around the world? God is still answering prayer. The same God who protected Joash and Jehoiada and Jehosheba is still on the throne. Want things to change? PRAY!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to pray and not lose heart! Help us to remember that You work through answering our prayers. Encourage all who read these words. Thank you for sending Jesus to die as the blood offering for our sins so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Kings 11:1 – 12 “1 When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs. But Jehosheba daughter of King Joram, the sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the sons of the king who were being murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah, and he was not killed.

And Joash remained hidden with his nurse in the house of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

Then in the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards, and had them brought into the house of the LORD. There he made a covenant with them and put them under oath.

He showed them the king’s son and commanded them, “This is what you are to do: A third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath shall guard the royal palace, a third shall be at the gate of Sur, and a third at the gate behind the guards. You are to take turns guarding the temple— the two divisions that would go off duty on the Sabbath are to guard the house of the LORD for the king. You must surround the king with weapons in hand, and anyone who approaches the ranks must be put to death. You must stay close to the king wherever he goes.”

So the commanders of hundreds did everything that Jehoiada the priest had ordered. Each of them took his men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—and came to Jehoiada the priest. Then the priest gave to the commanders of hundreds the spears and shields of King David from the house of the LORD.  And the guards stood with weapons in hand surrounding the king by the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.

Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, presented him with the Testimony, and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and declared, “Long live the king!”

It’s time to talk about Athaliah, the sometime Queen of Judah. Athaliah is Ahab’s daughter and Omri’s granddaughter. Athaliah is also King Ahaziah’s mother. A true descendant of Jezebel, Athaliah is a vile woman whose controlling passion is a lust for power. It’s likely that Athaliah may also be a priestess for Baal or Asherah. Jehu has slaughtered both King Ahaziah and King Joram, as well as the seventy sons of Ahab and forty – two relatives of Ahaziah. With Ahaziah out of the way, Athaliah has a clear path to the throne and she seizes power. To ensure her position, Athaliah herself annihilates all the remaining royal heirs. Now Athaliah believes that she will reign for the rest of her life.

Stop for a moment and consider: Athaliah is murdering her own grandsons! Imagine having Athaliah for a grandmother – “Here, have a nice poisoned cookie! Now go over there in the corner and die quietly!”

But hidden away is little Joash, the remaining son of King Ahaziah. Joash and his nurse owe their lives to Jehosheba, King Ahaziah’s sister. The name Jehosheba means “fullness” or “oath of the Lord.” The name “Joash” means “God has given.” Somehow, even amongst all the idolatry and wickedness that has pervaded the palace, God still has a faithful servant who is willing to risk her life to save her nephew’s. This passage mentions two different locations in which Joash and his nurse have been hidden – a bedroom in the palace and a room in the temple. Perhaps both are correct, and Jehosheba has had to move Joash and his nurse around to dodge Athaliah and her minions.   

Jehoiada, the high priest, is a righteous man who fears God and refuses to bow to Athaliah. The name Jehoiada means “Yaweh knows.” Jehoiada has been working behind the scenes with Jehosheba, and when Joash is seven years old, Jehoiada decides that the time has come to bring out Joash and crown him as king. Joash needs to be old enough that he can speak sensibly; in addition, Jehoiada may fear that they can’t hide Joash very much longer. In addition, the depravities of Queen Athaliah are getting worse every day. No, it’s time to bring out Joash!

It’s significant that when Jehoiada calls a meeting with the commanders of hundreds and with the temple guards, everyone agrees with him and nobody sneaks off to inform Queen Athaliah. Obviously, Athaliah has followed in her mother Jezebel’s footsteps and is thoroughly hated. Swiftly, Jehoiada organizes a system of guards for little Joash and then brings Joash into the temple, blows trumpets, and proclaims him as king. The people break out into celebration. Nobody regrets that Athaliah will no longer be the ruler over Judah!

APPLICATION: Many of us have been in situations in which someone has worked to undermine us. Some of us may even have seen times when there were those who tried to get us out of a situation permanently. The lesson for us is this: God’s got your back!

If Queen Athaliah had had her way, little Joash would have been merely one more body in a nameless grave. To remain in power, Athaliah might have been willing to strangle Joash herself. But Jehosheba and Jehoiada both feared God, and they refused to allow Athaliah to get at Joash. (Jehoiada may have hidden Joash in one of the temple rooms allotted to the priests, a place from which Athaliah was forbidden.)

No matter how evil Athaliah was, God was stronger than the demons she was serving. God preserved Joash and Jehosheba and Jehoiada. If God has called you to a work, then rest assured that God will protect you until you complete what He has called you to do. Does this mean that things will be easy? Far from it! We have endured many times where individuals interested only in their own gain have attempted to remove us from the places to which God has called us. In every case, God has intervened and strengthened us, protecting us until our work in that location has been completed. God does not save us FROM affliction; He saves us in the midst of affliction.

Are you going through rough times right now? Make sure that you are doing what God wants. If you have the assurance that you are in the center of God’s will for your life, then hang on! The same God who protected Joash and who brought him to the throne of Judah will work for you as well.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to trust You, even in the middle of problems. Give all those who are reading these words Your assurance that You will never leave them or forsake them. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

 Kings 10:28 – 36 “Thus Jehu eradicated Baal from Israel, but he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit—the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan.

Nevertheless, the LORD said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in My sight and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel.”

Yet Jehu was not careful to follow the instruction of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.

In those days the LORD began to reduce the size of Israel. Hazael defeated the Israelites throughout their territory from the Jordan eastward through all the land of Gilead (the region of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh), and from Aroer by the Arnon Valley through Gilead to Bashan.

As for the rest of the acts of Jehu, along with all his accomplishments and all his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? And Jehu rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria, and his son Jehoahaz reigned in his place. So the duration of Jehu’s reign over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.

Remember Jehu, the successful army commander, the man who wiped out Baal worship in Israel, fulfilling God’s word? Even though Jehu made all kinds of references to the God of Israel, he did not follow God whole – heartedly. For reasons known only to himself, Jehu combined worship of God with worship of the golden calf idols established by Jeroboam at Dan and Bethel.

Why would anyone make such a foolish choice? The problem was that although Jehu spoke a lot about God, his knowledge was all second – hand. Jehu was relying on things he had heard Elisha and other say; however, Jehu himself was not a true God – worshiper. In addition, Jehu never really had an experience of God’s presence. Perhaps Jehu viewed himself as a rough tough military commander who had no use for anything that he could not see or touch. Perhaps Jehu had been raised as a worshiper of the golden calf from his youth. The golden calf was an Egyptian idol that represented several things including fertility, but those altars had been there for a long time. Perhaps Jehu was afraid to worship God for fear that people would then want to travel to Jerusalem in the kingdom of Judah. At any rate, Jehu did not worship the God of Israel, even though he claimed to have carried out God’s will.

Jehu’s apostasy had terrible results. It was that during Jehu’s reign that God began to reduce Israel’s territory as Hazael of Syria took back all the land east of the Jordan. In other ways, Israel continued to slide downhill spiritually.

APPLICATION: One of the first things we learned when we came to Ghana a long time ago was to ask a pertinent question. When people would tell us that they loved God, we learned to ask “which god are we talking about?” This question was not an idle one. We soon learned that there were those who were masquerading as Christians; however, once we got through the thin veneer of Christianity, we soon learned that they were following other gods. One denominational leader was actually practicing an Eastern religion and had set up an altar with fruit and flowers in a room with black walls that he kept locked. It was only when this man stepped down and others entered the headquarters that they discovered this place. There were those church members whose families worshiped fetishes and who made regular trips to the shrine and sacrificed animals and white cocks.

Jehu is really a tragic figure because he had so much potential and he wound up wasting it. In the beginning, Jehu was doing the work of God. But when Jehu assumed the throne, suddenly the God of Israel wasn’t enough for him. When the pressure was on, Jehu reverted to the same mistakes Jeroboam had made, even though God’s prophets repeatedly criticized Jeroboam and warned rulers not to follow the same course that he did.

Perhaps part of Jehu’s problem was a desire to maintain power. As a military commander, Jehu had a great deal of control. But as a king, Jehu needed a means of rallying people to himself. Perhaps Jehu turned to the worship of the golden calves much as Jeroboam had, to keep people in Israel rather than encouraging them to go to Judah.

Because Jehu did the work of the Lord at one point, God allowed him to have four generations who would rule after him. But what might have happened had Jehu truly worshiped God? At that point, God might have established Jehu’s throne for centuries, rather than for generations.

What do we really worship? In what do we trust? Do we rely on our jobs to give us significance? Do we rely on leadership positions in the community? If those things that make us feel important were to suddenly disappear, what would we trust in then?

God is the only One in whom we can safely trust. Psalm 46:1 – 3 tells us, “God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”

Don’t make the mistake that Jehu made! Jehu did God’s work for awhile but then wandered off into idolatry. Trust God and follow Him whole – heartedly! You will never regret that decision.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to continue to follow You, even when we are tempted to do something else to maintain control. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Kings 10:18 – 27 “Then Jehu brought all the people together and said, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot. Now, therefore, summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests. See that no one is missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing will not live.”

But Jehu was acting deceptively in order to destroy the servants of Baal.

And Jehu commanded, “Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal.” So they announced it.

Then Jehu sent word throughout Israel, and all the servants of Baal came; there was not a man who failed to show. They entered the temple of Baal, and it was filled from end to end.

And Jehu said to the keeper of the wardrobe, “Bring out garments for all the servants of Baal.” So he brought out garments for them.

Next, Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rechab entered the temple of Baal, and Jehu said to the servants of Baal, “Look around to see that there are no servants of the LORD here among you—only servants of Baal.” And they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside and warned them, “If anyone allows one of the men I am delivering into your hands to escape, he will forfeit his life for theirs.”

When he had finished making the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guards and officers, “Go in and kill them. Do not let anyone out.”

So the guards and officers put them to the sword, threw the bodies out, and went into the inner room of the temple of Baal.

They brought out the sacred pillar of the temple of Baal and burned it. They also demolished the sacred pillar of Baal. Then they tore down the temple of Baal and made it into a latrine, which it is to this day.

FROM TEMPLE TO LATRINE! Jehu is still carrying out God’s commands, and God wants Baal worship to be eliminated. To that end, Jehu pretends to become a fervent Baal worshiper. Jehu calls for all the men who are Baal worshipers to enter the temple and to wear the ritualistic garments. Jehu also warns the priests to make sure there are no servants of the Lord in the crowd. So the Baal worshipers crowd into the temple. Meanwhile, Jehu has stationed eighty soldiers outside the temple; as soon as the sacrifices are complete and worshipers are concentrating on the priests, these soldiers enter the temple and slaughter everyone. The soldiers throw the bodies of the Baal worshipers out and collect all the sacred items, including the pillar of Baal and burn them. Then Jehu’s men demolish the temple and make it into a latrine! Once the temple grounds have been desecrated by people defecating there, the temple can never be rebuilt on that site.

APPLICATION: God really has a sense of humor. For years, God’s chosen people have prostituted themselves before the demon god Baal. Baal was believed to control rain as well as crop fertility. Baal worshipers indulged in all kinds of perverted worship practices. Finally, God has had enough. God moves Jehu to slaughter the Baal worshipers and priests and to burn all the sacred items so that nobody can keep something privately in their home. The pillar of Baal is destroyed and the temple put to the torch. Then the site of the temple is used for a latrine, clearly demonstrating what God thinks about Baal.

Here Jehu does well, carrying out God’s will. If only Jehu would continue to serve God whole – heartedly, all would be well. Later on, Jehu himself falls into idolatry, but for today, Jehu does the right thing. Avenger #2 is fulfilling God’s assignment.

“But,” you ask, “what if some of those people in that temple were actually innocent?” Good question. That’s why Jehu ordered the priests of Baal to weed out any servants of the Lord who might have wandered in to satisfy their idle curiosity. We must conclude that God knew the hearts of all those left in that temple and that those men refused to repent.

Curiosity in the operations of the occult can be very dangerous. Many years ago, a local chief invited a fetish priestess to come do sooth – saying after several young people had died mysteriously. Our little village was swarming with demons. One of our hospital workers who was on her way to the chief’s palace to witness this event was nearly raped by one of the young men. A watchman at a local school committed suicide, allegedly at the urging of the traditional bush spirits. Church members who were foolish enough to insist on watching the fetish priestess suffered for their lack of judgement.

These days, there are many programs on television, videos, and YouTube channels promoting the occult. We watch these things at the peril of our immortal souls. Playing with darkness is always dangerous. Although we may delude ourselves into thinking that we are strong and can resist any influence, we have no idea what will actually happen to us. Darkness and light cannot exist at the same time in the same place. At any moment we are choosing to walk in the light or to turn away from it. But returning to the light may prove difficult or nearly impossible.

The Apostle John warns us in 1 John 1:5 – 10, “And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.”

John had about as much practical experience as any of the disciples. After leaving his career as a fisherman, John became the disciple closest to Jesus, the one to whom Jesus entrusted his mother Mary at the time of His death. John traveled throughout the known world at that time and was later exiled as a prisoner to the island of Patmos. John lived to be more than ninety years and was one of the most respected elders of the early church for good reason.

God clearly demonstrated His feelings about Baal and the other demons when He moved Jehu to turn the temple of Baal into a latrine. Why should we exchange light for darkness?

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, there are those who are reading these words who may be tempted to involve themselves in the occult for the sake of secret knowledge and power. Open their eyes to see that such games are deadly and that they can lose not only their own souls but those of their family members as well. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Kings 10:1 – 17 “1 Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the officials of Jezreel, to the elders, and to the guardians of the sons of Ahab, saying: “When this letter arrives, since your master’s sons are with you and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city and weaponry, select the best and most worthy son of your master, set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.”

 But they were terrified and reasoned, “If two kings could not stand against him, how can we?”

So the palace administrator, the overseer of the city, the elders, and the guardians sent a message to Jehu: “We are your servants, and we will do whatever you say. We will not make anyone king. Do whatever is good in your sight.”

Then Jehu wrote them a second letter and said: “If you are on my side, and if you will obey me, then bring the heads of your master’s sons to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow.”

Now the sons of the king, seventy in all, were being brought up by the leading men of the city. And when the letter arrived, they took the sons of the king and slaughtered all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel.

When the messenger arrived, he told Jehu, “They have brought the heads of the sons of the king.”

And Jehu ordered, “Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.” The next morning, Jehu went out and stood before all the people and said, “You are innocent. It was I who conspired against my master and killed him. But who killed all these? Know, then, that not a word the LORD has spoken against the house of Ahab will fail, for the LORD has done what He promised through His servant Elijah.”

So Jehu killed everyone in Jezreel who remained of the house of Ahab, as well as all his great men and close friends and priests, leaving him without a single survivor.

Then Jehu set out toward Samaria. At Beth-eked of the Shepherds, Jehu met some relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah and asked, “Who are you?”

“We are relatives of Ahaziah,” they answered, “and we have come down to greet the sons of the king and of the queen mother.”

Then Jehu ordered, “Take them alive.” So his men took them alive, then slaughtered them at the well of Beth-eked—forty-two men. He spared none of them.

When he left there, he found Jehonadab son of Rechab, who was coming to meet him. Jehu greeted him and asked, “Is your heart as true to mine as my heart is to yours?”

“It is!” Jehonadab replied.

“If it is,” said Jehu, “give me your hand.”

So he gave him his hand, and Jehu helped him into his chariot, saying, “Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD!” So he had him ride in his chariot.

When Jehu came to Samaria, he struck down everyone belonging to Ahab who remained there, until he had destroyed them, according to the word that the LORD had spoken to Elijah.”

EVIL BRINGS ITS OWN PUNISHMENT! Although Ahab did all kinds of evil deeds, the act that finally brought God’s curses down was the murder of Naboth, a completely innocent man, on trumped up charges with the subsequent seizure of his vineyard. In 1 Kings 21:21 – 22, Elijah told Ahab, “This is what the LORD says: ‘I will bring calamity on you and consume your descendants; I will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both slave and free. I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked My anger and caused Israel to sin.’” Although Ahab repented sufficiently that his body didn’t suffer indignities after his death, God promised that Ahab’s descendants would be wiped out. Now that day of retribution has come.

Jehu sends a challenge to the officials of Jezreel, to the elders, and to the guardians of Ahab’s seventy sons. Jehu suggests these men select the best of Ahab’s sons to act as king and to fight on behalf of his family. But the elders are worried that they all will die as a result. After all, Jehu has been the commander of the forces of Israel for years; he has already killed two kings. There is little hope that any of Ahab’s sons will be able to defend the citizens of Jezreel. The elders then send a message of surrender to Jehu, asking for his orders. Jehu then commands the elders of Jezreel to slaughter all seventy of Ahab’s sons, sending the heads to Jehu as proof.

But Jehu is not finished. Remember that King Ahaziah of Judah was Ahab’s grandson. For all the males of Ahab’s family to be eliminated, relatives of Ahaziah must also die. Jehu meets forty – two of Ahaziah’s relatives and immediately kills them. Proceeding on to Samaria, Jehu makes a complete end of the males of Ahab’s family and slaves. God’s vengeance against Ahab is now complete.

APPLICATION: Ahab ruled during the ministry of Elijah, one of the greatest prophets who ever lived. Despite the witness of Elijah, Ahab persisted in idolatry and all kinds of other sins. God gave Ahab innumerable chances to repent, but there was only one instance in which Ahab repented at all. Eventually, God eliminated all the males in Ahab’s family, thereby making it impossible for that family to ever rule again.

Why is this story important for us? God has not changed. God still warns nations and individuals when they are going astray. These days, climate change is getting lots of publicity. New and deadly insect pests are appearing in places they have never been before. Economies are in trouble. God is trying to get our attention, but we are refusing to listen.

The promises of God remain valid for nations and individuals. The Sentinel Organization has documented many instances around the world in which environments that have been ravaged by years of abuse have suddenly rebounded when the people of those lands have truly repented and have sought God’s favor.

When Balak, the king of Moab, summoned Balaam, the seer, to curse the Israelites, God had the final say in the matter. Numbers 23:19 tells us, “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?”

Deuteronomy 29:19 – 20 says, “When such a person hears the words of this oath and they invoke a blessing on themselves, thinking, “I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way,” they will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry. The Lord will never be willing to forgive them; his wrath and zeal will burn against them. All the curses written in this book will fall on them, and the Lord will blot out their names from under heaven.”

It’s time for us to pray for our nations, confessing our national sins and begging God for forgiveness. Daniel prayed on behalf of Israel, even while he was a captive in exile in Babylon, and God heard his prayers. Our problem is that we fail to intercede.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we confess that we have gone our own way and that we have ignored Your commandments. We confess that we have slaughtered the innocent and that we have tried to justify our sins. Lord, forgive us! Hear our prayers! Heal our lands! You are our only hope; without You, we perish. Guide our leaders into the ways of peace, of righteousness, of justice, and of truth. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Kings 9:30 – 37 “Now when Jehu arrived in Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. So she painted her eyes, adorned her head, and looked down from a window. And as Jehu entered the gate, she asked, “Have you come in peace, O Zimri, murderer of your master?”

He looked up at the window and called out, “Who is on my side? Who?”

And two or three eunuchs looked down at him.

“Throw her down!” yelled Jehu.

So they threw her down, and her blood splattered on the wall and on the horses as they trampled her underfoot.

Then Jehu went in and ate and drank. “Take care of this cursed woman,” he said, “and bury her, for she was the daughter of a king.”

But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing but her skull, her feet, and the palms of her hands.

So they went back and told Jehu, who replied, “This is the word of the LORD, which He spoke through His servant Elijah the Tishbite: ‘On the plot of ground at Jezreel the dogs will devour the flesh of Jezebel. And Jezebel’s body will lie like dung in the field on the plot of ground at Jezreel, so that no one can say: This is Jezebel.’”

WICKEDNESS NEVER PAYS!!! For years, Jezebel has been parading around the palace, being as mean as possible to everyone. Nobody has dared to cross Jezebel; after all, not only is she the queen but she is also a very powerful witch. Nobody wants to die from one of Jezebel’s curses. But today things are going to change! Having disposed of Joram and Ahaziah, Jehu is now entering Jezreel. Feeling quite secure, Jezebel paints her face, puts on her hair ornaments, and then comes to an upstairs window to reproach Jehu. But today things are different. As Jezebel approaches the window, she fails to notice that several eunuchs who work in the palace have come up behind her. If Jezebel notices these men at all, she probably assumes that they are simply coming to gawk at Jehu. Surely, Jezebel has nothing to fear from these insignificant weaklings!

But Jezebel has made a bad assumption. After years of threats and abuse and untold beatings, these eunuchs are spoiling for revenge. When Jehu calls out, “Who is on my side? Who?” these men come to the window. As soon as Jehu orders them to throw Jezebel down, they do so with the greatest of pleasure. Jezebel’s body hits the walls on the way down and then splatters onto the courtyard, spooking the chariot horses. The horses rear and then trample back and forth over Jezebel’s body, reducing it to a bloody pulp.

Jehu goes on in to eat and then decides to send servants to bury whatever is left of Jezebel. But the scavenger dogs that roam the city have already accounted for most of Jezebel’s body. All that is left of this proud Sidonian sorceress is her skull, her feet, and the palms of her hands. The dogs have devoured everything else. When the servants return to Jehu to inform him of the condition of Jezebel’s body, Jehu recognizes that these results are the fulfillment of Elijah’s prophecy over Jezebel.

APPLICATION: There are some gory passages in the Bible, but this is one of the goriest. Why has God allowed such a description to stand for thousands of years? Yesterday, we quoted Galatians 6:7: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Jezebel spent her entire life serving demons, never repenting even though she had so many opportunities. Jezebel viewed repentance as a sign of weakness, something those feeble Israelites needed but that she obviously did not need. The demons were leading Jezebel down into an ever – deepening abyss, and she was enthusiastically following them.

In the end, Jezebel suffered one of the most appalling fates possible. To be eaten by dogs or scavenging birds was shameful. For there to be nothing left of a body to bury was equally shameful. In the end, it was Jezebel who chose her own fate, dying by the same kind of violence she had meted out to others.

We face choices at every turn daily. And daily, we have the opportunity to choose to serve God or to turn away from Him to please only ourselves. Will we choose to serve God and choose the path of life, or will we choose to turn away, choosing spiritual death?

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to continue to choose to follow You all the days of our lives. Help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.       

2 Kings 9:1 – 14 “1 Now Elisha the prophet summoned one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, “Tuck your cloak under your belt, take this flask of oil, and go to Ramoth-gilead. When you arrive, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go in, get him away from his companions, and take him to an inner room. Then take the flask of oil, pour it on his head, and declare, ‘This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and run. Do not delay!”

 So the young prophet went to Ramoth-gilead, and when he arrived, the army commanders were sitting there. “I have a message for you, commander,” he said. “For which of us?” asked Jehu. “For you, commander,” he replied.

So Jehu got up and went into the house, where the young prophet poured the oil on his head and declared, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anoint you king over the LORD’s people Israel. And you are to strike down the house of your master Ahab, so that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets and the blood of all the servants of the LORD shed by the hand of Jezebel. The whole house of Ahab will perish, and I will cut off from Ahab every male, (one version says “all who urinate against a wall”) both slave and free, in Israel. I will make the house of Ahab like the houses of Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah. And on the plot of ground at Jezreel the dogs will devour Jezebel, and there will be no one to bury her.’ ”

Then the young prophet opened the door and ran. When Jehu went out to the servants of his master, they asked, “Is everything all right? Why did this madman come to you?”

“You know his kind and their babble,” he replied.

 “That is a lie!” they said. “Tell us now!”

So Jehu answered, “He talked to me about this and that, and he said, ‘This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel.’ ”

Quickly, each man took his garment and put it under Jehu on the bare steps. Then they blew the ram’s horn and proclaimed, “Jehu is king!”

Thus Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram.

(Now Joram and all Israel had been defending Ramoth-gilead against Hazael king of Aram, but King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds he had suffered at the hands of the Arameans in the battle against Hazael their king.)

So Jehu said, “If you commanders wish to make me king, then do not let anyone escape from the city to go and tell it in Jezreel.”

Then Jehu got into his chariot and went to Jezreel, because Joram was laid up there and Ahaziah king of Judah had gone down to see him.

Now the watchman standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu’s troops approaching, and he called out, “I see a company of troops!”

“Choose a rider,” Joram commanded. “Send him out to meet them and ask, ‘Have you come in peace?’ ”

So a horseman rode off to meet Jehu and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Have you come in peace?’ ”

“What do you know about peace?” Jehu replied. “Fall in behind me.”

And the watchman reported, “The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back.”

So the king sent out a second horseman, who went to them and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Have you come in peace?’ ”

“What do you know about peace?” Jehu replied. “Fall in behind me.”

Again the watchman reported, “He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the charioteer is driving like Jehu son of Nimshi —he is driving like a madman!”

“Harness!” Joram shouted, and they harnessed his chariot. Then Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah set out, each in his own chariot, and met Jehu on the property of Naboth the Jezreelite.

When Joram saw Jehu, he asked, “Have you come in peace, Jehu?”

“How can there be peace,” he replied, “as long as the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?”

Joram turned around and fled, calling out to Ahaziah, “Treachery, Ahaziah!”

Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow pierced his heart, and he slumped down in his chariot.

And Jehu said to Bidkar his officer, “Pick him up and throw him into the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. For remember that when you and I were riding together behind his father Ahab, the LORD lifted up this burden against him: ‘As surely as I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons yesterday, declares the LORD, so will I repay you on this plot of ground, declares the LORD.’ Now then, according to the word of the LORD, pick him up and throw him on the plot of ground.”

When King Ahaziah of Judah saw this, he fled up the road toward Beth-haggan.

And Jehu pursued him, shouting, “Shoot him too!”

So they shot Ahaziah in his chariot on the Ascent of Gur, near Ibleam, and he fled to Megiddo and died there. Then his servants carried him by chariot to Jerusalem and buried him with his fathers in his tomb in the City of David. (In the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab, Ahaziah had become king over Judah.)

If you remember God’s instructions to Elijah on Mount Horeb, you will recall that God told Elijah to anoint Elisha as prophet in his place and to anoint Hazael as king over Syria and Jehu son of Nimshi as king of Israel. God promised that each of these three men would carry out God’s intents to punish the Israelites. Hazael is now king over Syria and now Elisha is delegating a young prophet to anoint Jehu, the third avenger.

Unlike some earlier prophets, this young man does his work well, singling out Jehu and requesting a private audience with him. The young prophet goes on to anoint Jehu as king of Israel, ordering him to strike down Jezebel and every male in the house of Ahab, including all of the male slaves. Once this young man has delivered his message, he escapes and runs back to Elisha, following Elisha’s instructions completely.

When the army commanders question Jehu, at first Jehu tries to make them believe that the young prophet is mad. But when the army commanders press Jehu for the truth, he admits that the prophet has anointed him as king over Israel and that he has received a commission to wipe out Ahab’s family, including the male slaves.

Remember that Joram King of Israel has been wounded and has retreated to Jezreel and that Ahaziah King of Judah is visiting Joram. Now Jehu and his men drive as fast as possible to Jezreel. When King Joram and King Ahaziah go out to meet Jehu, Jehu orders his archers to shoot them. Joram dies on the spot, and Jehu has his body dumped on the land belonging to Naboth to fulfill the word of the Lord. Presumably, dogs eat Joram’s body. Ahaziah is severely wounded and flees to Megiddo, where he dies. Ahaziah’s servants carry his body back to Jerusalem. The only reason God allows Ahaziah’s body to be buried is because of His promises to David; otherwise, dogs would eat Ahaziah’s body.   

APPLICATION: Newton’s Third Law states “for every action (force) in nature there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Ahab worshiped demons and stole and murdered. Now Ahab’s descendants are reaping the results just as God has prophesied. (https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/beginners-guide-to-aeronautics/newtons-laws-of-motion)

Galatians 6:7 -8 tells us, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

While there are many people today who want to throw out moral absolutes, it is fascinating to note that these people only want to throw out principles when it suits them. But the same people are horrified if someone else demands the same right to ignore those principles. God does not change. God is not mocked, although many people have tried. God remains sovereign, and those who violate His Law will wind up paying the price for their poor choices.

Ahab and Jezebel cut a wide swath through Israel, stealing, murdering, and doing all kinds of evil. Jezebel tried to kill Elijah on several occasions. But their reign did not last and now their descendants are about to be wiped out, all because they refused to listen to God’s prophets and repent. God continues to speak today; however, there are many who have shoved their fingers in their ears, hoping to block out the sound of God’s voice. At some point, God will simply say, “Your will be done,” and let them die in their sins without repenting.

All of us have choices. Today, will you choose to turn away from your sins and to serve God, or will you make the same bad choices that Joram and Ahaziah made?

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we confess that we are sinners and that nothing we have done is enough for us to earn our way into heaven. Lord, forgive us our sins. Help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.     

2 Kings 8:16 – 29 “In the fifth year of the reign of Joram son of Ahab over Israel, Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat succeeded his father as king of Judah. Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years.

And Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done. For he married a daughter of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD.

Yet for the sake of His servant David, the LORD was unwilling to destroy Judah, since He had promised to maintain a lamp for David and his descendants forever.

In the days of Jehoram, Edom rebelled against the hand of Judah and appointed their own king. So Jehoram  crossed over to Zair with all his chariots. When the Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, he rose up and attacked by night. His troops, however, fled to their homes.

So to this day Edom has been in rebellion against the hand of Judah. Likewise, Libnah rebelled at the same time.  As for the rest of the acts of Jehoram, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

And Jehoram rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David. And his son Ahaziah reigned in his place.

In the twelfth year of the reign of Joram son of Ahab over Israel, Ahaziah son of Jehoram became king of Judah.  Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri king of Israel. And Ahaziah walked in the ways of the house of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab, for he was a son-in-law of the house of Ahab.

Then Ahaziah went with Joram son of Ahab to fight against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth-gilead, and the Arameans wounded Joram. So King Joram returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds that the Arameans had inflicted on him at Ramah when he fought against Hazael king of Aram. Then Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to Jezreel to visit Joram son of Ahab, because Joram had been wounded.

THE BAD INFLUENCE OF JEZEBEL AND AHAB IS LIKE A PERSISTENT LP GAS LEAK! THE ODOR NEVER GOES AWAY!

Jehoshaphat was a righteous man; however, his son Jehoram is not. Lacking a firm spiritual foundation, Jehoram compounds his problems by marrying Athaliah, one of Ahab and Jezebel’s daughters. Jezebel is a priestess of Baal, so her daughter would copy her. At this point, the nations of Edom and Libnah both have rebelled against Judah, and when Jehoram tries to bring Edom back under his control, his own troops desert him! God is punishing Jehoram and Judah; however, they are too spiritually dense to realize that God has removed His hand of protection from them.

Jehoram only reigns 8 years, after which his son Ahaziah reigns for one short year. Ahaziah’s mother is Ahab’s daughter and Omri’s granddaughter and is a vile woman. To compound problems, Ahaziah also marries one of his cousins from Ahab’s family and follows her horrible example, doing evil in the sight of the Lord. Ahaziah teams up with King Joram of Israel to fight Hazael, the king of Syria; however, Joram gets wounded and returns to Jezreel to recover. Ahaziah, king of Judah, goes to visit Joram, putting two descendants of Ahab in the same place.

Even though Jehoram, king of Judah, was evil, God has allowed him to die a natural death and to be buried with his fathers for the sake of the promises God had made to David. But Ahaziah king of Judah and Joram king of Israel are both Ahab’s grandsons. Remember that God has cursed Ahab’s descendants. 1 Kings 21: 24 “Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs, and anyone who dies in the field will be eaten by the birds of the air.” As we will see in the next chapter, those curses are about to come true for both kings.

APPLICATION: Demons transfer through sex and your choice of a mate can bless or blight your family for generations to come! When Ahab chose to marry Jezebel, a Sidonian princess and a priestess of Baal, he brought in bloodlines that had no place in an Israelite kingdom. The Law of Moses specifically forbade marrying outside the faith; however, King Solomon had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines, many of whom were from pagan idol – worshiping tribes. It was these women who lured Solomon away from truly worshiping God. Not only did Solomon set a horrible example, but he also introduced foreign blood into the royal bloodlines. Any king who married outside Israel after that could use Solomon as their excuse. Once Ahab and Jezebel established their evil household, their descendants would bring spiritual confusion to anyone who married them.    

Here in Ghana, on several occasions we have seen the results of Christian young men marrying young women from fetish families. (Fetish families are families that serve traditional gods, making blood sacrifices to them.) In every case of which we are aware, the results have been confusion and despair for the young men. Even when they have continued to attend church, they have been badly affected by the demonic influence from their wives.

In America, one Christian speaker who got caught up in witchcraft as a teen described how his coven employed sex to lure in the unwary and get them to commit to witchcraft. There is an old saying, “You lie down with dogs; you get up with fleas.” The same thing could be said for demons.

Spiritual compromise is deadly! We might feel superior because we have never engaged in any idolatrous practices….we think. But what is playing on the video screen of your mind? Once internet cafes caught on in Ghana, the owners soon realized that they had to put controls on their machines and monitor things in addition; otherwise, young men were accessing pornographic videos online. These days with cell phones rampant, cell phone users themselves must monitor their own viewing.

Proverbs 5:1 – 14 describes the plight of a man who follows a forbidden woman. Here is the conclusion:

“7 So now, my sons, listen to me, and do not turn aside from the words of my mouth.

8 Keep your path far from her; do not go near the door of her house,

9 lest you concede your vigor to others, and your years to one who is cruel;

10 lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich the house of a foreigner.

11 At the end of your life you will groan when your flesh and your body are spent,

12 and you will say, “How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof!

13 I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my mentors.

14 I am on the brink of utter ruin in the midst of the whole assembly.”

Proverbs 4:23 tells us “Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.” Ahab never guarded his heart, and the results remain obvious. The next few chapters will tell us of the horrible outcome of that deplorable decision.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to truly love You and worthily magnify You. Help us to follow hard after You and to follow Your leading when we are choosing a mate. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.  

Then Elisha came to Damascus while Ben-hadad king of Aram was sick, and the king was told, “The man of God has come here.”

So the king said to Hazael, “Take a gift in your hand, go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD through him, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’ ”

So Hazael went to meet Elisha, taking with him a gift of forty camel loads of every good thing from Damascus. And he went in and stood before him and said, “Your son Ben-hadad king of Aram has sent me to ask, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’ ”

Elisha answered, “Go and tell him, ‘You will surely recover.’ But the LORD has shown me that in fact he will die.”

Elisha fixed his gaze steadily on him until Hazael became uncomfortable. Then the man of God began to weep.

“Why is my lord weeping?” asked Hazael. “Because I know the evil you will do to the Israelites,” Elisha replied. “You will set fire to their fortresses, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little ones to pieces, and rip open their pregnant women.”

“But how could your servant, a mere dog, do such a monstrous thing?” said Hazael.

And Elisha answered, “The LORD has shown me that you will be king over Aram.”

So Hazael left Elisha and went to his master, who asked him, “What did Elisha say to you?”

And he replied, “He told me that you would surely recover.” But the next day Hazael took a thick cloth, dipped it in water, and spread it over the king’s face. So Ben-hadad died, and Hazael reigned in his place.”

Remember God’s words to Elijah when Elijah was in the cave on Mount Horeb in 1 Kings 19:15 – 17? “Then the LORD said to him, “Go back by the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael as king over Aram. You are also to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah to succeed you as prophet. Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu.”

Israel has fallen into idolatry and those who have done so will be punished. There is no record of Elijah visiting Damascus after God gave him this word; however, Elijah anointed Elisha to succeed him as prophet. Now Elisha is carrying out the command of the Lord by coming to Damascus. Elisha’s reputation as a prophet has preceded him, and Ben – hadad, the king of Syria, sends Hazael, his aid, to ask counsel from Elisha. Ben – hadad is so worried that he sends forty camel loads of “every good thing from Damascus.” It is highly unlikely that Elisha accepts this gift; after all, he has no fixed abode and travels very lightly. But God is actually sending Hazael to Elisha because Elisha has a commission to anoint Hazael as the next king over Syria.

When Elisha sees Hazael, Elisha is obedient but not happy. As soon as Hazael enters the room, Elisha has an immediate vision of Hazael leading an army that will set fire to Israelite fortresses, kill their young men, dash the Israelite children to pieces, and rip open the wombs of pregnant Israelite women. This vision is so sickening that Elisha begins to weep bitter tears. Hazael is amazed at this behavior and asks Elisha what it means. Elisha tells Hazael that in the future Hazael will lead an army that will destroy the Israelites and their cities. Elisha is weeping over the horrors he foresees. When Hazael asks how this will happen, Elisha tells Hazael that he will be the next king of Syria. Elisha counsels Hazael to tell Ben – hadad that Ben – hadad will recover; however, Elisha goes on to anoint Hazael as king of Syria. Hazael returns to the palace and gives Ben – hadad the message; however, the very next day, Hazael smothers Ben – hadad and ascends the throne of Syria.

APPLICATION: Is Elisha sending a lying message to Ben – hadad? Here, Elisha orders Hazael to tell Ben – hadad, that he will recover; meanwhile, Elisha knows that Ben – hadad will die very soon. Elisha is carrying out God’s commission. Obviously, if Elisha were to message Ben – hadad that Ben – hadad was going to die, Ben – hadad might start a purge, beginning with those most likely to take over after his death. God has already selected Hazael to become the next king of Syria, so endangering Hazael would not help anything. On the other hand, Ben – hadad wants to know if he will recover from this illness. Elisha knows that Ben – hadad will die very soon; however, Elisha may also know that Ben – hadad’s current illness will not be the cause of his death. Strictly speaking, Elisha is not lying. We must realize that originally there might have been far more to the message than the words recorded here. It’s amazing that even though Hazael sneaks in and smothers Ben – hadad, it’s an open secret that has survived thousands of years. There are no secrets in a palace!      

Perhaps God actually has intended some other means of death for Ben – hadad; however, Hazael decides to hasten the process. Notice that Elisha does not order Hazael to kill his master, but merely says that his master will die.

Here Elisha is obediently carrying out a highly distasteful task. Although King Ahab spared Ben – hadad’s life at one point, Damascus isn’t exactly a friendly place. When God gives Elisha a vision of Hazael spreading mass destruction in Israel, Elisha would probably like to leave immediately. But God has sent Elisha to anoint Hazael as king and Elisha does so.

The lesson for us here is Elisha’s obedience. Even as Elisha is about to anoint Hazael as king over Syria, Elisha clearly sees the wanton destruction that Hazael and his troops will bring in the future. Left to himself, Elisha would rather do anything else; however, God has given Elisha orders and Elisha is faithfully carrying them out.

Sometimes God calls us to bless people who have criticized us or even betrayed us. At that point, we must choose whether to obey or to draw back in rebellion. Obedience is critically important. When we obey God, we open ourselves up for His blessings. But if we try to act as our own amateur providences, following our own intuitions, we put ourselves in harm’s way spiritually and we also mess up God’s plans for those people. Only God knows the end from the beginning.

Many times, God has called us to help those whom we know to be undermining us. At such times, obedience becomes very difficult. Obedience in such circumstances can be compared to running along a knife edge path in the mountains. There is only one narrow way that leads to safety; any misstep will be disastrous. Let us be careful to listen to God, so that God can guide us safely through.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to obey even when it is difficult or distasteful and even when our obedience will bless those who have been attacking us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

2 Kings 8:1 – 6 “Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, you and your household; go and live as a foreigner wherever you can. For the LORD has decreed a seven-year famine, and it has already come to the land.”

So the woman had proceeded to do as the man of God had instructed. And she and her household lived as foreigners for seven years in the land of the Philistines.

At the end of seven years, when the woman returned from the land of the Philistines, she went to the king to appeal for her house and her land.  Now the king had been speaking to Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, “Please relate to me all the great things Elisha has done.”

And Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had brought the dead back to life. Just then the woman whose son Elisha had revived came to appeal to the king for her house and her land. So Gehazi said, “My lord the king, this is the woman, and this is the son Elisha restored to life.”

When the king asked the woman, she confirmed it. So the king appointed for her an officer, saying, “Restore all that was hers, along with all the proceeds of the field from the day that she left the country until now.”

THE NEED WAS IMMEDIATE! Elisha knew that there was going to be a terrible famine that would last for seven years. Naturally, Elisha warned the Shunammite woman who had sheltered him and whose son he had raised from the dead. This lady took Elisha’s advice and left for the coastal lands of the Philistines, where the famine did not reach. But in the woman’s absence, others moved into her home and tried to take over her fields. Now the woman was returning to Israel, but she needed the king’s help to re – claim her house and lands.

Meanwhile, Gehazi was chatting with the king of Israel. Perhaps this story took place before Gehazi became a leper; at any rate, Gehazi was thrilled to have the opportunity to brag about Elisha. Gehazi was telling the king about the Shunammite woman and how God had given her a son despite her husband’s old age and how God had used Elisha to raise that boy from the dead. Just then, the lady herself entered the king’s court, accompanied by her son. Little wonder then, that when the lady confirmed the story that Gehazi had just told, the king immediately issued the order to restore her house and lands.

This is such a simple story that we might well overlook it. “Ho hum,” we think. “What’s the big deal about a lady getting her house and lands back?” But in thinking like this, we are overlooking the customs of the day. Once that lady left for Philistia, it was quite likely that one of her husband’s near relatives moved in swiftly to take over everything. After seven years, it was going to take a major effort to evict this man, and by now the Shunammite woman’s husband might have died, leaving her even more vulnerable. If the individual who took over the Shunammite woman’s property had proven reasonable, she wouldn’t have needed to appeal to the king. Obviously, this guy was banking on the idea that possession was nine tenths of the law.

The timing was crucial. Had the lady arrived prior to Gehazi informing the king of her matter, the king might have ignored her. It’s likely that as the lady was going to the king, the man who had taken over her house and lands was also sending a representative, possibly bearing a bribe. But God arranged events so that just as Gehazi was recounting this lady’s story, the lady and her son approached the king. Realizing that this woman was a special friend of Elisha’s, the king swiftly granted the lady’s request and restored everything to her. After all, who would want to mess with a prophet who can raise the dead?

APPLICATION: During our missionary careers, there have been times when we have trusted others with large sums of money, only to learn later that they diverted the money, keeping much of it for themselves. Obviously, such events are very distressing; however, we have also learned from this. The funds that flow through us belong to God and not to us. This means that if someone mishandles funds once we have paid them out in good faith, those individuals will have to answer to God. (This, however, does not mean that we need to make the same mistake twice!) As long as we continue to handle God’s resources faithfully, God will continue to supply our needs. God can multiply or restore resources, and the final result will remain the same.

The Shunammite woman in this story needed God’s assistance. Returning to Israel after a seven years’ absence, this lady found herself in an extremely difficult position. But God knew the day and moment when the Shunammite woman would reach the court, and God moved the king of Israel to quiz Gehazi for miracle stories.

Being defrauded is always painful and frightening. We wonder what will happen if we lose our hard – earned savings. Those who have trusted in Social Security are perpetually struggling with its limitations, wondering how they will pay for food, medicine, rent, etc. In telling this story, I am not trying to sugar – coat circumstances. But my husband and I can testify that God has continued to multiply our resources. Many times, we have encountered situations and have feared that we would be caught short; yet, somehow, God has always come through for us.

Are you stuck like the Shunammite woman? Is your back to the wall with no help in sight? Beg God for His assistance. God does not change, nor does He play favorites. The same God who restored the Shunammite woman’s house and lands to her stands willing to help you as well.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, there are those reading these words who are in dire straits. Social Security has proven inadequate. Perhaps there are no family members who can or will help in any fashion. But You are the God of Israel, the same God who restored everything to the Shunammite woman. Today, help those in need to appeal to You and hear the cries of their hearts. You are a God of infinite variety and Your provision can come in ways we cannot possibly anticipate. Hear us, Oh Lord! In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.