Monday, 21 November 2016

JEHU KING OF ISRAEL




Jehu was anointed king by one of the sons of the prophets following the instruction of Elisha. Jehu carried out the words of God concerning Ahab’s family. He killed Joram with an arrow and cast his body on the field of Naboth the Jezreelite.
He instructed the eunuchs to throw down Jezebel from the window in her house as she looked out with painted face. Her blood was splashed on the wall and Jehu rode over her body, by the time they came back to pick her body for burial, only her skull, feet and palms were remaining. Dogs ate her flesh, thus fulfilling the word of God that “Jezebel’s carcass shall be as dung  on the face of the field in Jezreel, dogs shall eat her flesh and no one will be able to say this is Jezebel.”
Jehu again commanded that the 70 sons of Ahab be beheaded, their heads were laid in 2 heaps at the city gate. He went ahead to also kill all the family members of Ahab as well as his priests. He killed the 42 brothers of Ahaziah who were going to Samaria to commiserate with Joram’s children. Jehu tricked all the worshippers of baal by inviting them to a feast and had them killed  in the house of baal. II Kings 10;21-28 . Because Jehu carried out the word of the Lord against Ahab’s family and cleansed the land of Baal worshippers, the Lord promised the throne of Israel to Jehu up to his 4th generation.
Jehu however did not follow through by walking according  to the law of God. During his reign Hazael attacked Israel and Jehu died after reigning for 28 years.

LESSONS
a)     The word of God will surely come to pass, evil will not go unpunished.
b)    Even when it seems evil doers are getting away with evil, in their life time their children may still bear the consequences in latter years. Leaders beware!
c)     Starting right does not mean finishing right.

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