Thirty Years, Five Rulers

2 Kings 15:30

Then Hoshea son of Elah conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah. He attacked and assassinated him, and then succeeded him as king in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah.

Born in 1975, I was one Martial Law baby. But of course I don’t have any memory of what it’s really like, except that Voltes V was banned during those years; The next political thing I knew was the People Power Revolution. I was in fifth grade then and for us kids, it was all ‘battle of the sexes’. You can imagine how we teased the boys after the count; Then there was the coup attempt, a.k.a ‘No Classes’; For the Centennial Celebration, I was honored to be on the sidelines as a Chorale member. Seeing FVR wave the flag in Kawit Cavite was my most patriotic moment, ever; Next highlight, (or was it lowlight?) was the Erap impeachment proceedings. It was around the time I was doing choreography for the Senate Choir and so I felt quite involved. Just don’t ask me the whys and hows of that gig, okay? haha :> Last, was the recent hospital arrest for GMA. In this timeline, I saw the mugshots  trending, reposted, and retweeted. So that’s it!, My thirty six years journeying with our five presidents.

Now imagine with me that we’re born in Samaria, and you’re around my age.  We’re just toddlers when the Jehu dynasty ended. Zechariah was last of that favored line. Sadly, he was publicly assassinated after only six months in service. His assassin, Shallum, took over the throne, but after a month suffered the same fate. We may have heard wailings, but our parents kept us from the scene. Now we know all the pregnant women back then were ripped open by Menahem - - the assassin who forced his way through the city gates and proclaimed himself king.  This brutal man reigned for a decade. He may appear to have stabilized the land, but actually it was Assyria controlling him by way of tribute. His son succeeded him, Pekaniah. But after two years, his own chief officer conspired against him and killed him in the citadel of the royal palace. It was Pekah, and yes again, the assassin became the king. But in taking Pekaniah’s life and crown,  by default, he inherited all the bad agreements too. We were supposed to go to college at this time, but because the Assyrians took the best lands up north, we had fewer career options. Twenty years after, Hoshea assassinated Pekah. Probably we’re one with him in crying hope for the land, needing new leadership. But can he? That ends our thirty three years journey with the five kings, or should we say, assassins.

There is nothing new under the sun. We’re not better than those before us. We’re not worse either. If there is one refrain reverbing in all five kings, it’s this sound: ‘they did evil in the eyes of the Lord and they did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam’. Those years in Israel were characterized by instability. There’s no guarantee of any hold. Except sin. It is constant and continuing. Pushing them downhill. Five kings, thirty three years in darkness, but nowhere can we find anyone seeking the Lord. God never failed in sending them prophets to return to Him – to His protection, His rule, His love – but no one did. Today, we cry in desperation for our country. We wonder if we really did right in choosing this man to lead us, to pick us up and bring us back to the right path. Here’s our answer: No, he can’t. Not with positive thinking, not even with patriotic pleas. Sin is the issue here. Unless our president calls everyone to spiritual reforms, to seek the Lord and surrender to Him, then no, he can’t. Hope is found in God alone. He can better write our history if we allow Him to make it HIS-story. ‘Thirty Years, Five Rulers, One God’ - - now, how’s that for a title?

House Arrest

2 Kings 15:5

The Lord afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, and he lived in a separate house. Jotham, the king’s son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.

Talk of the town last weekend was former President Arroyo’s hospital arrest. Comelec charged her of electoral fraud in the 2007 polls which prevented her plan to seek medical treatment abroad.  Political and moral issues aside, it’s still a pity to see a once-esteemed person, who for almost two terms held full control of the land, now deprived of even her fundamental rights to travel. She hoped to be remembered as ‘the good president’. We’ve seen her as ‘the working president’. But in the end, with all these thrown at her, she’d probably lose all good names.

In the book of kings, King Uzziah had a different name, Azariah. We can only find seven verses allotted to his fifty-two years of service here. The verse mentioned above was his distinction: God afflicted him of leprosy. ‘Oh, I thought he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord? Why would God afflict him?’ Let’s turn to 2 Chronicles 26 for our answers. Verse 5 is one clue. He feared and sought the Lord during the days that Zechariah instructed him. You’d easily guess what happened without the prophet’s guidance.  Verse 16 summed up his career: he won wars, fortified the walls, owned so much livestock, had a well-trained army, built defense machines, became well-known. He was at the top of everything and everyone, and loving it! There’s just one place where his authority matters not: the Temple. There, he’s on equal footing with everybody else. There, he’s at the mercy of the priests’ intercession. There, the prophets can speak God’s word and it’s the final authority – not his. And so one day, he decided to burn incense at the altar. He may not be of Aaron’s line, but his blood was that of kings. ‘I’m a royal blood for nothing!’ could be his heart’s boast. And so God struck him with leprosy and was excluded from the temple, from the palace, and from all people ever since.   

With great power comes great responsibility. But it is also true that with great responsibility comes great power. Every step up that ladder opens up a bigger hold of things, and people. That faith-full centurion gave us a picture of how it is to be a man of authority: “I tell this one ‘Go’, and he goes; and that one ‘Come’ and he comes. I say to my servant ‘Do this’, and does it.” Who wouldn’t want a ‘Yes’ to all his demands? Admit it, we all do! We want to have control, to be independent, to do it our own way. And it’s everything God says we shouldn’t do. That’s why Christianity is not appealing to many. We hate surrendered lives. Why be a servant when we have that chance to be kings!  But what good is it for a man to gain the whole world yet forfeit his soul? Do take Uzziah’s life as a warning. Mrs. Arroyo’s too.  See to it that in your every climb up, God is with you. Because in Him, even if the world strips you empty without warrant, even if they deprive you of all rights and privileges, even if they confine you in the smallest of rooms, you’re life is still full.

The Avenger

2 Kings 14:25

He was the one who restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah, in accordance with the word of the LORD, the God of Israel, spoken through his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher.

When the official trailer of The Avengers came out, I was one of the billions who made that statement: ‘This I gotta watch!’ Seeing Earth’s mightiest and Marvel-ous heroes in one film is just overwhelmingly superb. I’d probably get star-struck, so like when I first saw Optimus on iMax; and panicking too – like when all his Autobots started to transform. They were doing a great lot in seconds and I only have two eyes to catch up on them :> With this movie, I have to admit I’m also looking forward to hearing Ironman’s funny, quirky lines. This genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist will sure steal a lot of scenes. And yes, we'd probably disregard he’s boastful and mocking and a womanizer.

To Israel in the eighth century, they’ve found an avenger in Jeroboam II. His father named him after the considered great founder of the northern kingdom. Jehoash probably hoped his son will complete the prophecy for a deliverer, which he accomplished halfway.  And indeed his son lived up to everyone’s expectations. He was able to recover their lost territories as it was during the golden days of Solomon.  His forty one years on the throne was the longest of all northern kings. Archaeological evidence, according to Wikipedia, confirms that his was the most prosperous reign Israel had yet known. The prophet Amos recorded his lifestyle luxurious, but rebuked him for corruption and injustice. Outwardly, he was their knight and shining armor, but inwardly, he caused their moral decay. “Did we not take Karnaim by our own strength?’ - - was his great script and everyone applauded. They looked at the past, saw the Syrians’ oppression, and were just glad it was all behind them. Sadly they missed that part where God heard their cries, remembered the covenant He had with their forefathers, acted on grace and compassion, and empowered their called-heroes.  He deserve a mention right? All the glory actually. But their hero concealed that story. ‘Hush! We must not mention the name of the Lord’ was his line in Amos chapter 6.

In our Ladies’ Lifegroup last Wednesday, our leader shared of a missionary who financially helped a poor person in need. Grateful and overwhelmed, that person ran to him, on his knees, kissing his hands and thanking him nonstop. The missionary immediately picked him up and asked him to quit thanking him. ‘No, no! It was from the Lord really!’  Come to think of it, how many times have we possibly robbed God of the glory by not redirecting people’s gaze upward?  ‘You’re welcome’ may be a polite phrase, but it doesn’t give praise to God at all.  ‘Don’t mention it’ is worse. Of course we won’t completely do away with that sense of ‘it was pleasing for me to do’ and that we still promote gratitude here. We may be the actors playing the role, but in the end, we do need to give Him all credits. Admit it: we’re all humans and we don’t have powers. There’s only one Avenger in fact. Without Him, we’re a flop!

The Challenger

2 Kings 14:8

Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, with the challenge: "Come, meet me face to face."

After the final bell of the twelfth round last weekend, the world saw how Juan Manuel Marquez raised both his arms for a self-proclaimed win. Was it plain confidence or shall we call it pride? For the longest time, we’ve heard his camp claiming he was robbed by Pacquiao of two victories. He even wore a yellow shirt with the words ‘Marquez Beat Pacquiao Twice!!’ following his knockout win over Katisidis last year. He even dared wearing it in his promotional visit to the country, to which Pacquiao sadly noted ‘disrespectful’. But the latter kept his calm. It was commendable how last Sunday, we saw him again kneeling on his corner before the announcement.  With those boos and beer cups thrown after the decision, all the more we saw grace under pressure. Truly, a head held high is far better that both arms raised in pride.

Chapter fourteen tells of a story of another challenger, Amaziah. He became well-known for defeating ten thousand Edomites and for throwing his ten thousand captives from the top of the cliff.  With that fresh victory, he sent a messenger to the northern kingdom, calling a face-to-face fight with King Jehoash. It wasn’t without context actually, for Israel troops raided Judean towns, killing three thousand people and carried off great quantities of plunder.  There’s a side story to that too, which Amaziah himself was responsible. That too was a result of his foolish decision.  And here again, he’s taking pride in his own calculations. He deceived himself by believing it was his strength that could win a battle. He forgot Who really gives the final say. And because God found him wanting, in the end, those hands he raised in conceit were bruisely tied and with his own eyes saw his opponent stripping the glory of his land.

Proverbs 11:2 says ‘When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom’. When we look at the dictionary, pride is more than the outward, conceited bearing of a person. It is actually as natural as saying ‘I deserve this’. It is enjoying the comforts of life without an inch gratitude to God. It is rejoicing over that promotion because to you it meant a job well done. It is looking at your beautiful child and glad she had your genes. Yours? Was it your genes that gave her life? Was it all hardwork that brought you success? You really won’t call it grace that although you’re a sinner, God still blessed you with much? You may hear the crowd loudly cheering for you, but in the end, will their voice even count? May we not forget it is to God we will soon give an account. He knew how many punches really landed and He will make the final decision. Don’t be caught surprised.

Don’t Stop at Three

2 Kings 13:18

Then he said, "Take the arrows," and the king took them. Elisha told him, "Strike the ground." He struck it three times and stopped.

If you’re serious about piano playing, take the exercises seriously. Now I regret I didn’t. For ten semesters, I loathed doing scales and arpeggios. They’re tedious, boring, and seemingly irrelevant. My impatience cried for the real thing. If not for its inclusion in every  graded exam, my fingers wouldn’t spend a minute with those. Consistent with the ‘attitude’ was my disregard for the little numbers on top called fingering and the side sheets tagged Czerny and Hanon. I’ll give it three to five runs and I’m done. No wonder my music never took flight at all. It was my will blocking the freeway.

Amidst the instability of the northern kingdom, another bad news landed on King Jehoash’ lap: the prophet Elisha was dying.  The old man was his last thread connected to God.  He wept over him when he went down to see him. Maybe he felt that if the prophet dies, so will all hopes for Israel. Elisha assured him of God’s help through a symbolic act. He was asked to shoot an arrow eastward while those faint hands held his. After the shot, God’s victory was declared over the Arameans at Aphek. The limited scope was clue that it wasn’t complete deliverance yet. Elisha then told the king to take the arrows and strike the ground. He did it three times and stopped. Why did he? Did he feel silly doing it? Would an old man as serious as Elisha ever joke around in his deathbed?  Was he not able to connect they were still in the symbolical context? ‘You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram!’ were Elisha’s angry words. He was so disappointed in seeing his king, who minutes ago was weeping in despair but actually lacking in faith and zeal to do everything, even the meanest thing, for Israel.

If you have little oil in your house and God asked you to get all your neighbor’s empty jars for Him to fill it, will you do it? Will you really knock at every door or will you feel spiritual enough meeting Him halfway? How long to do you pray, or read your Bible, or exercise kindness? Do you stop at once a day? Max thrice? Who gave that limit? Oh, of course we have work to do and kids to attend to and lives to live. Don’t we all wake up in the morning, mindful of the long day ahead, struggling if we really have to spend minutes with God? We wonder how could our reading in Leviticus or Numbers be relevant at all. But feeling compelled to do it, yes we decide to sit down - - but we also made sure we’re on time for our next appointment. We say we need God’s power to survive the day and yet we stop at will for His disciplines seem too trivial, sometimes boring, and by world’s standard, silly. Now I wonder how many times we’re that close to His victories, but our wills stood in the way. If we trust Him enough to call the shots, let’s give Him our all ‘til He signals our stop.

Teary-Eyed

2 Kings 13:4

Then Jehoahaz sought the LORD's favor, and the LORD listened to him, for he saw how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel.

‘To weep is to make less the depth of grief’, said Shakespeare. How true! When our hearts cry out loud, surreal calmness indescribably follows. It’s as if our problems found its solution well in fact we haven’t left that corner of the room. How come? According to studies, we have three different types of tears: basal to keep our eyes moist, reflex to protect us from irritants, and emotional tears in response to sadness and pain. The last one is said to contain more manganese and prolactin affecting our temperaments that when we sob, it eliminates the chemical build up, relieves the tension and balances the stress level. But that’s just the physiological benefit. Wikipedia notes that ‘recent psychological theories of crying emphasize the relationship of crying to the experience of perceived helplessness’. ScienceLine on the other hand wrote that expressing sadness can prompt comfort and support. Like how babies call in their parents and how adults bond with grieving family members. By simple connect-the-dots, now we know why crying can really manipulate a response.

In verse seven of today’s chapter, we read of Israel’s army reduced to fifty horsemen, ten chariots and ten thousand foot soldiers. Compare that to David’s one million and one hundred able-bodied men (plus four hundred seventy thousand in Judah) and Solomon’s twelve thousand horses and fourteen hundred chariots - - it was depressingly far from Israel’s glory days.  Hazael really made Jehoahaz’ rule like the dust at threshing time. With their fortified cities burned, Israel did not live in their homes. They were always on the run, hunted to death as prophesied by Elisha. Forget about being the biggest loser and your family feuds, the survivor game tops the helplessness button. Elisha himself wept in front of Hazael when God showed it to him two reigns prior Jehoahaz’. Now imagine being in the middle of it. The cries reached the heavens for sure. But it passed through the palace first. In plenty, this king had the pride to turn his back from God. But now unable to hush the pains of the land, his own included, he humbly resorted to seek the Lord. If helplessness really triggers the tear gland, we can imagine it flooding here. And as designed, we can imagine an autopilot in heaven: tears moving His heart of compassion and the humble surrender prompting His grace. Amazing!

Do you really believe in prayer? Can you really move the hand of God with your tears? Or the world and our lives already written to the dot and we’re just playing the role? When our pastor asked that in our Day of Prayer two weeks ago, he was met with silent stares. We were all juggling our verses and theologies, not in confusion, but more in coming up with a straight line answer. I will not attempt to lay it all down here, but here’s my simple take home: it was God himself who gave the words ask and pray. He is the God of truth. There’s no insincerity in Him and He will in no way mislead us. In omniscience, He knew what we will ask, but as a Father, He delights in that conversation. Two of the earlier accounts of God hearing the hearts cry was that of Hagar and Leah. They were mockers to the wives of Israel’s forefathers. By mercy, He attended to their tears despite their past. By grace, He blessed them regardless of how their sons will mistreat Israel in the future. Imagine the eternal God stepping in time to be their ever-present Help? Amazing grace! That thief on the cross had nothing to offer Jesus. Sin was written on his past and death was his near future. But that second he sought salvation, Jesus promised him paradise! What unconditional love! Now I’m teary-eyed :>

Building Code

2 Kings 12:6

But by the twenty-third year of King Joash the priests still had not repaired the temple.

In a Globalist paper written early this year by U.S. chief economist Bernard Wasow, his first paragraphs compared the damage difference between the 2010 Haiti earthquake and 13 other countries combined. Chile’s magnitude 8.8 was harder than Haiti’s 7.0, but the question is, how come Chile’s death toll was less than a thousand while the latter was three hundred thousand? And if we add the other 12 countries, their sum total of 165 thousand is still a little half than that of Haiti’s. Poverty was the obvious reason. But the not-so-obvious reason? Researches pointed to corruption. When buildings stand on bribery, it will fall. The 1998-2010 Perceived Corruption chart issued by Transparency International showed Haiti on the top quintile column. Guess where we stand? Second line :<

On the twenty-third year of Joash rule, he recalled giving an order years ago for the rebuilding of God’s temple. This project was close to his heart because the temple became his home and refuge for six years. He may have played hide and seek with the young priests in every room there. Now living in a luxurious palace, it probably grieves his heart to see his former home in poor condition whenever he comes for a sacrifice. And so he ordered the priests to collect dues throughout all Judah to finance the repairs. But after a long time, he just realized nothing’s happening. When he inquired, there was no black and white explanation. We can only guess that the people weren’t giving because priests weren’t zealously collecting or the people stopped giving because the priests kept it in other pockets. We don’t want to say corruption, so let’s just call it mismanagement. Joash pulled out the priests from that project and assigned the royal secretary and Jehoida his mentor to man the giving. Instead of house to house collection, they placed a chest in the temple entrance for everyone to see. Amazingly, the people started giving.  Whenever the chest was full, the two assigned will do the counting, give it to the supervisors who in turn will pay the workers and purchase the repair materials. It was noted that even the temple articles weren’t bought from that chest. The people gave for the building, they made sure it was for that allotment alone. Soon they were able to meet all the expenses even without touching the offerings belonging to the priests. God rewarded their faithfulness and blessed them with much.

In verse 15, we read: ‘They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers, because they acted with complete honesty’. Now that’s a long, lost art. Those books are our only way to make people accountable to us. But even with those in print, corruption can still log in. Not even family businesses or churches can survive without that system now. So how was that possible in Joash time? Remember that chest at the entrance? They were completely transparent with the people. Judah visibly saw who were directly incharge and knowing they were trustworthy men, they cheerfully supported the project ‘til its completion. Honesty and hardwork should be in every project’s blueprint, every building’s foundation. Without those, God will not sign in as capstone. No one builds a house on sand. It’s foolish and it will fall. Don’t take chances. Make that change.

Kids Safety

2 Kings 11:3

He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

When we were considering which church to attend here in Cebu, one of our prayed-for considerations was a good Sunday School for our kids. I was a product of one and I know how much it’d help me raise them well in the faith. Although back in history, this movement in England was actually a literacy program for the poor child laborers, and not for church people. With Sunday as their only day off, they used this time to teach them reading and writing with the Bible as main textbook. One site wrote: ‘Sunday schools provided an alternative to Sunday rowdiness’. Delinquency was rampant then and they hoped that through these classes, moral transformation would take place. With the Bible in their hands, it sure made a difference to millions of children.

When Joash was born, it was not the best time in history either. He was still being nursed when his father, King Ahaziah, died in the hands of the Syrians. Next we read of his grandmother Athaliah who murdered all his sibling-princes so she could take the crown. Imagine being unsafe in your own home. Where would you run? And as a babe, how could he run? But in God’s eyes, no dark year in history is dark at all. To Him, night shines like the day. In His sovereignty, He orchestrated Josiah’s aunt to be there at the time of the massacre to hide him. And for six years, he was kept hidden in the temple, raised by Jehoiada the priest. It was a breath of fresh air in all Judah to witness the coronation of this young boy – Scriptures on hand and God’s anointing on his head. For a time, he was thought to be the great grandson of the wicked Ahab. But that day, everybody remembered he was first of all, a son of David.

‘It’s not safe out there’.  I can still hear my parents worried sigh whenever I ask for their permission to go out with my friends twenty years ago. Soon, it will be my time to look out at that window and I’m guessing I’d probably give the same script.  Who’d not be alarmed with the bad news left and right, day and night? But come to think of it, the world was just a family of four when Adam’s son was killed by his firstborn. Home is not the safest place. God is. No sheep of His can be snatched from His hands.  Let’s teach our children to listen to His voice. With Scriptures on hand, they have a light to their path. That even in the valley of the shadow of death, they can walk and not fear. But don’t just bring them to Sunday School. Be with them in church. Jeremiah 23 says, ‘I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing’. Teachers exist because parents do not. Hold that Bible now and read it to your child. Later may be too late. 

Zealously Wrong

2 Kings 10:31

Yet Jehu was not careful to keep the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit.

As a mom, one of the most irritating yet overly used call in the house is that two-letter word  NO. Believe me, I’m trying my best here to do positive reinforcements. But it seems our human eyes are quicker to see another’s faults. I’m excluding issues of self-righteousness, criticism, and condemnation here. We all hate appearances of sin, especially in our children, right? So as much as possible, while their will is still pliable, discipline runs in the house. We offer no grace for a lie, a rebellious snarl, or in hitting their siblings. I’m sure while reading this, you’re happy I’m not your mom, hahaha :>

God was right in choosing Jehu for the task of destroying Ahab’s family. He was thorough in abolishing all that smelled and looked Baal. From top royalty, down to their sons and grandsons, all close friends, chief men and priests, to even the sacred pillars in the temple, Jehu left no survivor nor stone in the slaughter. He accomplished God’s justice to the dot. Total and thorough. Baal worship was finally abolished in Israel. God commended him for a job done well. His reward was a son on the throne to the fourth generation. Not bad. But not the best either. Compared to David who was promised a kingly line forever. What’s the difference? Although they both fought for God’s honor, David had a heart fully devoted to God. His zeal in the battlefield matched his fervor to worship in God’s temple. Jehu was not careful in keeping God’s law with all his heart. He may have smashed the wrong gods, but not the wrong worship. He followed Jeroboam’s sin of setting up an image to represent the Lord. And so his reign, although it lasted for twenty eight years, had nothing more notetaking except that it suffered overpowering attacks from Hazael, reducing Israel’s territory. He could have done more given his initial credentials.

Rebuking and correcting is just half of what the Scripture is all about. The second half mentions teaching and training. Someone may say, ‘I’m not a murderer, not an adulterer, not a thief. That makes me a good person, right?’ What if God says, ‘Great defense. Not let’s hear about your shots.‘ Zealousness against sin should be balanced with that fire to pursue righteousness. Visually, that’s a 180 degree turn then a straight line ahead. My personal take home is to be a parent who will be thorough and thoughtful of my kids’ character and growth. Not necessarily letting go of the NO issues, but to install (and instill) the YES factors too. 2 Peter reverbs loud now: ‘Make every effort to add to your faith goodness.. and knowledge.. and self-control.. and perseverance.. and godliness.. and  brotherly kindness.. and love’. Now, that's a great parenting curriculum!

Taking Sides

2 Kings 9:32,33

He looked up at the window and called out, "Who is on my side? Who?" Two or three eunuchs looked down at him. "Throw her down!" Jehu said. So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot.

In our highschool group page the other week, a personal issue flared up. One of my guy batchmates posted an accusation in all caps, almost bold prints, with exclamation points all over. It was against my friend who, according to him, borrowed his cellphone and never had the shame to return it. The page admin thought it best to delete his post for it negatively affects the group. It was taken offensively as expected. I asked my friend for the real story, and although she admitted the phone was with her, it was not because she was keeping it for herself. There was a prior agreement between her and the wife. She’s choosing to keep her silence because it would do more harm than good. In keeping with peace, but trying not to meddle with their issues, I opted not to take sides and encouraged him to choose to resolve it among themselves. He did not take it well either. Not taking sides, for him, is still not taking his side.  

After his anointing as next king of Israel, Jehu straight away pursued his first mandate: destroy the house of Ahab. With his army officers’ full support, he rode to Jezreel and there took the lives of kings Joram and Ahaziah. Next in line was the wicked Jezebel who promoted Baal worship in Israel and ordered the slaughter of Jewish prophets. He found her looking out of a palace window, face-painted with glamour and dressed in confidence. She was defiant to the end. But Jehu disregarded her intimidation and called out for allegiance from inside. And there, two or three eunuchs who had been attending the queen for three generations, possibly fed up with her cruelties, answered Jehu’s call and threw her down the window. It was enough proof of their new loyalty. T’was like a replay of that scene down Mount Sinai when the Levites’ allegiance to God caused them to kill three thousand of their Israelite brothers who bowed down to the golden calf.  In God’s fight against His honor, He takes no neutral side for an answer. Standing on His side and just standing up there are two different things.

There will be many points in our lives when we're called to take sides. The closer the relation, the harder it will be. For how can we choose between our boss and a co-worker, our teacher against our friends, our parent or our partner? It’s heartbreaking! But who says Jehu was calling the eunuchs to his side over their queen? Or Moses making them choose between his leadership or their friendship bonds? The ultimate question is what Joshua aired that time at Shechem:  ‘Choose today whom you will serve.. the gods or the Lord?’  It is not a question of who’s closer to us, or whom we love better, or who has no one but us to back them up. The Lord’s side is that road which proclaims His worth, preserve His works, and promote His ways. It may not win by popular vote. We can even find ourselves alone there and an enemy of both. But know it is the right way and God will bless you for your faith.  

No Short Cuts

2 Kings 9:6,7

Jehu got up and went into the house. Then the prophet poured the oil on Jehu's head and declared, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I anoint you king over the LORD's people Israel. You are to destroy the house of Ahab your master, and I will avenge the blood of my servants the prophets and the blood of all the LORD's servants shed by Jezebel.”

It’s really a tedious task doing routines. I can imagine how my kids feel whenever my instructions do loops: ‘Pick up your toys – return it to the bin – wash your hands’.  I’ve been there. My mother was the ultimate tape recorder. No one leaves the house without hearing her checklist: ‘Where’s your umbrella? Keep your wallet safe. Did you unplug everything in your room?’ Now I understand it’s a mommy-thingy. In instilling schedules and disciplines in the house, we are actually helping our kids to manage themselves and be readily adapted to the bigger world. They need to value the difference between getting it done and doing it right; obeying now and not later; and that character is part of the compliance. Routines will be their guide, their security. There’s no short cut to it.

God is the God of order. He authored the laws and the justice system. When Ahab’s family turned their backs from man’s side of the covenant, they knew punishment was coming. But their pride blinded them into thinking royalties were untouchables. That they were the law. Time and again, God sent His prophets to rebuke their idolatry, but instead of repentance, they had them killed. In this chapter, the sins of the father reached the third generation, and it was time for God to punish.  The spilled-blood of His faithful prophets sure had angered Him, but in keeping with His word and patience, He stretched His grace ‘til this time. A man seeking justice would readily attack his offenders at first encounter. That's why we have crimes of passion. Interestingly, it's also referred to as ‘temporary insanity’.  Sure we don’t have a God like that. He always keeps His order. Always in character. He gave the prophecy that it will be Jehu who will put to death those who escaped Hazael’s sword, and so it will be through them. These two men may be brave and all, but without authority, it will seem God favors mutiny.  So God went through the process of first sending a prophet to lead them to the thrones. No short cuts. When the appointed time came, from how Ahab’s family will die to where they will die, it all happened as He said it would. No loose ends.

Tagged as the instant generation, our lifestyle now runs in a flash. We demand all things done fast, as in right now. From three-minutes cooking, our noodles now shifted to no-cook, just add hot water. Magnify that to our government system, we hated how it took a decade for a murder case to see justice. But really, with man’s limitations to know all things, can we really expect it done in a few sitting? God don’t have those issues, and so we wonder, how come He’s still keeping His hand from avenging us? Why won’t He answer fast, why not now? Why come as a man and die on the cross? He sure can alter the ‘without shedding of the blood’ requirement. But will we ever find security if He’s a changing God? We will ever see salvation if not for His patience? Process that…