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…