Good Still Overcomes!

             If you read the history of Israel, you will quickly learn that David’s family was not the only dysfunctional one.  Many kings murdered their relatives, including brothers, to protect their right to the throne. Sin was always at the root of their dysfunctional lives.  They disobeyed or abandoned God altogether.  They made unwise and sinful marriage decisions.  Often their quest for greed and power overruled all forms of decency. 

            One such example is the family of Jehoram, King of Judah.  He married Athalia, daughter of Ahab, and that’s probably where his trouble began.  Her influence caused him to follow in Ahab’s footsteps (II Chronicles 21:6).  After killing all his brothers, he reigned for eight years and then “passed away to no one’s regret” (II Chronicles 21: 20).

            Jehoram’s only surviving son, Ahaziah became King of Judah.  Encouraged by his evil mother, he also “did evil in the eyes of the Lord” (II Chronicles 22: 4a). Ultimately, he was killed by Jehu, King of Israel.  Upon hearing of her son’s death, Athalia began killing everyone in the royal family who might have a claim to the throne of Judah (II Chronicles 22:10).  Her goal was to assume the throne for herself, which is exactly what she did.

            To Ahaziah’s dismay, there was still one decent and honorable person in Jehoram’s family.  Jehosheba was a sister—probably a half-sister, of Ahaziah.  She was married to the priest, Jehoiada.  Jehosheba knew that Ahaziah had a one-year-old son, Joash, and she and her husband hid Joash away from Ahaziah.  As the only surviving descendant of David, Joash was key to God’s promise regarding David’s dynasty.  For six years, Jehosheba and Jehoiada kept Joash safe from Ahaziah’s clutches.  Then, at the age of seven, Joash was crowned King.  Athalia was seized by the troops and put to death.  Jehoiada proclaimed that the King and the people would be the Lord’s people, and finally, the altars of baal were destroyed (II Chronicles 23: 16, 17).

            Jehoram’s family was ripe with sin.  Murder seemed to be their middle name.  Yet, there was one who remained righteous, even while surrounded by evil.  Jehosheba risked her own life to save an innocent child who would continue the dynasty that God had given to David. 

            While most of us probably don’t have murderers in our families, we most likely have one or more persons who have taken the evil, sin-filled road, following their own desires, and ignoring God and His teachings.  Take heart!  God can still redeem your family and even those individuals.  Just like the father who welcomed home his lost son who had squandered his inheritance “in wild living” (Luke 15: 13), God is waiting to welcome our wayward family members home.  You may think you have done all you can, but with God all things are possible.  Never stop praying!  Prayer changes things, and like the father in the “lost son” parable, you may have the opportunity someday to run to your loved one and celebrate that “he was lost and is found” (Luke 15: 24).

II Chronicles 21: 20 – 23: 17

Luke 15: 11 - 24

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