by Sandy Kirby Quandt

Last week in the continuing saga of the Old Testament kings of Israel and Judah, we ended with Judah’s king, Ahaziah, son of Jehoram and Athaliah the daughter of Ahab.

Ahaziah was murdered by Jehu of Israel. As soon as Athaliah heard of Ahziah’s death, she gave orders that all members of the royal family of Judah be killed.

But God …

From the very beginning of time God knew his son, Jesus, would come from the royal line of King David of the tribe of Judah. God preserved that royal line even though evil humans such as Queen Athaliah did their best to destroy it.

He raised up a woman for the job.

Ahaziah had a half-sister, Jehosheba, who secretly rescued Ahaziah’s infant son, Joash, and hid him with a nurse at the Temple where her husband, Jehoiada, was a priest. She saved Joash while all the rest of the princes were murdered.

After seven years, Jehoiada secretly crowned Joash king. Athaliah was executed and Joash reigned for forty years.

Of Joash we learn he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the years Jehoiada instructed him. The high places where idols were worshipped, however, were not destroyed.

After Jehoiada died, Joash listened to the officials of Judah. Once again, Judah turned from worshipping God to worshipping idols. Although God sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him, they would not listen.

As long as Joash had Jehoiada as a positive influence in his life to show him the ways of the LORD, Joash did what was right. After the priest’s death, Joash listened to ungodly counsel and idol worship took off again.

This story is the tale of two women, I believe.

Athaliah, who was pure evil and slaughtered her own family to become queen, and Jehosheba, who risked her life to save her nephew’s life and the kingly line of Judah.

God may not put us in a position to directly save a life, but he might. There are other ways we can save someone, though.

We can offer words of kindness that speak into a broken life. We can offer a non-judgmental ear as they share their pain. The smile we give may be the only ray of sunshine some receive.

We can be God’s hands and feet in a very broken world, and go to the least of these with the gospel whether physically, through monetary gifts, or by being a prayer warrior.

Who knows? You might be someone’s Jehosheba.

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As soon as King Ahaziah’s mother Athaliah learned of her son’s murder, she gave orders for all the members of the royal family of Judah to be killed. Ahaziah had a half sister, Jehosheba, who was married to a priest named Jehoiada. She secretly rescued one of Ahaziah’s sons, Joash, took him away from the other princes who were about to be murdered and hid him and a nurse in a bedroom at the Temple. By keeping him hidden, she saved him from death at the hands of Athaliah. For six years he remained there in hiding, while Athaliah ruled as queen. 2 Chronicles 22:10-12 (GNT)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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