Day 196
Ahaz is king after his father, Jotham. He did not follow in the steps of his predecessors but in those of the kings of Israel. One reason was that the king of Aram defeated Judah, so he felt that since God didn’t help him, he’d turn to their gods.
How often have we turned to something or someone else when facing life’s challenges?
We are also told that the armies of the king of Israel defeated Ahaz. The king of Israel’s son killed Ahaz’s son, palace commander and second in command. But what struck me was when Obed took a message to the Israelites concerning what they did to their relatives, Judah. So God allowed the defeat, yet he sent a message to the Israelites that what they did was too much, and they would receive consequences for their action. So although Ahaz wasn’t doing what pleased God, God was fair to warn the Israelites about the evil they were doing to their relatives.
Interesting right? I have always wondered how God judges between prayers of different people. When people have misunderstandings and take it to God, I have always wondered how God would answer the prayers of the parties involved. For parents, you know how this is when settling scores between siblings.
We also read about Hosea’s reign, fall and the exile of the people of Israel to Assyria. Though we are told that Hosea was not as evil as his predecessors, he also didn’t do things pleasing to God, and I guess judgment had come this time.
King Shalmaneser of Assyria then settled foreigners in the land of Israel. Lions ate the new settlers because they didn’t worship god. Word was sent to the king of Assyria on this, and he ordered that one of the exiled prophets return to Samaria to teach the new settlers the custom of the Israel God. The land belonged to God; whether it was the Israelites living there or the foreign settlers, the habitants had to worship God. However, while the new settlers worshipped the God of Israel, they continued worshipping their own gods — I guess that’s literally serving two masters. Again, before judging, I would check myself for the masters in my life — money, people, things etc.
