SCRIPTURE: 2 KINGS 13
JEHOAHAZ – KING OF ISRAEL (vs. 1-9)
Jehoahaz became king of Israel in Samaria and he reigned for 17 years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord and caused Israel to commit idolatry. The Lord’s anger burned against them and put Israel under the son of Hazael, king of Aram and Ben Hadad.
Then Jehoahaz prayed to the Lord and the Lord provided a deliverance for Israel. They escaped from the power of Aram. But they continued the sins of the house of Jeroboam and the Asherah poles remained standing in Samaria.
Nothing had been left of the army of Jehoahaz except 50 horsemen, 10 chariots and 10 thousand foot soldiers. The king of Aram had destroyed the rest and made them like the dust at threshing time. Jehoahaz rested with his father and was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoash succeeded him as king.
JEHOASH KING OF ISRAEL (vs. 10-25)
Jehoash succeeded Jehoahaz as king of Israel and reigned for 16 years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord and caused the Israelites to commit the sins of Jeroboam. Jehoash rested with his father and buried in Samaria. Jeroboam succeeded him as king of Israel.
Elisha was suffering from an illness. Jehoash went to see him and wept over him. Elisha said to him: “Get a bow and some arrows. Take the bow in your hands and open the east window and shoot.” Jehoash did as what Elisha had told him. Then Elisha declared: “The Lord’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram! You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek” (vs. 15-17). The Elisha said to Jehoahaz: “Take the arrows and strike the ground” (v. 18). The king struck it three times and stopped. Elisha was angry with him and said” “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times”. (v.19)
Elisha died and was buried. Now a band of raiders came and threw a man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood on his feet.
Hazael, king of Aram oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz. But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Hazael king of Aram died and Ben-Hadad his son succeeded him as king. Jehoash recaptured from Ben-Hadad the towns he had taken in battle from his father Jehoahaz. Three times, Jehoash defeated , and so he recovered the Israelite towns.
THOUGHTS:
Jehoahaz lacked spiritual discernment because he did not understand the will of God as ordered by Elisha. As a consequence, he only claimed a limited victory over the enemy. He missed the opportunity to totally destroy Aram. Be sure to grasp the opportunity and advantage that God has given you today so that you can enjoy the full benefits and blessings.