Day 17

Attempts at Reform

from the 1 & 2 Kings reading plan


2 Kings 8:16-29, 2 Kings 9:1-37, 2 Kings 10:1-36, Psalm 72:1-20

BY Maria Furlough

How does it make you feel to hear someone blame God when bad things happen? Or when you find something difficult to understand or accept in Scripture—how does that affect you? For me, so many conflicting thoughts, theories, and perceptions can seep into my heart, creating doubt that threatens to weaken my faith. This is what I thought of when reading through today’s passages, when God calls Elisha to anoint Jehu as Israel’s king.

“This is what the LORD God of Israel says: ‘I anoint you king
over the LORD’s people, Israel. You are to strike down the house
of your master Ahab so that I may avenge the blood shed by the hand of Jezebel—
the blood of my servants the prophets and of all the servants of the LORD’” (2 Kings 9:6–7).

I am so grateful that we know the context of all that came before this! Reading through 1 and 2 Kings, I am often reminded of why God’s story needs to be read straight through and in its entirety. Out of context, some pieces of the story do not fit, and can even seem to conflict. But with the whole story, we see God working in and through all things, which strengthens our hope in a powerful God, who is who He says He is and does what He says He will do. We see through the entirety of Scripture that God gives His people ample opportunities to reform, warning them that should they not repent and turn back to Him, the outcome will not be good. Still, they don’t always listen.

But rest assured, when God says something will happen, it will happen. In 2 Kings 9:22, King Jehu goes to Jezebel to fulfill what God predicted through the prophet Elijah fourteen years earlier (1 Kings 21:23–24). And so when Jehu obeys God’s command to kill Jezebel, who brought about “so much prostitution and sorcery,” his actions were “[fulfilling] the LORD’s word that he spoke through his servant Elijah the Tishbite” (2 Kings 9:36).

The God we serve is mighty and just. He cannot be overthrown and will not be mocked, yet He is gracious to give us fair warning as to where our sinful choices will ultimately lead us. Though these verses describing violent scenes might cause us to squirm, may we instead rest our eyes on our Savior, whose death and resurrection have brought us redemption and hope through His own blood being shed. These passages point to our need for salvation, our need for Jesus.

The God of Israel is the one “who does wonders… the whole earth is filled with his glory” (Psalm 72:18–19). Jehu trusted this, despite not fully understanding what God was doing. He knew that when God calls, you answer that call. When He commands, you obey. Through the difficult, uncomfortable, and hard-to-explain things of this life, may our devotion and zeal for the Lord sustain us in all situations (2 Kings 10:16).

Post Comments (13)

13 thoughts on "Attempts at Reform"

  1. Daniella Moore says:

    Hi there- can ya’ll pray for me. I feel off-balance. I know its cause I havent done devos for the past week. I am going to do it now and just pray for some calm to come through. I just am anxious and my mind feels foggy.

    Thank you, family!

  2. Terri says:

    Yes Lindsey. We must look for the good. And be grateful to God for it. Everything from the miracle of a leaf going from green to bright red. Or the phone in the palm of your hand with the entire Word of God available to you anywhere. Or the ability to record through pictures all the wonders and blessings of God. Recommend the book “One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp when having a hard time seeing good.

  3. Mari V says:

    These past 2 years I am and continue to be sustained solely by my faithful God who has NEVER left me! And it has been difficult, uncomfortable and many times hard to explain but I will continue to trust in my God who already knows the outcome of all this.

  4. Churchmouse says:

    Know that the Lord will do what He has promised and that not a Word He has spoken will not be fulfilled. When He says that judgment is coming unless there is repentance, judgment is coming. We are too take Him at His word for it is always true. He means what He says. He does what He says He will do. His warnings are for our good. He gives us ample time to turn back to Him. We best not hesitate. The decision is ours but the consequences are His and they are sure to come.

  5. NanaK says:

    It is not within us to understand all of GOD’s plans and we must be cautious in trying to “humanize” HIS thoughts, plans, and timing. HE is GOD…I am not! I pray that today I will rest in the knowledge that HE is in control, whether my life is going smoothly or not and that my zeal for the LORD will remain strong throughout my life. Open my eyes to see the wonders that YOU alone have created. Blessed be YOUR glorious name forever…

    1. Kat Williams says:

      This! I was guilty of “seeing” God in an anthropomorphic way and finally realized that God is not human.

  6. Kelly Chataine says:

    Praying for you Elizabeth!

  7. Lindsey Brakhage says:

    Was not a fan of this entry. The writing makes it seem like you are odd for being upset with God at times. Some of us have been through trials with God and luckily in the Bible we see the whole story, but in our own lives, we don’t get that luxury. So it doesn’t always seem clear that God is still good during cancer or while you’re burying your best friend. You have to work on finding the good. Just my thoughts.

  8. Elizabeth S says:

    Yesterday, I felt God ask me which is greater: the momentary/circumstantial happiness that I am hoping for (for me in this chapter of life, it’s is the longing for a positive pregnancy test) OR the joy of daily walking in the presence of the Lord, being seen and known by my heavenly Father. Which of these takes up more “mind space”? Where am I placing my greatest hope and who/what is my ultimate source of completeness? Let my zeal for the Lord be first and foremost in my life.

    1. Melody Kruse says:

      Just want to say I am with you in this friend!

      1. Ashley HillBeets says:

        I am with you in this as well. Thank you for sharing

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *