I recently watched a movie where a rather conniving cousin almost thwarted a would-be king. It was a holiday romance with a royal twist: a riddle that needed to be solved to ensure the rightful heir was installed on the throne. The riddle was solved by a precocious young woman who, you guessed it, marries the new king.
But on the way to their happily ever after, they did stumble. Lies that had been told for generations came to light, and for a while, it seemed that there was no unwinding what had been done. Deception threatened their happiness in multiple ways, but a clue hidden in the riddle unlocked the victory for the true king.
This section of 2 Chronicles shares some ideas with that plot: a series of familial murders threatened to keep a rightful king (Joash) from the throne until a precocious princess stepped in to save the day.
The stories of Jehoram, Ahaziah, Athaliah, and Joash are hard to read. Jehoram inherited the throne but killed all his brothers to ensure it would be his. He was a terrible king who didn’t honor the Lord. He “built high places in the hills of Judah, and he caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves, and he led Judah astray” (2Chronicles 21:11). The Lord sent the prophet Elijah to tell Jehoram that he would die of a horrible intestinal illness. Then his son Ahaziah became king, and he led the people toward idols and away from the Lord. After his death, Ahaziah’s mother, Athaliah, took over and killed all of Ahaziah’s heirs to prevent them from stealing the throne from her.
Except that Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, took Ahaziah’s infant son, Joash, and hid him in the temple for six years. Like Moses in the reed basket, a baby was saved to carry the promise forward. Jesus was saved when His family fled to Egypt, and Herod sought to kill all the baby boys under two years old.
So goes the family of Jehoram, and so goes Israel. Israel kept forgetting God, worshiping idols, and breaking God’s law. And while God showed His judgment to them and they suffered through exile, God left a remnant of hope through the line of David. A good king—a forever king—King Jesus was promised. Through all the mess, tragedy, and epic family drama, God kept His promise to Israel and established His forever kingdom through their True King.
This devotional was updated on March 22, 2023 at 11:04 a.m. An earlier version of this devotional incorrectly identified Jehoshabeath as Ahaziah’s daughter.
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43 thoughts on "King Jehoram Leads Judah Astray"
@melanieranier What is this movie?
That generational evil is broken once we’re made a new creation in Jesus
Through all the mess, tragedy, and epic family drama, God kept His promise to Israel and established His forever kingdom through their True King.
What is the movie?
Reading today’s passages, the theme of “evil generational pattern” stood out to me again. How did a baby saved at a tip of a sword, raised by a priest, in and out of God’s House during early childhood, turned around and became a murderer? The Bible mentioned another baby, the case of prophet Samuel, dedicated into the temple when weaned by his mom Hannah, raised by prophet Eli, same situation, he grew up to be a God-fearing man… blessing and leading the nation. But Joash, a murderer, why? Then the Spirit of God revealed to me there exists an evil generational pattern that follows Joash. It’s not by chance, his grandmother Athaliah was a murderer. I remembered a teaching a while back I listened to, someone asked this, do you realize if you are going through medical treatment, doctors will ask if your parents or anyone in your family have had this illness history? why do we think that is? This is physical genetics, but spiritually, there is also a trail that follows to the younger and later generations. It is a spiritual law that God himself decrees, “I will visit the iniquity of the wicked to the 3rd or even 4th generation” (Exodus 34:7)- it will follow. The spirit of murder follows Joash from the trail that the wicked grandma Athaliah started. I saw this generational patterns in the Bible, in families of God following people (Christians), not exempt, such as, Solomon was a womanizer and then his son the next king also became one (King David also had issues with lust so strong that he even set up his friend to war casualty). Abraham was barren, and then his first born Issaac was also barren with his wife Rebekah (genesis 25:21), until the Lord healed the barrenness, they both struggled with infertility big time. These are God’s people, not unbelievers. May we look and examine, and ask God, what evil generational pattern I must notice Lord, By your power, by your grace, by your mighty right arm, may You Lord break and uproot every evil generational pattern in my family. Is it the disease that I saw my mom or my grandma have? My grandma has dementia from domestic abuse in her marriage (and I pray for the Lord to break this off my mom and younger generations in our families). May we ask God to reveal to us by His Spirit, and ask by His power that He will CUT OFF every evil pattern in our families. Dementia will not glory God, nor will poverty, job loss, anger, pride (self worship). His Name is at stake if these evil still lurk around. He wants us free and live victoriously for the sake of His Mighty Name. To HIM be ALL the glory. @SEARCHING: praying for your safe and joyful travels. @Dorothy: prayers for baby George and his mama. Be blessed dear sisters.
Haha @ MELANIE RAINER…I’ve seen that movie…it’s a cute one!! (as are the next two installments LoL)
God bless ♥️
20 He was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he departed with no one’s regret. They buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. – 2 Chronicles 21:20. ……(He departed with no one’s regret). This struck me as a very poor legacy…
@SARAH D. I hope it was a good relaxing personal day for you! I know you’re going to find that job soon and you will have so much more gratitude for it because of all the pain you’ve been through with this job! When I was going through college I was a teller at a bank and they were well with my crazy schedule. I pray you can find something more accommodating! @SEARCHING love your comment about how people were just trying to their best during Covid days. I couldn’t agree more! In life we are all just trying to do our best. Thank goodness for Gods grace!
Praying for all you Shes and feel so blessed to have found this community!
♥️
It’s hard to read about all of the evil happening in these two chapters, but what I love is God still makes a way and still has a plan even in the midst of the sin. I know he will make a way in our world too. ❤️
Hi ladies, jumping back on to give a praise!! I got a call today from one of the jobs I applied for as a preschool teacher at a local Christian school, and I have an interview on Monday! Praying for wisdom and discernment, and that the Lord would guide me to the best job that he wants for me in this next season of life. Thank you for your prayers!!
Happy Wednesday she’s, I hope you all are doing well and in great moods.
Today’s reading is really heavy. It is the demonstration of how evil company can quickly corrupt good character (1 Corinthians 15:33), even the evil company of a mother- a sacred bond- can also corrupt her son’s personality and decisions, a whole nation real quick (2 Chronicles 22:3-4). Power, wealth and influence can do weird things to people, even cause them to kill their own grandsons. So sometimes having just enough is a real blessing (Proverbs 30:8-9). That’s why I think many bad corruptions/temptations happen first at leadership level (government and church), since that’s the quickest way to “kill/steal/destroy/corrupt” the whole nation/congregation. Joining our dear she’s to pray for godly leadership for our governments and churches.
Thank you so much sisters for praying for my parents (thank you @SEARCHING, KELLY NEO, FOSTER MAMA, TERRI MARSHALL, VICTORIA E, KIM SCHFFERT, and other she’s who pray), that means so much to me and my parents. Thank you that you “carry” many of us through our trial season, like the 4 friends who carried the paralyzed man to find healing when he had no emotional or physical capacity to find healing on his own. You stepped in! What amazing precious friendships we have cultivated throughout the years.
@MICHELLE PATIRE: thank you for sharing the court victory, you are a tough cookie! Praise Jesus. I was thinking of diamond too.
@RHONDA J: praying for comfort and ease for your foot. I really can sense the excitement you have to get back to the activities. May God give grace and make it possible for your longing heart.
@TRACI: you are a wonderful mom. I teared up hearing how you shared that you couldn’t be there as you wished. That’s what my mom told my aunt too (she never told me). My mom wished she could be there for me in my times of need, she shared her regrets with my aunt- that sets me free from the lies of the devil. Because the longest time, my mom lived a separate life. I love her dearly and I never want her to be tormented by guilt ever. I am sure Tanner would feel the same for you.
“God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end”. Therefore, God remains a beautiful mystery. We can only see in parts, but we need to trust that it’s a beautiful overall picture that God has designed.
Be blessed dear sisters.
Praise God, I was found not guilty. Not because they believed my testimony, but because they didn’t have paperwork for the radar gun they used to track my speed. They hadn’t calibrated it since 2020 and weren’t sure how long it should go without calibration. So the judge said after the not guilt judgement that “I got lucky, because the radar guns are never wrong.” But I beg to differ lol. The cop even tried to get me to come to an agreement beforehand and lower the fine, but I knew my conviction was to stand for truth – that I didn’t speed. She looked at me like I was nuts, but hey, I won!
I believe the Lord used this experience to test my character and conviction. One of Chris Renzema’s songs I listened to before the case goes,
“And blessed are the hard-pressed
‘Cause like diamonds, they will shine
They will shine”
Amen, Rebecca and thank you <3
@Lehua- good to hear your fighting spirit has come back. Praise God!
Be blessed and listen and follow what you hear the LORD saying NOT the world.
* to follow the Lord in what you’re doing each day, I know He will be with you, guide you, and strengthen you. Also your dating comment reminded me of a single friend of my husband’s who loves the Lord. He lives in north AL, works as a nurse, and is 28. If you’d ever like to connect with him, I’d love to pass on contact info. – social media, name/email, etc. :)
Taylor — I don’t comment often, but try my best to read and pray through comments if time allows after my devotion. I recently left a job where I felt like I didn’t have enough training. I also felt like it wasn’t a good culture. It was my “dream” job, one that I’d spent more energy on than the Lord. I’ve since moved and will start a new job soon. It “felt” like the right decision. I’m trying to let the Lord lead this time around, though I’m learning what that means, how to discern God’s voice. He’s perused me and given me so much in this difficult season. I see this looking back but not always in the middle. Because you seek to
Good morning She’s! I’m a little behind on the reading and comments but I wanted to thank y’all for praying for me. I could feel your prayers – when I woke up this morning it was like a huge cloud was lifted and I just kept thinking “I need to change.” I’ve been coasting through life this season and playing victim, getting into a habit of laziness and not liking myself very much, spiraling into anxiety and depression. And I know it’s not me but the battlefield in my mind has been so real. It’s as if God nudged my thoughts this morning and said “You’re free. The prison door is unlocked, it’s been unlocked but I’m here to walk you out of here. Together.”
I don’t simply want to change… I NEED to. For the mission God has given me. To grow into my God-given potential. For my loved ones and our team who are counting on me. For these things, I will grow and change. Not because I’m the one but because He who is in me is greater. He deserves my all and my best. ❤️
Have a blessed day ladies.
The words that jumped out to me were, “God left a remnant of hope through the line of David” And it continues to be our life line today! As everyone has mentioned we live in a time much like those kings of Israel and need to cling tightly to the Word of God. Help us all, Jesus.
@Michelle P- prayers for your court appearance and that you would get a favorable verdict. But as you said, God is using this season of pressure to make you the diamond your are, sweet woman of faith!
@Rhonda- So glad your healing is coming and you can continue with your prison ministry! ❤️
It just shows that all the wickedness in our world now is not new. God keeps reaching for the lost and saving. Jesus is the answer to all of this and even in the Old Testament, God is pointing to a more perfect way.
I want to thank everyone that commented and are praying for me. It literally brought tears. I am humbled.
My takeaway this morning is ‘God always makes a way’!! Praising Him for His way and praying for all us waymakers!! Happy Wednesday sisters.
Amen
I agree we need strong leadership, led in faith! Joining you all in prayer!
GM- I am thankful for the devotion that explains the scripture a little better for my scrambling mind, it felt like reading back in history class a little! The verse that stood out was, like some of you said, was that nobody cared when he died. Wow. That’s harsh. Can you imagine no one caring when you died, or even glad? I’ve long thought that I may not do GREAT things by the world’s standards, or even in our church circles…but I do know that I AM here to sew into my son and grandchildren, and my husband, and all those I come into contact with in everyday life! Those are things that I can do for the kingdom of God and make an impact. When I die, I want people to say…She LOVED JESUS, and lived her life that showed that! It’s not such an easy thing to do in today’s crazy world. Christians are being scorned and demonized that we are bad, and being squeezed to the outskirts of mainstream. Better get ready for it, the world as we knew it is changing quick unless there is a major turn. It can happen, but Jesus did tell us the world would hate us so it shouldn’t shock us, yet it does after growing up in the 70’s and 80’s (I was in the bible belt). Let’s stay strong. We have God on our side!!
I got good news with my foot, that I can use the boot only and start eliminating the crutches slowly! What a difference it makes already!! Praise God!! I was sad that Prison doesn’t allow crutches, so I thought I wouldn’t be able to go to the prison ministry for the next 5 weeks! But now I will be able to continue going (after today!) Praise God!! Thank you for your prayers!!
-“but for the sake of the covenant the Lord had made with David, he was unwilling to destroy the house of David since the Lord had promised to give a LAMP to David and his sons forever.”
Thank you Lord for keeping your covenant in the midst of evil. Thank you for sending your son to be our Lamp. May we let his light shine in the midst of turmoil in this world and our lives.
Praying for you!
I haven’t been commenting lately but these past few chapters really just remind me of the chaos our world is in. Here’s to praying that we can make a turn and put God at the center and turn things around. Praying for each request. Have a great day!
good morning :)
@Sarah D- have been following your journey. May God give you rest today and help you get through this time of testing and patience. <3
I have a court case this morning but I am believing God for the victory. The end of December I was pulled over for speeding but I was going under the speed limit … the radar gun read wildly wrong. I know the Lord is with me because I felt He orchestrated all this for a reason. And I believe He told me to believe Him for the victory in the court room. Just wanted to share that with you all. :) I am hopeful and confident, despite never being in a court room. Perhaps it is for the mercy of others I am going. God alone knows. Life is a wild ride lately, but all this pressure and testing must be creating a lot of beauty. Ya feel me, pressed Shes? Pressure can press out our impurities and glorify God's strength.
Mess, tragedy and epic family drama! Sounds familiar. So thankful that God is constant and faithful to His promises.
Good morning everyone! Praying for you all.
I decided to take a personal/sick day today…I woke up slightly late and just am not feeling too great. I probably could have pushed through, but to be honest this job is just wearing me down. The changes that have been made, the things they ask me to do sometimes, you can tell they aren’t conscientious and don’t always understand what we go through in this job. Hoping to take today to pray and rest a bit, then work on some homework for my class. I am at the point where this job has taken a toll on me mentally (thankfully doing better), but taking a personal day sometimes is needed for a breather. Praying the Lord would open up some new doors for me soon.
So much evil in 2 Chronicles 21 & 22 … and in 2023. Unbelievably horrific things being done by the people in these scriptures and by the people in our world today. As our dear TINA would say, BUT GOD! He was on the throne then calling people to Him and showing a way to get there, and He is on the throne today, still calling sinners to repentance, Hallelujah! The Great I AM! Lord, help us to keep our eyes on you.
KELLY (NEO) and others – yes, let’s pray for our leaders to seek and follow the Lord. What a different world it would be if they did.
MERCY – oh goodness, sister! Praying the words you have shared with your parents would seep into their hearts and minds, revealing to them that the only real hope, healing and forgiveness is from our Lord and Savior, the one true God! May they feel the power of your prayers and those of all your sisters here. ❤️
MIA FAITH – that verse is so impactful. Love, prayers and comfort to you on the loss of your dear son.
FOSTER MAMA – and good morning to you! 2 am & 6 am posts – wow. Yes, I do have a prayer request for an elderly friend of mine who is traveling tomorrow to find out if she is a candidate for treatment for a heart condition. She loves the Lord and trusts Him, and is hopeful.
TRACI GENDRON – praying for you sister, for relief from the guilt. Tanner was surrounded by your love his entire life and no doubt felt surrounded by your love and your prayers and God’s love in ICU. Tanner continually saw your love for him in action day after day, and year after year. We lost several family members (only one from COVID) that we could not be with (all in long term care) during those early COVID months including my dear, precious Daddy. When I think about those dark, difficult and painful days, I try to remind myself that, right or wrong, everyone was trying to make the best, safest choices they could as the information they (and we) had changed by the minute it seemed. Love you, sister!
Father help me be a light to Your kingdom today. In Jesus name, Amen
No one was sorry when he died. What a statement!
@melissa c that caught my attention as well. How disliked a person must be that their death passes with no regret. Also what an excruciating way to die. The pride Jehoram had that when he heard from Elijah he didn’t repent.
You’re amazing, @ KELLY (NEO) ♥️– thank you!!
I will look because I have missed @ ERB ♥️…and we’re due for a cup of tea / coffee together ;)
@Kelly Neo Amen in agreement with your prayer for the leaders and also all that have influence or a platform. I also pray that they would be so changed that they hate what God hates and love what He loves. I pray that they would boldly stand for what is right and that laws and what’s acceptable would change based on God’s Word. I pray that they would care more about what God thinks than what men think. Please, God let this be. Amen!
At the end of today’s reading it struck me that Athaliah would have to have killed her own grandchildren to keep the throne. I realize our modern day world is not always kind but wow. That just struck me today.
When the leadership is unfaithful, the people are unrestrained in being unfaithful too. BUT GOD anyways has a remnant like Elijah and Jehoshabeath who will worship God alone.
Pray for leaders in government and in the church, that they may submit to the Lord and His ways and that they would have the voices of godly counsel speaking to them.
FOSTER MAMA – thank you for asking. I can always use more wisdom and patience! If you can find her post, ERB last checked in on Feb. 17. She is here, just not posting.
MERCY – agreeing with you in prayer that the Lord would draw your parents to Himself in their seeking journey.
@ VICTORIA E, I have scanned all of January and tomorrow (it’s currently 2am where I am) will continue into February, reading your comments Sister….IN THE MEANTIME, I am thinking a lot about (Jesus forgive me for possibly forgetting the correct initials) @ ERB…Do you know anything about her?! She was often unwell (and brother was studying hard with excruciating back pain)….I miss her gusto in tackling the passages and life!!
@ TRACI GENDRON I am the queen of guilt…sadly, it often doesn’t come from Jesus. Please heed the words of our sisters who are more clear / eloquent and correct. May God lift this for you.
Goodnight all ♥️
Thank you for SHAR-ing @ SHARBEAR!
@ RHONDA J – smiling the whole time I read your comment yesterday.
@ MERCY – praying
(I’m praying for all the requests as I read them.)
@ KELLY (NEO) @ SEARCHING….any prayer requests that we can pray for you?! perhaps that I’ve missed?!
King Jehoram died to no one’s regret . How sad. His life meant nothing. He wasted his life . Left no legacy.
Good morning @ SEARCHING ❤️
Thank you and all my sisters for your prayers…I am still a day behind but, have had a few days in a row of doing my SRT Devo before needing to interact with the world outside my home…praise Jesus
@ TAYLOR, I echo what many of our sisters have said and I commend your wisdom and conviction about the man you hope to marry — we all have ups and downs in our spiritual journey but, he absolutely must be committed to that faith walk and be able to love Jesus before and more than he loves you; thankfully, Jesus is great at teaching receptive men to love their wives as He loves His church. May God bless you and all the blessed single, divorced and widowed women of faith…and keep the enemy’s lies away during seasons of loneliness.