Today's Daily Bread

JEHOAHAZ SEEKS THE LORD’S FAVOR

Date : Wednesday, April 02, 2025
Passage : 2Kings 13:1~13
Keyverse : 4  
1
In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years.
2
He did evil in the eyes of the LORD by following the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit, and he did not turn away from them.
3
So the LORD’s anger burned against Israel, and for a long time he kept them under the power of Hazael king of Aram and Ben-Hadad his son.
4
Then Jehoahaz sought the LORD’s favor, and the LORD listened to him, for he saw how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel.
5
The LORD provided a deliverer for Israel, and they escaped from the power of Aram. So the Israelites lived in their own homes as they had before.
6
But they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit; they continued in them. Also, the Asherah pole remained standing in Samaria.
7
Nothing had been left of the army of Jehoahaz except fifty horsemen, ten chariots and ten thousand foot soldiers, for the king of Aram had destroyed the rest and made them like the dust at threshing time.
8
As for the other events of the reign of Jehoahaz, all he did and his achievements, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?
9
Jehoahaz rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. And Jehoash his son succeeded him as king.
10
In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years.
11
He did evil in the eyes of the LORD and did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit; he continued in them.
12
As for the other events of the reign of Jehoash, all he did and his achievements, including his war against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?
13
Jehoash rested with his ancestors, and Jeroboam succeeded him on the throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
Jehu purged Baal worship but didn’t remove the golden calves. Jehu’s son, Jehoahaz was influenced by his father and did evil by following the wicked way of Jeroboam. God delivered Israel into the hand of the king of Aram. In his desperation, Jehoahaz humbled himself and prayed for God’s deliverance. Hearing his prayer, God showed his favor to Israel by providing a deliverer. God has compassion on anyone who turns from their wicked way to him. God’s favor on his people is present throughout the entire history of Isreal. God heard the Israelites’ cry in Egypt, and sent Moses a deliverer. During the times of the judges, God heard his people’s desperate cry and delivered them through the judges again and again. God shows his favor to even the most sinful and wicked when they repent and come to him.

Jehoahaz and the Israelites failed to return to God fully after God rescued them out of the trouble. They forgot the favor of God and went back to idol worship. God humbled Israel again through the king of Aram who attacked Jehoahaz's army and reduced it to the dust of a threshing floor. His son Jehoash followed the evil way of Jehoahaz. We must seek God not only in times of crisis, but also in times of peace. Prayer: Lord, I come to you just as I am, knowing that you welcome those who turn their hearts and come to you.
One Word: Seek God’s favor