Based on 2 Kings 13:1-9 (New King James Version)
“In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. He did not depart from them. Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel, and He delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Ben-Hadad the son of Hazael, all their days. So Jehoahaz pleaded with the Lord, and the Lord listened to him; for He saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them. Then the Lord gave Israel a deliverer, so that they escaped from under the hand of the Syrians; and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents as before. Nevertheless they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin, but walked in them; and the wooden image also remained in Samaria. For He left of the army of Jehoahaz only fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers; for the king of Syria had destroyed them and made them like the dust at threshing. Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, all that he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? So Jehoahaz rested with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. Then Joash his son reigned in his place.”
Today we read about the wretched spiritual and physical state of the people of Israel during the reign of Jehoahaz. It was one of the lowest points for the Northern Kingdom of Israel—a time when both its leaders and the people practiced idolatry and all that such practices entailed, alongside other sins that were abominable to the Lord. It was a terrible time, and they were living out the consequences of their misdeeds—the fruit of their rebellion against God. Things reached such a point that God even allowed their enemies to seize much of their land, leaving them impoverished and weak.
One of the things God allows to happen as punishment is for His people to be tormented by their enemies. He withdraws His divine protection and permits a people's enemies—or the enemies of individuals (since God also allows evil to affect people personally)—to inflict harm in various ways. In this instance, God allowed the Syrians to take over much of their territory and cities, as well as their possessions; naturally, this resulted in great loss of life and economic ruin, leaving no peace—only anxiety, worry, pain, anguish, and sorrow. Ultimately, very little goes right when a person turns away from God. And if things that appear good happen apart from God, that is actually all the more reason for concern; because God is allowing the worst to happen—blindness to one reality—to spiritual destruction.
We might ask: If God is so good, why does He treat people this way? Why does He allow painful things to happen for the sake of correction? The fact is that God is love, and as such, He allows events to occur that will awaken a person from their foolishness. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people do not learn the easy way, so to speak. Because of sin, human beings often fail to respond to reason or kindness; instead, they become prideful in their own folly. When things are going well (so to speak), a person believes they deserve it, or that events unfold due to their own merits—or for a host of other reasons—yet very rarely do they perceive the call to repentance found in God’s love and in all He does for them. Israel was no exception back then, just as many are today. The vast majority of people do not see God in daily things; they simply take things for granted. But the Word says this: “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.’” James 4:13-14.
The point is that if something good happens—no matter how small it may seem—it comes only because God allowed it, for He is the One who gives all things, and He does so without any obligation whatsoever. This is what the Word says: “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23. Absolutely everything depends on Him, as we will continue reading: “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” Colossians 1:16-17. This is reality. If your heart beats, it is because He allows it. If your lungs are breathing right now, it is because God provides the air. If your blood flows through your body, it is because God Himself permits it. Consider how the Earth maintains its course—along with the entire Solar System and the galaxy we inhabit—and how we are not destroyed by cosmic elements, and that this is only because of His grace. Are you grasping the magnitude of our dependence on Him—believer and unbeliever alike?
But the Word says this: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful…” Romans 1:20-21a. Everything that exists speaks of Him and teaches us of our dependence on Him; yet man—especially the one who knows about God—seeks to rely on himself or on other things, or fails to treat God as he ought. This was Israel’s problem back then, and it is the problem for the vast majority today. The Word warns us of this: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Galatians 6:7-8. Ultimately, God is a God of love—of extreme love, and we would see that if we choose to believe and understand what He does—yet His love does not diminish His holiness or His worthiness. He is, after all, God, and His tolerance for sin is limited.
So, if you are going through difficult circumstances, the silver lining is that He allows them because He remains interested in you. Conversely, if a person never faces any kind of pressure or pain, it is a matter of grave concern; it implies that God is losing interest in that person and is allowing them to continue on their path toward perdition. Whatever the situation—the Word offers us this counsel: “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7. But alongside this advice, do not seek God merely to resolve a specific issue; instead, seek Him continually, for the most important thing—where you will spend eternity. If you seek only to resolve the present situation, that is all you will gain. You might win a small battle, but you will lose the war for your soul. So, will you seize the opportunities God gives you to save your soul? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!