2 Kings 10:18-27
September 30, 2021
Then Jehu assembled all the people and said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him much. Now, therefore, call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers, and all his priests. Let none be missing, for I have a great sacrifice to offer to Baal. Whoever is missing shall not live.” But Jehu did it with cunning in order to destroy the worshipers of Baal. And Jehu ordered, “Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal.” So, they proclaimed it. And Jehu sent throughout all Israel, and all the worshipers of Baal came so that there was not a man left who did not come. And they entered the house of Baal, and the house of Baal was filled from one end to the other. He said to him who was in charge of the wardrobe, “Bring out vestments.” So, he brought out the vestments for them. Then Jehu went into the house of Baal with Jehonadab the son of Rechab, and he said to the worshipers of Baal, “Search, and see that there is no servant of the Lord here among you, but only the worshipers of Baal.” Then they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings.
Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside and said, “The man who allows any of those whom I give into your hands to escape shall forfeit his life.” So as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guard and to the officers, “Go in and strike them down; let not a man escape.” So, when they put them to the sword, the guard and the officers cast them out and went into the inner room of the house of Baal, and they brought out the pillar that was in the house of Baal and burned it. And they demolished the pillar of Baal, and demolished the house of Baal, and made it a latrine to this day.
The Scripture tells us Jehu used cunning to con the worshiper of Baal, but he also used fear to any that worshiped Baal that did not show up would be hunted down and killed. He forgot to share that those who showed up would be put to the sword. Jehu also made sure that no one who was a worshiper of the Lord was killed and that no one who worshiped Baal was not by having them wear the vestments for all the worshipers of Baal.
Take a moment to check what is happening to our brothers and sisters in much of the world, some are being hunted down and killed, and others are given a choice to deny Jesus as Lord, yes renounce Jesus, or die.
Now before you make a quick judgment on anyone that does that be very careful, what would you do if faced with that question?
I want to believe I would choose death, if not I must recall these words from our Lord; “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”
I cannot help but ask questions, that what I did for over 40 years in sales, so this question came to mind; could that be one of the reasons we are instructed to study the word of God? Yes, but also so we can walk upright and with integrity before man and God in this world.
It seems clear to this writer that Jehu was a tool used by God to fulfill what God has said through His prophet. You and I need to spend more time in a quiet place in prayer and with the word of God if we hope to overcome the cunning of the enemy of our soul.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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