Menahem Reigns in Israel

 2 Kings 15:17-22

 

October 23, 2021

 

 

Menahem Reigns in Israel

In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi began to reign over Israel, and he reigned ten years in Samaria.   And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart all his days from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin.   Pul the king of Assyria came against the land, and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that he might help him to confirm his hold on the royal power.   Menahem exacted the money from Israel, that is, from all the wealthy men, fifty shekels of silver from every man, to give to the king of Assyria. So, the king of Assyria turned back and did not stay there in the land.   Now the rest of the deeds of Menahem and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?   And Menahem slept with his fathers, and Pekahiah his son reigned in his place.

 

After ten more years of evil, Israel has been rebelling against God for so long that it does not matter that God's prophets tell them to return to the only true God.  Can you see a parallel or resemblance between our nations and Israel?   From the reign of Jeroboam Israel had chosen to reject the God who loved them and gave them all they had and they chase after the God of the nation God had defeated to give them the life they had.  They chose to have a man rule over them and as a people rejected the God of Israel.  And what about us have we also not chosen to do the same?  It has not worked well for Israel and we the land of the free and home of the brave, have for years chosen the same path.  How is it working, not so good, the chicken has come home to roost?  You may be surprised to find out that money will not solve our problems, nor a strong military, nor lower taxes, or an honest election.  What this nation needs is an awakening to the truth, we or evil and need to cry out to a Holy God to forgive us, yes repent and turn, or we will be destroyed.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice