Day 114

The Day of Reckoning

Read: 2 Kings 9-10

Ahab was the most wicked of the kings of Israel. He was stirred up to great wickedness by his wife Jezebel. She had introduced Baal worship into Israel. Baal worship included many disgusting practices that were abominations in the sight of God, who predicted through his prophet that the house of Ahab would be severely punished.

Now the time for this punishment had come. Jehu, a wild chariot driver, was the one through whom this punishment would be administered. He was ruthless in carrying out his assignment.

But, while Jehu wiped out Baalism throughout the land, he still clung to the idolatry which Jeroboam, the first king of Israel, had introduced in the form of golden calves at Dan and Bethel. He was “not careful to walk in the law of the LORD” (10:31). Therefore, enemy nations began to chip away at Israel’s territory.

God often permits evil to continue far longer than we think it should. Evil people seem to be “getting away with murder.” But be sure of this: God will punish sin, either in this life or in the life to come. He is a God of justice, and the Bible makes it clear that in the long run people will be punished for their sin. The only hope for any of us is to look with sincere faith to Jesus Christ for forgiveness.

PRAYER
Father, your Word reveals that you are not only a God of love, but also of justice. Forgive us for Jesus’ sake. Amen.