Disbelief

by Ben

I read 2 Kings 9-12.

We get the next few kings of Israel in this section. I really like chapters 9 & 10 here. I know it is kinda guyish, but I really got into it when King Jehu takes over and goes after the bad kings who have lead the people astray (following other gods). He deceitfully does a work of God: He tells all of Israel that he is going to have a big Baal worship service and that everyone who worships Baal has to be there on penalty of death. He ensures that no one who worships the Lord is there. Basically, he gets all the Baal worshipers together and then has his men go in and kill them all. Whoa. And get this: the Lord says that he has done well!

Some might say that this is a pretty gruesome sense of judgement, but it really becomes a marker in the history of Israel because it should end the worshiping of other gods. BUT!!!!! (oh, come on, you knew it was coming) he foolishly "did not obey the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He refused to turn from the sins of idolatry that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit."

You are kidding me, right? This guy who basically enacts a holy butt-whipping on the Baal worshipers because they are idolaters turns out to be one himself?!!! Ugh! These Israelites just can't ever fully get with the program! And we follow in their footsteps. I'm really shaking my head right now, trying to figure out how we as people can't seem to understand that God can take care of us. We don't have to seek other means of salvation or purpose. They are already there for us! Just reach out and accept them! And then don't turn away!