This chapter describes the lineage of kings for both Judah and Israel for a period of roughly 42 years. After Abijam/Abijah, came his son Asa (in Judah). After Jeroboam came his son Nadab who was replaced by Baasha (in Israel).
“Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin which he made Israel to sin. Baasha… conspired against him. And Baasha struck him down… and reigned in his place. And as soon as he was king, he killed all the house of Jeroboam. He left to the house of Jeroboam not one that breathed, until he had destroyed it, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite.” (v25-29 abr)
Due to the wickedness of Jeroboam leading Israel to sin, God promised his family would be cut off from Israel, and Baasha did just that – he massacred the entire family. Jeroboam’s son Nadab didn’t even reign two whole years before being assassinated. Unfortunately, Baasha was just as wicked as Jeroboam and also led Israel to sin (“Meet the new boss, same as the old boss”).
This chapter reminds me that sin only begets more sin, and righteousness can only be found in God. When someone tells a lie, they can either confess it, or cover it up with another lie. Choosing the latter path usually ends up in a spiral of deceit that becomes unsustainable over time. Sin self-perpetuates like that until rock bottom (or death) is finally reached.
Evil never destroys evil, it merely replaces it with more/different evil. Only righteousness from God can break the death spiral of sin. If any of us is trapped in a cycle/spiral of sin, the solution isn’t to keep on sinning, it’s to repent and ask for God’s righteous intervention – that’s the only way out.
I encourage us to avoid the current path of Israel’s kings, replacing evil with evil. Let’s follow the current path of Judah’s kings, allowing God’s righteousness to destroy the false gods and sinful patterns of the past. Only then can we experience the joy and freedom God longs for us to have.
Father God, the Source of All Righteousness, great and mighty is Your holy name. We call upon Your grace and mercy father, for we have sinned greatly. We implore You to forgive us, and teach us to resist temptation. Father please guard our hearts against sin, and more importantly, direct them wholly toward You. Please mold and shape our hearts and minds to match Jesus’, so we may walk in Your ways all the days of our lives. We honor, praise and glorify You, our Righteous Redeemer, God of All Creation, forever and ever, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training