Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

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Character characteristics

Lesser known characters :: Orpah

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On October 10, 2011

In Christian, Lesser known characters

If I was to ask you, if you have heard about the Biblical Ruth, it is likely that you would say yes. In fact, an entire book in the Bible is named Ruth after this character. But if I was to ask you, if you have heard about the Orpah, mentioned in the Bible, it is likely that most of us would not answer that question affirmatively. Who was Orpah?

Orpah is from the land of Moab, and the daughter in law of Naomi and sister in law of Ruth (Ruth 1:15). When the sons of Naomi, and the husbands of Orpah and Ruth died, Naomi tells each of her daughters in law to return to their mother’s house and prays that the LORD’s blessings be on them (Ruth 1:8). To this both Orpah and Ruth respond that they will stay with Naomi and return to Judah, to Naomi’s people (Ruth 1:10). Naomi insists that her daughters in law go back to their own families, and unlike Ruth, who remained loyal to her kin and her word, Orpah, kisses her mother in law and returns to her own people (Ruth 1:14-15). Orpah did not only return back to her own people, but sadly she returns back to her Moabites gods (Ruth 1:15).

What can we learn from Orpah?

Orpah, the sister in law of Ruth, in her words, vowed to stay with Naomi and to return to the land of her husband, the son of Naomi. But later she decides to leave Naomi and backslides to her kin and gods. Jesus asked, which of the two sons did the will of the father, the first who refused to go to his father’s vineyard to work but later repented and went or the one who promised to go and work in the father’s vineyard and went not? It was the first (Matthew 21:28-31). Orpah promised to go with her mother in law but went not like the second son who did not do what his father willed. Imagine for a moment, if Orpah had had the same response as that of Ruth, that she would go where Naomi would go, and stay where Naomi stayed, and that Naomi’s people will be her people and that Naomi’s God would be her God as well and that only death may separate them. If Orpah had done so, I wonder if the book of Ruth would be named Orpah and Ruth.

Many a times, we act like Orpah as well, promising to do what God the Father wills for us, but then failing to do so. We backslide to our sin and to the false gods in our lives. Let us be more like Ruth and not like Orpah, true to our word and never failing to do what God the Father has willed for us.

Ruth 1:3-17 (KJV)
3 And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
6 Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.
7 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.
8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.
9 The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;
13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.
14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

Lesser known characters :: Nathanael

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On October 7, 2011

In Christian, Lesser known characters

Ask any one to name some of the twelve disciples, chosen by Jesus, and it is likely that you were hear of Matthew, Luke, John, Peter (also called Simon), Andrew, James, Philip, and even Judas. Seldom would you hear Bartholomew or Nathanael. In fact, scholars assume that Bartholomew and Nathanael are the same person, because Matthew, Mark and Luke refer to Bartholomew and makes no mention of Nathanael, while John lists Nathanael and not Bartholomew in the disciples list. In stead of getting caught up with, “WHO Nathanael was”, it is more important for us to understand “WHAT Nathanael was?”

When Philip finds Nathanael, Philip tells Nathanael that Jesus is the person of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write. This means that Nathanael must be a person who would have studied the law and familiarized himself with the writings of the coming Messiah. Philip asks Nathanael to “Come and See” the Christ.  We then learn, that Nathanael is coming to Jesus, when Jesus looks at him and says of him, Behold an Israelite, in whom is no guile (deception) (John 1:47). Nathanael questions Jesus, “since when do you know me” to which Jesus responded by saying that “even before Philip called you, when you sat under the fig tree, I saw you.” (John 1:48). Nathanael responds by addressing Jesus as Rabbi and then believes and expresses that Jesus indeed was the Son of God and the king of Israel.

What can we learn from Nathanael?
Can Jesus say of you and me, that we are without any guile (deception); that we don’t live a double standard or a hypocritical lifestyle? WHO we are is not important, but WHAT (kind of person) we are is what matters to Jesus. Like Nathanael, do we read about Jesus in his word/law and when asked to come and see, are we going to come forward to see Jesus as Nathanael did. The fig tree figuratively represents human efforts for righteousness.  Adam and Eve had sown themselves coverings of fig leaves to hid their shame, that resulted from their disobedience in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:7). Jesus cursed the fig tree that was fruitless (Mark 11:20), implying that those who are not grafted and remain in the vine (in Christ) cannot bear fruit and subject to the curse of being eternally separated from God, fit for nothing, but withered and dried up to be cut and thrown into the fire (John 15:4; Mark 11:21). Jesus saw Nathanael under the cloak of human righteousness and when Jesus reveals this to him, Nathanael believes and responds that Jesus is indeed the Son of God (Spiritual King of kings) and the King of Israel (earthly king) (John 1:49). Can we be like Nathanael, believing in our hearts that Jesus is the Son of God in deed and not rely on our human efforts to assure Salvation, for we can be saved, only by grace through faith alone and not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9).

John 1:43-51 (KJV)
43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Lesser known characters :: Malchus

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On October 6, 2011

In Christian, Lesser known characters

When the band of men and officers of the chief priest and Pharisees, led by Judas Iscariot, came to arrest Jesus, Peter reaches out for his sword and cuts off the right ear of the servant of the high priest. The servant’s name was Malchus (John 18:10). Jesus responded to Peter’s act of violence, by stating that there should be no more of this. Jesus then touches Malchus’ ear and heals it (Luke 22:51).

What can we learn from Malchus?
The healing of the ear of Malchus is indicative more about the nature, character and work of Jesus. Though physically, Jesus restored and healed the ear of Malchus, it becomes evident, when reading about what Jesus said, that Jesus was interested in Malchus, hearing the voice of the Spirit of God. Many times, in the Bible, Jesus advises, “He who has an ear, let him hear, what the Spirit tells to the Churches (Matthew 11:15; Mark 4:7; Revelation 2:7; Revelation 2:17). Malchus was the servant of the high priest, implying that he would be held responsible for hearing what his earthly master told him, but in healing the ear of Malchus, Jesus shows us that the restoration of the ability to hear the voice of God, which His Holy Spirit speaks, is for us to hear what the Spirit of God, the heavenly Master’s commands.

Points to ponder:
Whose voice are you and I listening to? If you hear God’s voice today, asking you to believe in Jesus, harden not your hearts (Hebrews 3:7-11).

John 18:10 (KJV)
10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.

Luke 22:49-51 (KJV)
49 When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?
50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

Revelation 2:7 (KJV)
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Hebrews 3:7-11 (KJV)
7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)

Lesser known characters :: Justus

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On October 5, 2011

In Christian, Lesser known characters

When the Jews in Corinth opposed the gospel of Jesus Christ, that Paul was preaching in the synagogue, Paul informs them that he would go now to the Gentiles and he leaves and goes to man named Justus. From this account we can learn that Justus was hospitable and he allowed Paul to stay with him. Not much is said of Justus, but what is said has voluminous significance. As the Bible introduces this character, it qualifies, him as being a worshiper of God (Acts 18:7) .

What can we learn from Justus?
We must be hospitable and willing to host God’s people as needed, for the ministry of God to continue. More importantly, if someone was to describe us, would they describe us a “worshiper of God”?  Think about it.

Acts 18:4-7 (KJV)
4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
7 And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.

Lesser known characters :: Junia and Andronicus

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On October 4, 2011

In Christian, Lesser known characters

The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans requests to salute Andronicus and Junia, whom he calls fellow-prisoners. Junia and Andronicus were imprisoned along with Paul for their faith in Jesus Christ. Paul, in fact refers to them as noteworthy apostles who were in Christ even before him.

What can we learn from Junia and Andronicus?
Are we willing to be imprisoned with fellow believers for our faith in Christ Jesus? Would you and I be referred to as being noteworthy disciples of Jesus Christ? Think about it.

Romans 16:7 (KJV)
7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

Lesser known characters :: Joash (aka Jehoash)

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On October 3, 2011

In Christian, Lesser known characters

2 Chronicles 22-24 and 2 Kings 12 records the story of Joash (aka Jehoash), the king of Judah. When Joash was merely a year old, his evil grandmother Athaliah murdered all of his siblings as she usurped the throne. All of the royal seed but Joash were killed. Joash was spared because his uncle and aunt, Jehoiada who was the priest in the temple and his wife Jehosheba, took him and hid him in the temple for six years. When Joash was seven years old, Jehoiada restored him as the rightful king of Judah and Joash reigned in Jerusalem for forty years (2 Chronicles 24:1). As long as Jehoiada the priest was alive, he advised Joash the king in the right ways and Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord (2 Chronicles 24:2). Joash was minded to repair the house of the Lord and he started a project to collect funds for repairing God’s house. Jehoiada and Joash sought both financial and human capital and had workmen restore the house of the Lord and the surplus of the funds they collected, they brought into the temple of God and offered burnt offerings daily when Jehoiada lived (2 Chronicles 24:14).

But when Jehoiada died, the princes of Judah made obeisance with Joash, the king, and diverted his attention away from the house of the Lord to the idolatry of the land (2 Chronicles 24:17-18) which brought on Judah and Jerusalem the wrath of God. The Spirit of God came upon Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada and cousin of Joash, who prophesied against the sins of the idolatrous king, expressing that the Lord had forsaken him because he had forsaken the Lord. Joash, completely ignoring the kindness of Jehoiada, bands together with the other evil idolators and stones and kills Zechariah in the house of the Lord (2 Chronicles 24:20-22). King Joash succumbed to the very sin of murdering his own kin as did his evil grandmother Athaliah. Jesus refers to this slaying of Zechariah in the gospel of Matthew as he confronts the hypocrisy of the land (Matthew 23:35).

Hazael, the king of Syria fought and won against Gath and Hazael sought to come and fight and take Jerusalem. Joash, instead of crying out to God for help, foolishly takes all the hallowed things that he and his ancestors had dedicated to God, and took all of the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the LORD and in the king’s house and sent it as a bribe to Hazael. Hazael accepts the bribe and chooses not to attack Jerusalem (2 Kings 12:17-18; 2 Chronicles 24:23-24). But at the end of the year, the army of Syria comes against Judah and Jerusalem with a small army, but God allowed the king of Syria to invade Judah and Jerusalem for Joash had forsaken the Lord. Joash is left severely wounded and his servants, Zabad (aka Jozacher) and Jehozabad, conspire against Joash, for the murder of Jehoiada’s son, Zechariah, and they kill him in his own bed. Joash was buried in the city of David, but not in the tomb of the kings. (2 Chronicles 24:25-26)

What can we learn from Joash (aka Jehoash)?
Jehoash was hidden in the temple of the Lord for six years during his childhood years, but since we see that he was quickly swayed away from the righteous ways, when his uncle Jehoiada died, having no one to instruct him, it is likely that Joash had not hidden the word of the Lord in him, which would have kept him from sinning against God (Psalm 119:11).

Joash’s relationship with God was indirect through Jehoiada and not direct. Many a times, we sometimes act like Joash as well, listening only to preachers and pastors instead of directly listening from God, by searching out his Scripture and through communion and prayer. We must be careful never to put our confidence in men but to solely rely on God (Psalm 146:3).

Joash had a Godly upbringing, in the house of the Lord, under the tutelage of his Godly uncle Jehoaida, but his end was pitiful, so much so that he forsook God, embraced idolatry and killed his own kin, instead of repenting. For this, though he was a king, he was not given a place to be buried with the kings. In like manner, if we forsake God and start embracing the idols of position and prosperity (lust of of the flesh), pleasure (lust of the eyes), pride and power (pride of life) (1 John 2:16), we may find ourselves being deprived of the royal departure that we as royal priests of God (1 Peter 2:9) are benefactors of.

2 Chronicles 24:1-2;17-18;20-25; (KJV)
1 Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Zibiah of Beersheba.
2 And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.
…
17 Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them.
18 And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass.
…
20 And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.
21 And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD.
22 Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require it.
23 And it came to pass at the end of the year, that the host of Syria came up against him: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them unto the king of Damascus.
24 For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash.
25 And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings.

2 Kings 12:17-18 (KJV)
17 Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.
18 And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and in the king’s house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.

Lesser known characters :: Joanna

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On September 29, 2011

In Christian, Lesser known characters

Joanna was the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward. She was a follower of Jesus Christ. It is said of her that she and other women like Susanna and many others, ministered unto Jesus of their substance, meaning that they supported Jesus’ ministry and his disciples by contributing their own resources (Luke 8:3). Joanna is also one of the women that went to the tomb where Jesus was laid. She and the other women (Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and some others) were told of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, by two angelic beings. These women come back and tell the other eleven disciples of Christ, the account of Jesus’ resurrection conquering death, once and for all (Luke 24:10).

What can we learn from Joanna?
Like Joanna, can we support the ministry of Jesus Christ with our own personal resources? Let us remember that all things belong to Jesus already, we are merely stewards of what has been given to us.
Also, like Joanna (and the other women), we must be sharing the resurrection of Jesus Christ with others. In other words, we must be telling others that Jesus is The Living God, who has conquered death and is alive today, as we await His return.

Luke 8:1-3 (KJV)
1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

Luke 24:9-10 (KJV)
9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
10 It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

Lesser known characters :: Jehoiada

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On September 28, 2011

In Christian, Lesser known characters

The story of Jehoiada, the high priest and husband of Jehosheba is recorded in 2 Kings 11 and 12. When Athaliah (the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel), usurped the throne of Judah and killed all the members of the royal family, upon learning that her son Ahaziah, was killed by Jehu, king of Israel, Jehosheba rescued Jehoash (aka Joash), the son the Ahaziah and rightful successor to the throne and hid him for six years in the house of the Lord. After six years, Jehoiada presents Jehoash and restores him as king (2 Kings 11:4-12). He then made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD’s people; and between the king also and the people (2 Kings 11:17). This led to the people destroying the idols of Baal in the land (2 Kings 11:18). King Jehoash reigned for forty years and did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as Jehoiada instructed him. Though Jehoiada was not a king, when he died at the age of a hundred and thirty, he was buried with the kings in the city of David, because he had done good toward Israel, toward God and his house (2 Chronicles 24:15-16).

What can we learn from Jehoiada?
Like Jehoiada, we must be willing to present the rightful King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ to the people and make a covenant between the LORD, Jesus Christ the king and the people, that they will belong to the LORD. This should lead to the tearing down of idols in our lives. When we love the Lord, and his people, as Jesus commanded us to, we may end up amongst the kings, when we depart, if that is in God’s will. Think about that!

2 Kings 11:1-4,12 (KJV)
1 And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.
2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain.
3 And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land.
4 And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and shewed them the king’s son.
…
12 And he brought forth the king’s son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king.

2 Kings 11:17 (KJV)
17 And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD’s people; between the king also and the people.

2 Kings 12:2 (KJV)
2 And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 

2 Chronicles 24:15-16 (KJV)
15 But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old was he when he died.
16 And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house.

Lesser known characters :: Jehonadab (aka Jonadab)

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On September 27, 2011

In Christian, Lesser known characters

Ever wonder why some Arabian tribes are teetotalers even today?

When king Jehu of Israel, was on his mission to smite all from the house of the evil king Ahab, Jehonadab, the son of Rechab met him on his journey to Samaria. During this encounter, Jehu asked Jehonadab, if his heart was in allegiance with Jehu’s, to which Jehonadab responded “It is.” Upon hearing Jehonadab’s response, Jehu asks for Jehonadab’s hand which Jehonadab gives and Jehu takes it and uses it to lift him to ride with him in his chariot (2 Kings 10:15).

Later when Jehu subtly gathers the worshipers of Baal in the temple of Baal, so he could kill all the worshipers of Baal, Jehu asks Jehonadab to ensure that none of the servants of the Lord were present, so that the people of God (wheat) are not destroyed (uprooted) along with the servants of Baal (tares) (2 Kings 10:25; Matthew 13:24-29).

The next we read of Jehonadab is in Jeremiah 35 where he is referred to as Jonadab. Here Jonadab is used to contrast the faithfulness of the Arabian Rechabites over the unfaithfulness of Judah. Jonadab has instructed his people (the Rechabites) to never ever drink wine or build houses and his children to many generations were faithful to the commands of this man, unlike the people of God who were even unfaithful to the commands of even God. For this, God is faithful in promising that from the house of Jonadab, there will always be one who will stand to serve God (Jeremiah 35:19).

What can we learn from Jehonadab (aka Jonadab)?
First, when the people of God are fulfilling God’s mission, we must be willing to give our hands to partner and ride on that journey as did Jehonadab to Jehu. When asked if our heart is in allegiance with God’s work and his people, can we say “It is”?
Second, we must ensure that the people of God (believers) are sanctified (set apart) lest any believer perishes.
Finally, we must commission our children to refrain from practices that defile the temple of God (drinking wine) or focus on settling down in this world (build houses), so that we can attain the promise and privilege of serving God, all the days of our life and in any future generations.

2 Kings 10:15-16 (KJV)
15 And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him: and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me thine hand. And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.
16 And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So they made him ride in his chariot.

2 Kings 10:23 (KJV)
23 And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of the LORD, but the worshippers of Baal only.

Jeremiah 35:12-14;18-19 (KJV)
13 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the LORD.
14 The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father’s commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me.
…
18 And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you:
19 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever.

Lesser known characters :: Jehu

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On September 26, 2011

In Christian, Lesser known characters

Prophet Elisha sent the son of another prophet to Ramothgilead in order to anoint Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat and grandson of Nimshi as king over  Israel. The son of the prophet does as he is told. He pours oil on the head of Jehu and anoints Jehu as king, during which time the prophet conveys to Jehu, the mission that the Lord had for Jehu. The mission that was given to Jehu was to annihilate and smite all of the household of Ahab as a means to avenge the blood of the prophets that Ahab and his wife, Jezebel had spilled (2 Kings 9:1-12). Upon his anointing as king by the Lord, we learn that the people who were with Jehu accept him as king over them as well (2 Kings 9:13).

Jehu started out by killing Jehoram (also known as Joram), son of Ahab and Jezebel (2 Kings 9:14-26) in Jezreel. He then pursued Ahaziah, the son of Jehoram and Athaliah, daughter of Ahab (2 Kings 9:27-28), to Gur near Ibleam and smote him there. Ahaziah fled to Megiddo and died there. Then Jehu returned to Jezreel and solicited the help of two or three eunuchs to throw Jezebel, the wife of Ahab down from the window from which she questioned, if Jehu had come in peace after calling him the murderer of his master, Ahab (2 Kings 9:31). The eunuchs throw Jezebel down and she is killed and eaten by dogs as was prophesied against her by prophet Elijah, for his wickedness and evil against God’s prophets (2 Kings 9:30-37). Jehu then turns his attention to the seventy sons of Ahab in Samaria and has the people of the land slaughter them and send their heads to him in Jezreel (2 Kings 10:1-11). He then goes to Samaria and on his way there, comes across relatives of Ahaziah (and hence of Ahab’s household) and he kills them all (2 Kings 10:12-14). Upon arriving in Samaria he slaughters all that remained of the house of Ahab, as was prophesied by the prophet Elijah (2 Kings 10:17). He then turns his attention to Baal, and the worshipers of Baal, whom Ahab worshiped. Subtly he conspires and acts to be a servant of Baal to gather all the worshipers of Baal and gathers them in the temple of Baal where he appoints eighty men to slaughter all the worshipers of Baal, after ensuring that there were none in that gathering who were worshipers of the LORD (2 Kings 10:18-28). Of Jehu, it is said, that he was the destroyer of Baal from Israel (2 Kings 10:28). And the LORD said unto Jehu, “Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.” (2 Kings 10:30).

However, Jehu did not heed to walk in the law of the Lord with all his heart and did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, which was idol worship. Jeroboam, the king of Israel (Northern kingdom) erected golden calves in Bethel and Dan and appointed priests to offer sacrifices unto them, for fear that his people would return to worshiping the one and true God, Jehovah, in the Temple of Jerusalem and ultimately return to Judah (Southern kingdom) (1 Kings 13:34). Prophet Hosea prophesies referring to these events, that God would avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu and cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel (Hosea 1:4). Why would God do this? Did not Jehu remove the idolatory of Baal from Jezreel? Jehu is guilty of murder for having destroyed the worshipers of Baal while he himself was an idol worshiper of the golden calves. Had he heeded to the God’s law that you shall not have any others gods before me or you shall not make any idols (Exodus 20:3-4), Jehu would not have to been guilty of bloodshed of other idolators. Jehu reigned in Israel for twenty-eight years.

What can we learn from Jehu?
Jehu was anointed with oil on his head, and he followed the mission that God had ordained for him, which was to remove the evil king Ahab’s household from the land. Jehu was a zealous man for the Lord. In fact, in his visit to Samaria, as he is on the mission to annihilate Ahab’s household, he meets Jehonadab, the Rechabite and expresses his zeal for the LORD (2 Kings 10:16). In his mind, Jehu did what was expected of him to do, but his heart was not totally upright before God. Jesus said, you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength and all your mind (Luke 10:27). Jehu loved the Lord with all his mind, which is evident from the zeal he had for the Lord, but Jehu did not love the Lord with all his heart for he gave place for the golden calves (idols) in his heart. He destroyed the idols on the outside, but he failed to destroy the idols within him. Many a times, we act like Jehu as well. We are zealous for the Lord and intellectually we are willing to fight and serve God, but when it comes to the matters of the heart, we uphold the idols of power, prosperity, pleasure, position and popularity in our hearts. Let us not be Jehu, who came to be the destroyer of the idols on the outside but he succumbed to the idols within; who was anointed in his head (mind) to serve, but had a heart that was diametrically opposite to obeying the commandments of the Lord.

2 Kings 10:16-17; 28-31(KJV)
16 And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So they made him ride in his chariot.
17 And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the LORD, which he spake to Elijah.
…
28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.
29 Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan.
30 And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.
31 But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.

Hosea 1:4 (KJV)
4 And the LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.

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