2 Kings 10: Beware the Idols

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The Lord said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in accomplishing what is right in my eyes and have done to the house of Ahab all I had in mind to do, your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation."

You cannot read very far in the Old Testament without encountering idols, for idolatry ranks as perhaps the most common topic in the Bible. A nagging question haunts these pages: Why did the Israelites keep deserting the God who had delivered them from Egypt for the sake of carved tree trunks and bronze statues? What was the big attraction?

Like peasants gawking at big-city life, the Israelites moved from 40 years of desert wanderings into a land of cities and more advanced technology. They had been landless nomads and shepherds. And so, many of the Israelites likewise drifted carelessly from god to god, adopting the religion of whatever group seemed to be having the most success with its agriculture. Similarly, when a mighty army threatened their borders, they smuggled in a few of that army’s favorite idols, hedging their bets in case their own religion did not bring them military success. Idols became a phantom source of power, an alternative place to invest faith and hope.

And yet, no attitude could be further from that demanded by the true God. He had chosen the Israelites as a kingdom of priests, a treasured possession set apart for himself. As Lord of the universe, he wanted not a casual faith, but total allegiance. He was not a good-luck charm.

Idolatry made such inroads into Israel and Judah that God had to tear apart both kingdoms in order to root it out. Second Kings clearly blames idolatry as the chief sin leading to both nations’ collapse. History records that the punishment ultimately worked. After the Assyrian and Babylonian invasions, never again did the Israelites dabble in idolatry.

Life Question:
Idolatry need not involve images of wood or stone; it’s possible to worship such things as money, another person, or fame. What are some “idols” you might be tempted to worship?

Keeping up with the Jones’ is a problem that I would imagine most folks in life struggle with. How much “stuff” is enough? How much fame does one need to be content in life? How many talents should one have? I’ve struggled with these issues my entire life. Jesus’ simple words of leave everything behind and follow me clearly shows us all the correct path, but my own stubbornness roadblocks his message.

2 Kings 5: A Proud General and an Eccentric Prophet

Israel is reeling- internally, from the corruption of King Ahab’s reign, and externally, from attacks by the neighboring state of Aram (the area known today as Syria). Shouldn’t Elisha, God’s current prophet in Israel, help his countrymen? Instead, chapter 5 tells of Elisha’s assistance to a high-ranking enemy general. Naaman’s pilgrimage shows how far Elisha’s fame has spread. A pagan king, hearing of Elisha, agrees to seek help from God’s prophet in Israel in order to get his general’s health restored.

Elisha’s brusque treatment of powerful people, such as the general Naaman, mentioned here, and of the king of Israel elsewhere, contrasts sharply with his tenderness toward the poor and oppressed. The bizarre procedure he prescribes as a medical treatment, along with his refusal to take payment, offends Naaman’s pride. Elisha, however, leaves no doubt that healing comes through God, not through magical powers or a shaman’s secret techniques. God requires obedience and humility- even from five-star generals with piles of gold.

In this incident, and also in another (8:7-15), Elisha serves the kingdom of Aram, an enemy of Israel. Jesus later refers to this story at the beginning of his ministry (Luke 4:27), underscoring Elisha’s point: Don’t try to “box in” God, who must be obeyed on his own terms, not manipulated.

Life Question: One writer, Harold Myra, has defined the Christian life as “living by God’s surprises.” Has God ever surprised you?

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Pretty much each day of my life. I'm in constant awe of His grace knowing so well that I'm a sinner who probably takes life's gifts for granted way too often. Getting ready for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, I truly plan to cherish the time with my kids- the greatest gift that Christ has given me here on earth. The "surprises" that come from these three children make me laugh and cry pretty much every day of my life.

2 Kings 2: Replacing a Legend

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?" "Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied..
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When a prophet like Elijah leaves the scene, who will dare to take his place? As the time came to choose a successor, Elijah looked to find someone out of a different mold. He settled on his most faithful companion, a farmer named Elisha.

The slight variance in the two men's names expresses their difference in style. Elijah, whose name meant "The Lord is my God," dueled a king and the priests of Baal in dramatic confrontations of power. He lived apart from the people and preached judgment and the need for repentance. Elisha ("God is salvation") shifted the emphasis. He lived among people, preferring the poor and outcast, and stressed life, hope and God's grace. All social classes had access to Elisha, from lowly widows to foreign kings. His colorful life included work as a spy, a miracle worker, an adviser to the king, a leader of a school of prophets and an anointer of revolutionaries.

Elisha's exploits fall roughly into two categories, and the Bible seems to group them that way. One set of stories concerns people with evident needs. Elisha showed a deep sensitivity for the suffering and distressed, and sometimes helped them in miraculous ways: providing food, healing diseases, even raising a young boy from the dead. He dealt far more gently with the poor and downtrodden than with kings and generals. Another group of stories relates to the nation. Israel was reeling from the corruption brought in during King Ahab's reign. Politically, Israel was at the mercy of the neighboring state of Aram (the area known today as Syria), which launched periodic raids across the border.

Sometimes Elisha helped out Israel's army, using his special insight to detect bands of raiders. Twice, miracles he predicted allowed Israel's army to break out of an impossible situation and rout the enemy. Yet, he refused to become a "court prophet" serving the king's whims. On at least one occasion, he blatantly insulted a king of Israel (3:13-14). Another time, he anointed a general to overthrow the king in an outright revolution.

Both Elijah and Elisha used words and dramatic events to convey their messages. Everyone knew their power, especially the kings who sometimes sought them out for advice and other times tried to kill them. In a great irony, the kings and political leaders- who thought themselves the center of history at the time- all faded away. Meanwhile the stories and words of Israel's prophets live on, expressing a message as forceful today as ever.

Life Question: Prophets who followed Elijah and Elisha relied less on spectacular displays and more on the power of verbal messages from God. Which, in your mind, best captures the attention of people?

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We've touched on this before in an earlier post...spectacular displays of miracles/ supernatural events do not necessarily equate to a binding faith in God. When I listen to someone preach the Gospel message with passion and conviction, (Mike Castelli comes to mind) for me, that refocuses my attention back to Christ just as much as any other event that may occur. Faith begins in your heart, and Elisha's parting of the Jordan River shouldn't have to occur to strengthen your faith.