June 11

2 Kings 8, 9, 10
2 Chronicles 21, 22

Some thoughts on today's passage:

- What do you want the end of you life to be like? Jehoram king of Judah succumbs to his disease and dies in great pain. 2 Chronicles 21:20 says "He passed away to no one's regret..." What a horrible way for a man's life to end: in great pain and with no one regretting it! This made me think of the parable of the talents from Matthew 25. When the master returned, he saw his servants that had done what he had asked and was pleased. His response was well done, good and faithful servant! At the end of our lives, do we want to pass away to no one's regret or do we want to hear "well done!"

- Be careful who you trust. Jehoram's son Ahaziah was not much better. He also did evil in the eyes of the Lord. One of his mistakes was taking advice from his mother, who encouraged him to do wrong. Ahaziah had the great responsibility of being king of Judah and he did not follow Godly counsel. 2 Chron 22:4 said that this was his undoing. He was eventually put to dead by Jehu, king of Israel.

- God always keeps his promises. Ahab was already dead at this point, but his sons still lived and so did his wife Jezebel. God promised to bring judgment on Ahab and his house. Jehu was anointed king of Israel. Jehu killed Joram, Ahab's son. He also had Jezebel thrown out of a window (she died just as the Lord said she would) and wiped out Ahab's remaining family. Ahab and Jezebel committed great evil against the Lord and they paid the price for it, just as God said they would.

- When we think we know better than God, that's when things get really screwed up. That's what happened whenever Israel ignored God and that's what happens to us today when we do the same thing. God is infinite in His knowledge and infinite in His love for us. He knows whats best and we should always trust Him.