Day 334 – Task

2 Kings 10:1 Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu wrote and sent letters to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to those who reared Ahab’s sons, saying, 2 ‘Now as soon as this letter comes to you, since your master’s sons are with you, and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city also, and weapons, 3 choose the best qualified of your master’s sons, set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.’

 4 However they were exceedingly afraid, and said, “Look, two kings could not stand up to him; how then can we stand?”

 5 He who oversaw the house, and he who oversaw the city, the elders also, and those who reared the sons, sent to Jehu, saying, “We are your servants, we will do everything you tell us; but we will not make anyone king. Do what is good in your sight.”

 6 Then he wrote a second letter to them, saying, ‘If you are for me and will obey my voice, take the heads of the men, your master’s sons, and come to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow.’ Now the king’s sons, seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who were rearing them.

 7 Thus, it happened, when the letter came to them, that they took the king’s sons and slaughtered seventy persons, put their heads in baskets and sent them to him at Jezreel.

 8 Then a messenger came and told him, saying, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.”

  He said, “Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.”

 9 Thus, it happened, in the morning, he went out and stood, and said to the people, “You are righteous. Indeed, I conspired against my master and killed him; but who killed all these? 10 Know now that nothing will fall to the earth of the word of JEHOVAH which JEHOVAH spoke concerning the house of Ahab; for JEHOVAH did what He spoke by His servant Elijah.”

 11 Then Jehu killed everyone who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and his great men and his close acquaintances and his priests, until he left him none remaining.

 12 He arose and departed and went to Samaria. On the way, at Beth Eked of the Shepherds, 13 Jehu met with the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, “Who are you?”

  They answered, “We are the brothers of Ahaziah; we have come down to greet the sons of the king and the sons of the queen mother.”

 14 He said, “Take them alive!” Then they took them alive, and killed them at the well of Beth Eked, forty-two men; and he left none of them.

 15 When he departed from there, he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab, coming to meet him; and he greeted him and said to him, “Is your heart right, as my heart is toward your heart?”

   Jehonadab answered, “It is.”

   Jehu said, “If it is, give me your hand.” Then he gave him his hand, and he took him up to him into the chariot. 16 Then he said, “Come with me, and see my zeal for JEHOVAH.” Then they had him ride in his chariot.

 17 When he came to Samaria, he killed everyone who remained to Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed them, according to the word of JEHOVAH which He spoke to Elijah.

 18 Then Jehu gathered the people together, and said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little, Jehu will serve him much. 19 Now, therefore, call to me the prophets of Baal, his servants, and his priests. Let no one be missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing will not live.” However, Jehu acted deceptively, with the intent of destroying the worshipers of Baal. 20 Jehu said, “Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal.”  Thus, they proclaimed it.

 21 Then Jehu sent throughout Israel; and the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left who did not come. Thus, they came into the temple of Baal, and the temple of Baal was full from one end to the other.

 22 He said to the one in charge of the wardrobe, “Bring out vestments for the worshipers of Baal.” Thus, he brought out vestments for them.

 23 Then Jehu and Jehonadab the son of Rechab went into the temple of Baal, and said to the worshipers of Baal, “Search and see that no servants of JEHOVAH are here with you, but only the worshipers of Baal.”

 24 Then they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had appointed for himself eighty men on the outside, and had said, “If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escapes, whoever lets him escape, it will be his life for the life of the other.”

 25 Now it happened, as soon as he made an end of offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, “Go in and kill them; let no one come out!” They killed them with the edge of the sword; then the guards and the officers threw them out and went into the inner room of the temple of Baal. 26 They brought the sacred pillars out of the temple of Baal and burned them. 27 Then they broke down the sacred pillar of Baal and tore down the temple of Baal and made it a refuse dump to this day. 28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal from Israel.

 29 However, Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin, that is, from the golden calves that were at Bethel and Dan.

 30 JEHOVAH said to Jehu, “Because you did well in doing what is right in My sight and have done to the house of Ahab everything in My heart, your sons will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.”

 31 However, Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of JEHOVAH Elohiym of Israel with his entire heart; for he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin.

 32 In those days JEHOVAH began to cut off parts of Israel; and Hazael conquered them in the territory of Israel 33 from the Jordan eastward: the land of Gilead—Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh—from Aroer, which is by the River Arnon, including Gilead and Bashan.

 34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, everything he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

 35 Then Jehu rested with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. Then Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place.

 36 Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria for twenty-eight years.

God’s names:

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Elohiym – Supreme God

Yeshuwa – Jesus

Kurios – Supreme Authority

God’s character:

Just

When you receive instructions for a task that could cause trouble, yet you know the outcome would bring about the best for everyone, how do you proceed? Do you hesitate to do the task, or do you commit to the outcome no matter what people might think?

JEHOVAH prophesied through Elijah the Tishbite that He would destroy the house of Ahab. He would leave no one alive. Jehu fulfilled JEHOVAH’S wishes and destroyed Ahab’s entire household, starting with his sons, then his servants, and finally everyone who worshiped Baal. When Jehu completed everything, JEHOVAH intended against Ahab and Israel, he reigned in Samaria for twenty-eight years.

When you accepted Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord, you committed to do everything He told you to do. Many Christians pick and choose what they will and will not do when Yeshuwa gives instructions for His work. They choose easy tasks which won’t bring trouble and leave the harder tasks for someone else.

Luke 10:1 After these things Kurios appointed seventy others also and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.

 2 Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray Kurios of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

 3 “Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.

Yeshuwa knows the task He gives you will not be easy. You will have opposition and will want to give the task to someone else. However, it wasn’t someone else He gave the task to. It was you. You will encounter wolves when you embark on your mission. Yet the rewards far outweigh the hardships brought about by the wolves.

Satan will whisper excuses in your ears to keep you from fulfilling the task Yeshuwa gave you.

JEHOVAH appointed Jehu the task of destroying the house of Ahab. He didn’t hesitate but destroyed everyone belonging to Ahab’s house. Then he got rid of every Baal worshiper and destroyed the temple of Baal.

When Yeshuwa gives you a task and Satan gives you excuses not to complete the task He gave you, you know Elohiym will be glorified when you do what He told you. Don’t let Satan talk you out of the task Yeshuwa gave you. Do it with zeal and destroy Satan’s plans. Then Yeshuwa will be glorified, and you will know the joy of doing Yeshuwa’s work.

Let’s pray: Father, help me do everything You assign me and give you glory and honor while I do Your work and when I complete Your task. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 18 December 2024 by Valerie Routhieaux