155 - A Young Prophet With A Difficult Assignment
- Gwen Diaz
- Jun 4, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: May 13
JUNE 4 - Nº 155 2 Kings 8:25 – 9:29; 2 Chronicles 22:1-9
When King Jehoram of Judah died, Ahaziah, his youngest and only remaining son, took his place. (In case that name sounds familiar, King Ahab also had a son with that same name who had previously ruled in Israel—see #144 - May 24. He was actually the uncle of this King Ahaziah.)
King Ahaziah of Judah was 22 years old when he was crowned. Sadly, his mother, the wicked Queen Athaliah, controlled him just as she had controlled his father, King Jehoram (see #154 - June 3).
One year into his reign, Queen Athaliah convinced Ahaziah to help his cousin, King Joram of Israel, who was struggling to drive out the Syrian forces that were invading his nation. But before Ahaziah could arrive at the battlefield in Ramoth Gilead, King Joram was injured. He was taken back to his palace to recuperate. So, King Ahaziah decided to go to the palace instead of the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Elisha assigned a very dangerous undercover mission to one of his students. He instructed the young prophet to go to the battlefield and find Jehu, a commander in Israel’s army. He was to meet with Jehu privately, pour a flask of oil on his head, and declare that God was anointing him as the new king over Israel. “Then,” Elisha said, “get out of there as quickly as you can!”
When he arrived at Ramoth Gilead, the young prophet found Jehu sitting outside a house with several army officers. He convinced Jehu to go inside with him, then he closed the door. Without hesitating, the prophet poured oil on Jehu’s head and said, “This message is from God: ‘I am anointing you as king over Israel. You are to kill every male related to King Ahab. And through you I will avenge the blood of my prophets that was shed by Queen Jezebel. She will be eaten by dogs!’” Then he opened the door and ran!
When Jehu returned to his friends, they asked, “What did that crazy prophet want?” Jehu brushed them off by saying something like, “Nothing really. You know how prophets are.” But they kept asking, and Jehu finally admitted, “He said that God wants me to be the king of Israel. Then he anointed me with oil.”
Jehu’s friends were shocked. They grabbed their cloaks and laid them on the ground in front of him, acknowledging that Jehu was now their king.
They blew a trumpet and shouted, “Jehu is our new king!”
Jehu quickly silenced them. Then he jumped in his chariot, and he and his friends headed to the palace in Jezreel.
A guard on lookout duty at the palace saw a small army approaching and informed the king. Joram immediately dispatched two messengers to see if his visitors were coming in peace or to do harm. But neither messenger returned. Instead they joined Jehu’s band of men.
Another guard back at the palace, recognized that Jehu was the young man wildly leading the soldiers toward the palace. Joram and Ahaziah were expecting news from the frontlines of the battle, so they quickly went out to meet him.
When he was close enough to be heard, King Joram yelled, “Are you coming in peace?” Jehu yelled back, “How can there be peace as long as you practice the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel?” Joram knew he was in trouble. He turned to flee, but it was too late. Jehu shot an arrow that hit Joram between the shoulders and penetrated his heart.
Jehu retrieved the king’s dead body and threw it into the field that King Ahab (Joram's father) had stolen from Naboth. It was the same field where Naboth’s body had been discarded (see #141 - May 21). Jehu then chased down Ahaziah, the king of Judah, and killed him, too. Jehu killed both the king of Israel and the king of Judah on the same day!
Have you ever sensed that God was giving you an assignment, but it seemed too hard; or too crazy; or too dangerous to complete?
Elisha’s young student was sent on a treacherous mission. He had to sneak into an enemy camp and crown a new king to rule over Israel. Because he trusted God, he was able to complete his dangerous assignment.
God protected the young prophet, and ultimately his obedience led to the destruction of two evil men.
Remember, if God wants you to do it--He will get you through it!!
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