Daily Devotional for Tuesday, May 13

The Escape of Joash

   “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. And he was with her hid in the house of the Lord six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land,” 2 Kings 11:2, 3.

Since the beginning of kingdoms on earth, the death of a monarch has potential to create unstable and even ugly times. Often, the king’s children are in danger as a struggle for power ensues. Even the holiest nation in the world, Israel, was not immune. Several times throughout history, Israelite princes met their deaths, and a few of those times, it was at the hand of a loved one. 

As turmoil took over the palace in Israel, Judah had its own share of wickedness. The kings of Judah intermarried with the house of Ahab, so Ahab’s demise directly affected the house of Judah. When Ahaziah was assassinated at twenty-three-years old, the queen mother, Athaliah, wanted the throne for herself and killed anyone in the line of succession. By the wise and quick hand of Jehosheba, Ahaziah’s sister, tiny prince Joash was spared. 

Jehosheba, whose name means Jehovah has sworn or she who swears by Jehovah was married to Jehoiada, the high priest. As a God-fearing, God-worshiping woman, she made a bold move. She hid baby Joash and his nurse in a bedroom in the Temple for six years. She and Jehoiada hid him in the one place Athaliah would likely not enter, the house of the Lord. Jehosheba trusted the Lord to raise up a godly king, and she did her part. She and Jehoiada led little Joash in the ways of the Lord and nurtured him to know God, so when the time came, the Lord would have a godly king leading His people.

THOUGHT

Sometimes God uses our position and circumstances to advance His kingdom.

Kelli Reynolds