Key Scriptures: 2 Kings 11; 2 Chronicles 22; 23:11-21
Athaliah - Her Name Means "The Lord Is Great"
Well, Athaliah's name might mean one thing, but let's just say that the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. Like mother, like daughter!
Nonetheless, as we see this story unfold, as our text states, "God always wins."
1. Who might be included here? Other sons? Grandsons? What would cause such a total loss of natural affection that Athaliah could do such a thing?
2. For six years God allowed Athaliah to reign unopposed while young prince Joash hid. Have you ever had to wait for God's plan to be fulfilled? Six years? Longer? Describe what you learned.
Johosheba - Her Name Means "Swear by His Name"
Key Scriptures: 2 Kings 11:2 2 Chronicles 22:11
Here in this story we see yet another courageous woman.
3. Why do you think Jehosheba saved only Joash? What might have been going through her mind during these events?
4. Why was this a victory for the Lord as well as for the monarchy?
9 comments:
For six years God allowed Athaliah to reign unopposed while young prince Joash hid. Have you ever had to wait for God's plan to be fulfilled? Six years? Longer? Describe what you learned.
I learned that waiting on God is the best way. There have been many times in my life that I wanted to do my own thing but the circumstances didn't allow it. Praise God for His Divine intervention.
Psalms 37: 7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. J
Jehosheba trusted in God and she waited until the day that God delivered His children from under the treacherous leadership of Athaliah.
Like Roslyn said, waiting on God is always best. When you are patient enough to wait, the outcome is so smooth and comforting that you can look back and say, it wasn't that bad. But everytime we try to fix it ourselves, we end up making things worse and we are in the "drama" longer.
Jehosheba's story reminds us that each person makes their own choice in life. God gave us the ability to make choices and we are responsible to Him for the choices we make. We may not have a good start in life but we can choose the better way. The best choice we can make is to Fear the Lord more than anyone or anything else on this earth, just as Jehosheba did.
Amen my sisters,
Athalia was just like her parents Ahab and Jezebel. She learned by example not to have respect for any man from her mother and that it was okay for a woman to usurp authority over man. She was just an evil and selfish being. However, as Lauretta stated, she did have a choice to choose good over evil. It just goes to show how much influence a parent can have over their children, whether good or bad.
Jehosheba on the other hand chose to take the right path. She likely saved Joash because he was her brother's child, she was married to a high priest and was committed to the Lord. In addition to that, God's plan had to be fulfilled (Jesus came through this lineage). I'm sure Jehosheba probably wanted to save all of the young heirs but of course this would have been impossible. Can you even imagine the restless nights she may have encountered in fear of being caught by such an evil queen? This just reminds me that it is not always easy to do the Lord's will but in the end, you'll be rewarded.
I can remember several incidences where I wanted to reveal someone's evil ways but I refrained from doing so as I trusted that the Lord would handle things better than I could. Lo and behold, these people were revealed by God in the end and I didn't have to get my hands dirty in the process but I did have to hide my feelings. This has taught me to always trust Him to handle any and everything. It may seem as though people are getting away with things but they really aren't. God is just building a case against them until it's time for them to be exposed. Isn't God AWESOME??
It's takes a lot of patience to wait 6 minutes, yet along 6 years. I have been in situations where God has had me wait until his plan was revealed. Then after waiting my thoughts were like, AHHH God This is it! Sometimes in life we may want to take charge of our lives but when we do that we get no where. Patience is a virtue is something used so lightly. It truly is something that we need in our life in order to have a better relationship with God. Patience is a task, it's a job, but yet it can be a fulfilled adventure. Patience has gotten me ahead in life, and the lack of has kicked me back a few steps. I truly believe that we can learn alot from Athaliah as well as Joash, and Jehosheba. Sometimes we look at the main character but we can learn from each character in the story. I enjoyed this one alot!
Patience without understanding is null.
~Shanita~
Wow! Great comments everyone! As a matter of fact, I'M STILL WAITING... and I find during this "holding period" I'm being constantly molded, reshaped, kneeded, honed and shaped again into the child that God would have me to be (Psalm 139:14-16). I feel that if I didn't possess this power to truly wait (because it takes power ya'll) that I would be in a whole mess of trouble. God has had me wait in regards to the perfect job that He has Provided for me, the perfect mate He has prepared for me, and the best life He has Purposed for me.
Instead of taking matters into my own hands I have had to Be Still (Psalm 46:10) Sit Still (Ruth 3:18) and Wait in Confidence (James 5:7-8) in order to receive the blessings God has for me. God Bless you all!
~Melanie Joyce~
Ladies, this is one of my favorite scriptures. It always helps me to put things into perspective when I get ahead of myself:
Ecclesiastes 7:8
The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.
Athaliah and Jehosheba
Two women of opposite character, one with materialistic eyes and the other Wisdom to do what’s right. Athaliah imitating the evilness of her stepmother Jezebel dropped in the same trap. The beauty of it all is that God purpose will prevail no matter who tries to stop it! Don’t we have an awesome God! Let us praise His holy name.
Love,
mj
Ladies, all of the comments that were made was so great! We can really gain a lot of spiritual food and thouhts from the comments, and see God's work, in us.
This story was one of the many great one's that I had not paid close attention to in the past.
The lesson that I received from this story was like Trina stated, about the parents. It really made me focus on parental guideness and on how important it is to be a certain role model for your kids. How aweful it must of been for Athaliah as a very small child witnessing horrific things and hear say, about her parents.
Although, the scripture does'nt testify to that, but you can only immagine by what our children hear and see today. (surprised at what they know)
Children are like little sponges!
Its really sad that Athaliah was only replicating what she was taught. And Jezebel and Ahab were no jokes!!! Be careful you are being watched by God's little ones.(Christians are good examples)
When you're on the right side you can't go wrong. God's purpose always prevails, just as marilyn was saying.... God's purpose; will not and be not stopped by no one.
Jehosheba was guided by God's
will and plan. He chose a Strong Belief woman who could carry out His magnificant plan because of her Faith in Him.
Her part in the story teaches me to Trust and Obey so God can use me. And I know that everything will turn out right at the end.
Isn't it great to know that God always,let me say that again, ALWAYS, wins! What consolation that is in just hearing those words. Ladies, please find comfort in knowing that we really don't have to worry about a thing. I'm smiling! :-)
Post a Comment