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Sep 11, 2023 06:00am

The Bible Recap: Days 176-182

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(The following are reflections from the writer’s personal journey through The Bible Recap by Tara-Leigh Cobble – a Bible reading plan to read the Bible chronologically in one year. To learn more about The Bible Recap, visit thebiblerecap.com. Find more posts from this series at lifeword.org/thebiblerecap.)

Day 176: Read 1 Kings Chapter 15 & 2 Chronicles Chapters 13-16

My Takeaways:

“For the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth to show himself strong for those who are wholeheartedly devoted to him.”
2 Chronicles 16:9

God’s people continue to battle against each other in our readings today. We had some evil kings and a few kings who sought the Lord with all their heart…for a time.

King Abijah does get an honorable mention here. Now, he was an evil king, walking in all the sins his dad, Rehoboam, did. He wasn’t wholeheartedly devoted to God, like David. (Interesting that Scripture calls out David for what he did to Uriah!) But, Abijah does seek God in a battle he is outnumbered in. He calls out to his enemy, Jeroboam, and says that God made a promise to the house of David in a salt covenant that his descendants would reign forever. He calls out Jeroboam’s sins of idolatry and against the priests and says something incredibly faith-based: “But as for us, the Lord is our God. We have not abandoned him…God and his priests are with us…don’t fight against the Lord God of you ancestors, for you will not succeed.”

And when the battle began and they were surrounded by Jeroboam, they “cried out to the Lord” and God intervened! God routed Jeroboam and gave Abijah victory because “they depended upon the Lord.”

You guys, we see it in Scripture all the time—those who rely upon the Lord experience God!

But the real guy who sought the Lord and led his nation in a revival is Asa, son of Abijah.

He “did what was good and right in the sight of the Lord his God.” He removed pagan shrines and alters and built fortified cites because God gave him rest from wars.

When the Cushites invade Judah with over one million warriors, Asa cries out to God and says a beautiful prayer for help:

“Lord, there is no one besides you to help the mighty, and those without strength. Help us, Lord, our God, for we depend upon you…”

(I wonder if he heard about the time his dad said the something similar?!)

You guys, God intervened and there were no survivors by the time the battle was over! One million dead.

After this, God made a promise to Asa: I am with you…if you seek me, you will find me. Be strong, don’t give up, for your work has a reward.

These words of life were enough motivation for Asa to lead his country to a revival seeking God! He removed the rest of the places of idol worship (Asa even kicked out his grandmother because of her idol worship!), made sacrifices to God, and made a covenant to God that they would seek Him with all their heart and soul! And, you know what? They sought God with sincerity and they found Him!

And God gave the rest on every border! For 21 years, there was peace.

But somewhere amid these 21 years of peace, Asa’s heart wandered. He grew distant from God. Tara-Leigh said, on Day 173, that “blessing and prosperity often lead to disregarding God and forgetting our need for Him” and I think that is what happens to Asa. Because when an army comes up against him, he bribes their ally to stop helping them. And when he is corrected by a man of God, he gets furious and throws him into prison. He mistreats others and gets a foot disease. Funny how it’s in his feet…perhaps God allowed this because he had walked away from God’s ways? Asa still doesn’t repent and turn to God.

And, he dies from that disease. What a terrible ending for such a godly king in the first half of his reign!

When he sought God, he found God. When he sought insight from men and replied upon them, he suffered the consequences of having broken that covenant he vowed 21 years earlier of seeking God wholeheartedly.

Friends, we don’t have to be perfect—Abijah shows us that. We just have to be sincere in seeking God. And when we do, God shows up! Both kings showed us that. We just have to continue to rely upon Him and be dependent upon Him. That’s the key.

Prosperity is a beautiful thing…but, it can make us spiritually lazy and distant, to where we rely upon ourselves more than God. They key to seeing God is acknowledging we are “poor in spirit” (Matthew 5)—that humility keeps us connected to God.

Pride separates.

Day 177: Read 1 Kings Chapter 16 & 2 Chronicles Chapter 17

My Takeaways:

You guys, what we have today in our reading is this: history repeats itself!

King Baasha was evil.
We don’t know if King Elah, Baasha’s son, was evil because he was schemed against and killed in two years.
King Zimri, Elah’s murderer, took over. He was also evil…but reigned for 7 days until he was killed by Omri—who heard about Zimri’s assassination and took over by force. Zimri burned down the royal palace and himself after this takeover.
King Omri was more evil than anyone else!
Then, his son, King Ahab, takes over. And, he was more evil than his father!

Whew. These are the days where not only does history repeat itself…but it gets worse!

And remember our godly king Asa, who led his nation into revival? He stopped seeking the Lord at some point in his prosperity and blessing and ended up dying, diseased and bitter.

But, something good was passed down to his son Jehoshaphat…because this man walked in God’s ways like David! (Listen, this doesn’t always happen…we will see godly kings have ungodly kids in this study and vice-versa…) Foreign countries even brought tribute because of his reputation! (Like the Philistines!)

King Jehoshaphat even had God’s word preached all throughout Judah! And, the terror, the Lord fell upon the surrounding lands— no one came up against the king… he grew stronger and stronger!

Good days are ahead…right?!

Here is what strikes me about these kings…no matter how evil they get, God is patient. He is still in control and will accomplish His plans. Sometimes, you have to let people hit rock bottom in order for them to look up for help. That is what I feel He is allowing with His people. They are in a deep pit of idolatry and sin…but God doesn’t leave them there. He sends hope! Whether it’s through prophets or godly kings, He sends opportunities for them to repent. But, God is a gentleman and never forced repentance on anyone. They have to choose it.

Day 178: Read 1 Kings Chapters 17-19

My Takeaways:

If ever you need a reminder that God provides and sustains, let Elijah’s story speak to you!

God used a raven to feed His servant. When Elijah pronounced a drought in Israel due to the idolatry, God hid him from King Ahab (one of the most evil kings to reign) and provided food for him through the most unlikely source: ravens. Raven are considered “unclean” so of course, God uses the unlikely to sustain His servant!

Amid this drought, God used a hopeless situation for a widow to show her there’s always hope with God. Because of the drought, crops couldn’t grow and food was scarce. God sent Elijah to this Gentile woman who was hopeless. She was using the last of her provisions to make her son and her a small meal…and then die after that. She had given up…and that’s when God showed up. Elijah asked for the widow to make some food for him first—a bold request—and she does! And when she begins preparing the meal, she finds out that she has enough flour and oil to sustain her! (It reminds me of another time some people didn’t have enough food to feed thousands but God took what little they had—a few loaves and some fish—and multiplied it to feed the masses. Not only that, they had leftovers!) God not only took care of the widow but He also took care of Elijah, showing them He is a God of hope.

God used a death in the widow’s life to birth life. The widow’s son died and she lashed out in anger at Elijah. She felt his death was a punishment for her sins. But, Elijah prayed three times for God to bring this boy back to life and God listened to him! The widow, seeing her son rise from the dead, professed her faith in God. She proclaimed: “Now I know that you are a man of God and the Lord’s word from your mouth is true.”

Now she knows. And I bet she didn’t ever forget both times when God did the impossible in her life!

God used a supernatural fire to show a bunch of unbelievers and doubters He is the one true God. Elijah asked Ahab to assemble all the people and prophets to a “showdown” to see who the true God was: Baal or God. Each side would build an altar and offer a sacrifice—whatever god answered with fire was the one true God. The prophets cried out all day yet Baal didn’t answer. It was silent. Then, Elijah drenched his altar and wood with water—12 jars of water! (Again, this was amid a drought—water was scarce!) And then he cried out to God…and fire fell, consuming everything (even the rocks!). Elijah had the prophets of Baal killed—450 die that day! God used a refining fire that day to show His people their sins of idolatry and to turn them back to Him.

God used a rainstorm to end the drought to show Ahab that He was in control of the elements (not to mention his future as king of Israel)! Not only that, God used an older Elijah, outrunning Ahab’s chariot in the downpour, to show him that God can use His people to do anything!

And when Jezebel, King Ahab’s wife, rained down threats on Elijah’s life for killing her prophets of Baal at the Baal vs God showdown, Elijah ran with fear! But, amid this running, God sustained him with rest and food—enough to empower him to make a 40 day trip to Mount Horeb…to meet with Him.

When Elijah arrived at Mount Horeb, God spoke to His man in the way a desperate Elijah needed to hear: a gentle whisper. You see, Elijah had experienced the big miracles with God, but right now, his heart needed reassurance and love—and God’s gentle whisper encouraged Elijah to not give up and to keep walking out his purpose.

Here’s the best part about these moments, friends: God just didn’t do these miracles for people in the Bible—He does it for all of us! Because of His great love for us, He uses all sorts of interventions in our lives to show us that He can do anything! He used a raven, a hopeless situation, a rainstorm, and a gentle whisper to provide, sustain, and strengthen His people!

All we need to do is trust that He can, friends.

Day 179: Read 1 Kings Chapters 20-21

My Takeaways:

All throughout this reading, I found myself thinking: “Get him, God! Take down that evil king Ahab! NO MERCY!”

Ahab was the most evil king to this point—he was married to a woman who was perhaps as evil, if not more. Together, they were the dynamic duo of detestable acts of idolatry….and yet, God still tries to penetrate Ahab’s stony heart of sin.

When Ben (my nickname for Ben-hadad) showed up with a huge army, Ahab doesn’t reach out for God’s help. Instead, God reaches out to Ahab and says He will help Ahab for this reason:

“Do you see this whole huge army? Watch, I am handing it over to you today, so that you may know that I am Lord.”
1 Kings 20:13

It’s all for Ahab! He’s still showing Ahab He is real, He is there, and He is sovereign! I feel (Scripture doesn’t say this) that God sees something in Ahab’s heart that isn’t completely sold out to idolatry—something worth showing Ahab His help in battle—a demonstration of His power.

Ahab even gets battle advice from God! And God not only helps him defeat Ben and his army, but He also gives Ahab a heads-up that Ben will come back again in the spring! And once again, God helps them defeat Ben and his army.

Ahab has had victory twice now because of God’s help! And yet, he makes a foolish decision: instead of killing Ben (when Ben gives himself up), he gives him mercy.

Oh, friends, does that remind anyone else of when King Saul didn’t kill Agag and lost his kingship because he disobeyed God?! God enacts the same punishment on Ahab…but Ahab doesn’t repent. Instead, he gets angry and bitter. (Saul and Ahab remind me so much of each other!)

But, when Jezebel schemes murder against Naboth, in order to get his vineyard for Ahab, God steps in and takes His punishment a step further—all of Ahab’s family will die.

And the most surprising thing happens—we English teachers call this a plot twist—Ahab repents! And it’s a true repentance because God accepts it!

You guys, part of me wants God to enact punishment on him immediately but the other part of me is so thankful for God’s mercy and grace! How many times have I deserved punishment for my sins and God doesn’t give me what I deserve?! And He does this for everyone! Even evil King Ahab. Of course, this repentance is short-lived—but you know what? God knows that too, but He doesn’t waste an opportunity to show the wicked His mercy and grace, love and compassion.

Like Tara-Leigh said: “How could you not love a God like that? He’s where the joy is!”

Day 180: Read 1 Kings Chapter 22 & 2 Chronicles Chapter 18

My Takeaways:

“So they turned to attack him, but Jehoshaphat cried out and the Lord helped him.”
2 Chronicles 18:31

We finished another book of the Bible, friends! And today’s reading brought together both kings of God’s people: King Ahab and King Jehoshaphat. An alliance was made with these king through marriage (Jehoshaphat married Ahab’s daughter—though we don’t hear anything else about it.)

And today, you have an evil king coming together with a godly king…I have no doubt God was still showing Ahab what faith looked like, even in his last moments. God never wastes an opportunity to use His kids to live out their faith in front of others.

Friends, I am struck with disbelief at Ahab! He has seen drought come from Elijah’s word, fire come down from the heavens to burn up a sacrifice, Elijah outrun his chariot, and experienced God’s help in battle. He even repented when he and his wife murder a man for his land! It took more faith to not believe in God! I mean, he had to work really hard to not see God’s hand all around him!

I am not sure how long his repentance lasted because he is back to his evil ways today. When he wants to go to battle with his ally, Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat suggests asking God first—always a good thing! Ahab asks the 400 prophets and of course, they give it a green light! Jehoshaphat suggests they ask a prophet of God. Again, another reminder of God!

When Ahab does fetch this man of God, the prophet speaks doom against Ahab and once again, Ahab gets mad. Instead of repenting, he imprisons him.

I am struck why Jehoshaphat still goes to battle with Ahab after this prophesy and after the fact that Ahab wants to ride into battle disguised, leaving Jehoshaphat looking like the only king! I mean—does that look like a good alliance?!

So, it’s not surprising in battle that the enemy comes after Jehoshaphat. But here’s the part I love: Jehoshaphat cried out to God and God draws the enemy away from him. God saved His child, who cried out to Him.

There’s something beautiful about God’s kids crying out to Him that gets God’s attention.

And I have no doubt if Ahab would have cried out to God amid his fatal wound, God would have listened…but Ahab doesn’t. Like King Saul, Ahab died in battle according to God’s sovereign will.

Day 181: Read 2 Chronicles Chapters 19-23

My Takeaways:

So much happened today, it almost felt like too much to wrap my head around. I so wish we could have a reading just on Jehoshaphat before jumping to all the evil after him.

If you missed it, let me sum it up:

Jehoshaphat: godly king, but makes alliances with evil kings. (Again, I could spend all day talking about that battle where he marched out armed with his praise and worship band!)

Jehoram—Jehoshaphat’s son: takes over and kills all of his brothers. He’s terrible and wicked and dies of a painful disease that involves his intestines coming out. I am blown away that he never repented and turned to God in hopes of avoiding this fate.

Ahaziah: takes over and is yet another evil king, taking advice from his evil mother (Athaliah). His death is appointed by God and carried out by the Lord’s priest, Jehu. (Again, all the praise to Jehu for carrying out the deaths that God appointed him to do! That could never be easy.)

Ahaziah’s mom, Athaliah: thinks that she has killed all of her grandsons so that she can usurp the throne. She has no idea that one son was rescued by his sister. (Want to talk about the intervention of God here? That sister—Jehoshabeath—kept the heir of David’s throne alive and protected. She gets one mention here but her action made all the difference!) Meanwhile, Athaliah has no idea that judgment is coming. Scripture said everyone rejoiced when she was put to death when Jehoiada makes Joash the king at age 7. That pretty much sums up her queenship.

Whew. That’s a lot, friends. One thing that always gets me is that godly kings, like Jehoshaphat, can have ungodly kids. (I feel like this also happened with David and Solomon…)

I wonder, in those instances, if a mother (who probably does all child rearing) has had the influence on her boys because she is with them the most? The phrase “more is caught than taught” comes to mind. Perhaps the boys saw their dad worshipping God but the one they spent most of their time with influenced them more. (I am also thinking about Ahaziah and Athaliah.) Remember how God commanded his people to not marry foreign women so that their hearts wouldn’t be turned to other gods? It was those foreign women who perhaps turned their kids’ hearts to these gods as well. Just a thought.

And here’s another: our kids have free wills and some of them just plain have rebellious hearts and have to learn life the hard way. It’s in our sin nature and it’s just stronger in some than others. Godly parents can have ungodly kids and vice-versa. But, here’s the difference: those godly parents’ prayers can make all the difference in their wayward kids’ lives. I believe that a parent can out-pray their prodigal children. We have hope that God can do the impossible—even if it’s in our kids’ stony hearts of sin. He can make them God-willed hearts of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26)

As parents and grandparents, we have the strongest influence on our kids. Our good habits and our bad habits. Our loves and passions, as well as sins that we don’t deal with. This is horrifying and makes me think deeply about the junk I don’t deal with. Generational influence is huge, as well as generational curses. Thank God for His grace and mercy, friends, for these times.

My God Shot was with two men who sought the Lord and followed Him with their whole hearts: Jehoshaphat and Jehoiada. They both lived lives of trust—whether it was going into battle armed with your praise and worship singers or taking down an evil queen so that the rightful king can take over.

Day 182: Read Obadiah Chapter 1 & Psalm Chapters 82-83

My Takeaways:

When I read today’s reading, my overall thought was this: You guys, Team God is the team I want to be on!

Oh my….if people really knew how powerful and sovereign Team God really was, everyone would want to switch teams, right?

Unfortunately, the Bible has shown us that people who witnessed God’s power, might, and provision still disbelieved, still doubted, still rebelled.

Edom is a relative to God’s people—like a cousin! They are family and are supposed to have each other’s backs…and yet, they don’t. In fact, God has some strong words for them:

“Though you soar like an eagle and make your nest among the stars, even from there I will bring you down.”
Obadiah 1:4

YIKES.

And this:

“Everyone at peace with you will deceive and conquer you. Those who eat your bread will set a trap for you.”
Obadiah 1:7

DOUBLE YIKES.

Because here’s the deal, God defends His people and doesn’t take it lightly when others sin against them. In fact, He accuses Edom of its violence to Jacob and for being indifferent to their plight. He gives them some very specific warnings:

To not goat over Judah
To not rejoice at Judah’s plight
To not mock Judah
To not take Judah’s belongings amid their persecution and plight
To not deny fugitives refuge in Edom
To not hand over survivors of the persecution

God warns “For the day of the Lord is near” and “As you have done, it will be done to you.” (Obadiah 1:15)

Edom won’t survive God’s wrath. And no matter what leader rules, God is in control and “the kingdom will be the Lord’s.”

You guys, if Edomites knew anything about the history of God and His people, this should have left Edom shaking in their sandals!

Our psalms also connect with our reading and remind us that there are times life will feel unfair and God will appear silent. But let us take hope from what we have read in the Bible—He will not stay silent. He will rise up and judge the world.

Until then, let us seek Him and take hope in the name of the Lord—the Most High over the whole earth.

My God Shot was this: God wins, friends. No matter what. And for anyone who takes advantage of God’s kids, they will have to deal with Him. In other words, don’t mess with God’s kids because He takes it personally. I love how protective our God is.