Tuesday, May 21, 2024

May 21, 2024

While Joash, king of Judah, was still alive, Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, began to reign over Israel in Samaria. Jehoahaz was a lousy king, just like his father, Jehu, and worshipped the golden calves. This situation angered God and sent the Syrian king and his son to oppress Israel. Jehoahaz died, and his son, Jehoash, took over the kingship of Israel. Another Joash/Jehoash to add to our confusion of the kings. He died, and now we have another Jeroboam as king of Israel. 

One notable thing Joash, king of Israel, did before he died was to honor Elisha. He was sick, and Joash visited him. Elisha told him he would defeat the Syrians. With Elisha's hand upon his, he had him shoot an arrow towards Syria to act out the prophecy. Then Elisha told him to smack the ground like he was smashing Syria to smithereens, but he only beat it three times. Joash's lack of enthusiasm angered Elisha because he should have shown more anger and expressed his belief that God was with him. Elisha died, and they buried him.


A side story that you've probably heard is that the Moabites had invaded during the new year and were near where a dead man was to be buried. The people carrying him got scared and placed his body into the tomb of Elisha. When his body touched Elisha's bones, he stood up. In the end, Joash beat Syria three times and recovered the cities in Israel. 


The Bible can be confusing if you don't know the other chapters. That's why it's so vital that we learn to read it in context and under the direction of the Holy Spirit. You should not pick and use Bible verses without knowing the whole story. If you do that, you will get it wrong every time. Ask God for wisdom, and for goodness' sake, stop eating foods processed with chemicals that could dull your brain! 


And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet. 2 Kings 13:20-21

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