2 Kings – Bible Lesson 13
Just for your thoughts:
2 Kings – Bible Lesson 13
The Other Side of Jehu:
All the kings who ruled over the land of Israel lived in displeasing ways to God. But Jehu was an exception.
Among the kings of Israel, Jehu reigned on the throne for the longest period—28 years.
The main reason God chose Jehu was to completely destroy King Ahab and his wife Jezebel for the sins they had committed. They led God's people astray and created an environment in which Baal worship was promoted. They also killed the prophets of the Lord.
Therefore, God chose Jehu to eradicate Ahab and his family. Jehu fulfilled that mission fully—there is no doubt about it.
"Know now that not one word of the LORD has fallen to the ground, which the LORD spoke concerning the house of Ahab; for the LORD has done what He spoke by His servant Elijah" (2 Kings 10:10).
For this obedience, God blessed Jehu so that four generations of his descendants would reign over Israel.
This is one side of Jehu.
But Jehu exceeded the limits given to him.
He killed distant relatives and political allies of Ahab who were not directly involved (2 Kings 10:11, 17).
He also killed the relatives of Ahaziah, the king of Judah.
This act of overstepping boundaries is mentioned by the prophet Hosea as well (Hosea 1:4).
Jehu’s life is a warning to us: God will not leave unpunished any believer or servant who exceeds the boundaries He has permitted.
Whether believers or servants, we must first understand the boundaries God has given us.
Whatever the issue may be—even if it involves rebuking others or pointing out faults—we must not cross the line (even if our accusations are justified).
When Satan disputed over the body of Moses, even Michael did not overstep his boundary.
This is a lesson today’s young believers must understand.
Whatever we do, it is good to act with an awareness of the boundaries set for us.
Except in matters of doctrine, in all other matters we should never go beyond what God has allotted to us.
This is what we call “Spiritual Excess.”
The statement “Trespassers will be prosecuted” applies to spiritual life as well.