By Staff
Most of us never see ourselves as those who will make a profound difference. We maximize what others do and have done and minimize whatever potential we might have.
In the Old Testament book of 2 Chronicles, there is a circumstance and a group of people who did what they could.
Scripture does not tell us that they prayed long and hard about what to do, nor are we told that they had a direct word from God. These people had a heart to do what was right and a desire for the glory of God.
The location was Judah, in the final years before the Babylonian captivity. The land was chaotic as God's judgment neared. Jehoram was king for eight years (2 Chronicles 21:5). He was killed and Ahaziah his son became king (2 Chronicles 22:1-2). Ahaziah was king for one year and Jehu, the son of Nimshi, killed him (2 Chronicles 22:9).
When Ahaziah was killed, there was no ready heir to the throne. Ahaziah's mother, Athaliah, took charge and proceeded to kill all her grandsons who were legal heirs to the throne of Judah.
The first person we encounter who did what she could was Jehoshabeath, the sister of King Ahaziah and daughter of Athaliah. When Athaliah was murdering her grandsons, Jehoshabeath grabbed her nephew, Joash, and his nurse and fled to the house of God from the wrath of her mother (2 Chronicles 22:11). We never hear any more about Jehoshabeath, but we know Joash lived and was protected in the house of God for six years. Her effort to do what she could preserved an heir to the throne under the watchful hand of the providence of God.
The next person who rose to heroic heights was Jehoiada the priest. He was the husband of Jehoshabeath and obviously Joash was raised in their home. We are told in verse 1 of 2 Chronicles 23, "Jehoiada strengthened himself." We are not told the details of how he strengthened himself. We know it was a mighty task he was about to do and was with great risk. He was going up against Queen Athaliah who had proven her wicked hunger for power by killing her own grandsons.
Jehoiada relied on the promise of God to David in 1 Kings 2:4 that David would never lack an heir to sit on the throne of Israel.
Jehoiada was a priest. We assume he was a praying man, and he had a desire for the glory of God to once again rest upon the land of Judah.
Jehoiada sought out men he could trust, "captains of hundreds" (2 Chronicles 23:1). They gathered the Levites and other faithful leaders of Israel. The plan was to establish Joash as king and promote justice. Joash was made king (2 Chronicles 23:11), and Athaliah was killed (2 Chronicles 23:21). Jehoiada did what he had to do.
Jehoiada was now mentor to a seven-year-old boy who was king. He chose wives for him (2 Chronicles 24:3), and assisted the king in the rebuilding of the temple. Joash did right as long as Jehoiada was alive.
When Jehoiada died, Joash listened to wrong counsel, and allowed the people to drift back into idolatry (2 Chronicles 24:17-18). No matter how many times the idols were destroyed, they seemed to pop back up quickly.
The next person to do what he must do was Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada. Zechariah saw the idolatry of the people and prophesied against their wickedness (2 Chronicles 24:20).
It was a bold move by Zechariah. It is possible he thought he would find a listening ear in King Joash, seeing that they had grown up in the same household. Joash's heart was hard and he gave the command to stone Zechariah to death (2 Chronicles 24:21).
We see the end of the story and ask, "What's the use?"
We must always remember that God is the righteous judge. Nothing we do goes unnoticed by Him. He may choose to use what we do for great impact or allow it to pass with little notice.
The point is, we must do what we can. We never know when we might be the key part in God's magnificent plan.