“Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, according to all that his fathers had done. And Pharaoh-necoh put him in bonds at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a tribute of a hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold.”
2 Kings 23:31-33
Each one of us has an opportunity. Each one has a decision to make with that opportunity. Each one of us must respond to the open door that is before us. Jehoahaz of Judah had the same options afforded to him. We might be tempted to jump on the case of Jehoahaz for choosing to do evil in the sight of the Lord. We might be tempted to say he had such a great example of how to be a godly king in his father Josiah. While his father’s example was great, it does not take away from the fact that the decision was his to make.
He chose Evil
Jehoahaz could have done as his father did and continued restoring Old Testament Judaism. Yet, he did not. Perhaps it was the overwhelming majority of the population who accepted Baal worship as normal and acceptable. Perhaps Jehoahaz was unwilling to stand boldly against the error of his brethren. We do not have many details, but we know that he chose to do evil rather than good. Anything contrary to the Word is evil, and when we choose not to do what the Lord has declared, we have chosen evil. When given a choice, one must consider what the Lord wills in the matter. There is a clear answer in the scripture, “Brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Phil. 4:8).”
He Chose Bondage
Jehoahaz’s actions were answered by the wrath of God. He chose to do evil. The Lord gave him over to his adversary, Pharaoh-necoh, who took him out of Jerusalem and put him into Riblah. When we choose to do evil and sin against the God who created Heaven and earth, we are choosing bondage. The Christian has died to sin, rose to walk in newness of life, and is no longer in bondage to sin (cf. Rom 6:4-6).
He Chose to Die in Egypt
Jehoahaz was taken to Egypt never to return. He died in bondage in a land of bondage. He suffered much, but his people also suffered under the tribute that was required of them. With a puppet king selected and the other king in bondage, the people were under the oppressive hand of a foreign pharaoh yet again. When we choose death, it often has an effect on others whether we intend it to or not.
The freedom to choose is from God. With free will, we must make a determination on who we will serve. I implore you to freely choose the offer of salvation that is only found in Christ Jesus. If you do not, you are choosing evil, bondage, and death (even the second death cf. Rev 2:11). “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” 2 Pet 3:9.
Grace and Peace,
R.D. Beavers
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