Saving Joash
To the rescue…
Jehoshabeath, the king’s daughter, rescued Joash son of Ahaziah from the king’s sons who were being killed and put him and the one who nursed him in a bedroom…. she hid Joash from Athaliah so that she did not kill him. While Athaliah reigned over the land, he was hiding with them in God’s temple six years.” – 2 Chronicles 22:11-12, CSB
Access is your friend. And theirs.
The shouts and commands of soldiers mingled with the cries and confusion of children and their caretakers. Jehoshabeath had to think and act quickly. Get to Joash. Her brother was already dead, but today wasn’t a day for grief. There was no time for that. Today was a day for survival. The slaughter had begun quickly, right on the heels of her brother’s assassination. She was wife to Jehoida the priest of God, but the king was her brother, and this gave her access. Access was her friend, and she would use that access for Joash. He was her focus now, and Jehoida would know what to do. Rescuing and hiding the tiny boy, too little to know that his father had just been murdered, was the first challenge. Get Joash. Get him to the bedroom. Then to the temple.
Behind-the-scenes investment
For six years, Athaliah reigned. Ahaziah’s wicked, power-hungry mother, the ruthless matriarch who had commissioned the atrocities against her own grandchildren, ruled the land. For six years, Jehoida and Jehoshabeath kept Joash hidden from sight and from Athaliah’s knowledge. He outgrew one robe, and then another. Somehow, right under Ahtaliah’s nose, they prayed, planned, and protected Joash, rightful heir to the throne. He learned to walk. He learned to speak. He learned to ask all the questions little boys do. He learned to worship.
Quiet purpose. But God knows.
Who was the little child in the temple? Few would even know he was there. What was the cover story? What if people started asking questions? He had to be fed, clothed, educated, and prepared, all in careful secrecy. How would they pull this off? All we know is that they did, “just as the LORD promised” (2 Chronicles 23:3). Six years of quiet purpose. If anyone found out, it would be death for both them and for little Joash. With trust in the God of promise, they found courage to risk everything, including their very lives, for the benefit of their people. Day in and day out, year after year. No one could know, but God knew. And in due time, God would fulfill His word.
Think:
God’s own commitment to “give a lamp to David and to his sons forever” (2 Chronicles 21:7) was the foundation of Jehoida’s and Jehoshabeath’s plan and perseverance. They believed God, and they organized their own life around that promise. Is there an area of your life that you’ve organized around God’s promise? How has that proven helpful to your own perseverance over time?
Jehoshabeath used her access to help the helpless. Far from being convenient, helping was actually dangerous for her. Do you remember a time in your life when following God meant serving others in a way that was inconvenient or even dangerous for your own well-being? How so?
God gave Jehoshabeath and Jehoida strength to persevere throughout six years of dangerous obedience. Just imagine what God might accomplish through you if you committed six years to a single focus for the benefit of someone else according to God’s promise. Dream with ‘dangerous’ faith!
Prayer:
“Father, thank You for the way You work through human history to bring about Your word and promise on behalf of Your people. May I too have faith and trust for long-term, ‘dangerous’ commitment to Your word, Your promise, and Your people. Give me great grace to invest my life and my resource along with others in defending, advancing, and preparing the next generation. Work through me to help others come into their destiny in Christ Jesus.”