Receiving God’s Favor – 2 Kings 13:1-9
The love and goodness of God. Why do you love your children? Is the simple, basic answer because they are yours? Children don’t have to do anything to prove themselves to us. We love them unconditionally because they are ours. God loves us, not just because we were created by Him, but because He is, in His essence, love.
Let’s study a king from Israel whose story will illustrate for us this most positive, encouraging, and perhaps favorite aspect of the nature of God…
THE SIN OF KING JEHOAHAZ – 13:1-2:
It was into an evil and wicked family that King Jehoahaz was born. Jehoahaz is the 11th king of Israel and reigned from about 814 B. C. to 800 B. C. Jehoahaz followed the sins of Jeroboam; he did not turn from them. In fact, the point is reemphasized in verse 6.
THE ANGER OF THE LORD – 13:3:
God was not pleased with Jehoahaz’s behavior and we see the wrath of God illustrated in verse 3.
God was punishing Jehoahaz for his ungodly behavior. In the face of this dreadful situation, Jehoahaz does something quite remarkable for someone who is as sinful as he is. He turned to the God of heaven. So it was with Jehoahaz.
THE FAVOR OF THE LORD – 13:4-5:
Unfortunately, far too few people turn to God even when things get bad. Yet, the God of heaven frequently listens to their prayers and provides for their needs. Such was the case with Jehoahaz.
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The word translated “favor” here is literally “face.” Jehoahaz called on the face of the Lord, an expression that means he called on God’s mercy, God’s grace. And notice, the Lord “listened” to him. The Lord listened. Jehoahaz was a child of God, an Israelite, even if he was an erring child of God. Despite his evil, God listened to Him.
Jehoahaz was in trouble. Jehoahaz entreated the favor of the Lord. The Lord listened and the Lord sent a savior. That’s the loving nature of God.
JEHOAHAZ DOES NOT LEARN – 13:6-9:
Unfortunately, it’s that “coming to repentance” part that Jehoahaz lacked. If verses 4 & 5 are the most beautiful verses in this context, the first word of verse 6 is the saddest: “nevertheless.” Despite the “savior/deliverer,” despite the “escape” God brought, despite the “peace” God provided, “nevertheless.” In other words, Jehoahaz did not continue entreating the favor of the Lord. He despised the grace of God by not continuing faithful to the law God had given.
Specifically, he continued worshipping the Asherah, the female counterpart to Baal which was worshiped through sexual immorality. Jehoahaz never did prosper as he could have if he had been faithful to God.
Some 40% of the OT are stories of the Israelites and their relationship with God. We learn from them. Jehoahaz and his people were hurting. They were defeated; they were humiliated. But in their hour of desperate need, they turned to the God of heaven, as they should.
God, being Who He is, listened and acted. But unfortunately for Jehoahaz, he did not appreciate and respect what God had done for him. Will we?
–Paul Holland
