July 3

2 Kings 9-11
Jehu accomplished what the Lord had commanded in taking out the house of Ahab and the Baal worship in Israel.  As we look at the gruesome account and the numbers involved, it becomes very clear that Israel was heavily caught up in the worship of this pagan god.  Athaliah had her part in the degradation of God’s people, leading them into idol worship and destroying all who could be a threat.  That is, except for Joash.  Only because he was well hidden for six years.  For those of us who follow Christ it may be a little difficult to understand how anyone could worship an idol.  However, anyone in sales can tell you that intangibles are much more difficult to sell than that which can be seen, held, or smelled.  I tried selling life insurance when I was a young man, and even though the product was useful and provided a degree of security, it was very hard to sell because it is an intangible.  Such is the case with God.  He is an intangible, whereas, idols are tangible.  They can be seen and touched, experienced by our physical senses.  The living God must be experienced through the spirit.  We can have an ongoing relationship with Him through faith and the interaction of His Holy Spirit.  Perhaps it’s this tangible/intangible thing that brings some into idol worship.  However, if they would just think about it, they would know that a relationship with a dead idol is no relationship at all.  Jehu understood this, along with all of God’s faithful followers.