Memory Verse: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Revelation 2:7 KJV

Devotional Reading: II Kings 14; II Kings 15

Song of The Day:

TODAY’s DEVOTIONAL

Jehosheba rescued her nephew Joash from an impending slaughter much like the mother of Moses stole him away from King Herod’s henchmen. Jehosheba’s step mother, Athaliah, widow of the deceased King Jehoram of Judah, desired to be Queen after the death of her son Ahaziah. In order to accomplish this goal, she killed members of her family who would have otherwise been heirs to the throne.

Jehosheba knew that her nephew’s life was in danger. He was a grandchild of Athaliah and the youngest surviving son of Ahaziah. He would be king if his life could be spared. Jehosheba stole her nephew away and hid him in the temple with the help of her husband the priest, Jehoiada.

What perfect timing that Jehosheba was married to a priest and she was close enough to get to Joash. God already had an avenue prepared to save the life of Joash before Athaliah began plotting her evil scheme. II Kings 11:2 says that Jehosheba stole Joash from among the king’s sons who were slain. Somehow, Joash miraculously survived the slaughter of his kinsmen, but he was no doubt confused and powerless to remove himself from the carnage, being not more than a year old.

Jehosheba had to have courage to go into the equivalent of a war zone and get the child out. If she was found retrieving Joash, or hiding him, she would surely have been killed along with the child. But that’s not all, verse 3 says that Joash’s nurse was also taken from the place where Joash was found.

Jehosheba risked her own life to save her nephew and his nurse; and they all hid in the bedchamber from Athaliah. Another miracle is that they were able to hide in silence. In all of this commotion, Joash was not crying like a child of his age might? Another miracle. He was in familiar company. He must have felt completely safe despite the horror going on around him.

Jehosheba hid Joash in the temple for six years without the knowledge of Athaliah. Meanwhile, Joash so happened to be in the daily company of Jehosheba’s husband a priest who could also teach him the ways of the true and living God. The Lord not only saved the life of Joash through Jehosheba’s courage but surrounded Joash with influence contrary to the wickedness of Athaliah (taking after her parents: Ahab and Jezebel).

When Joash was seven years old, certain leaders plotted to overthrow Athaliah’s rule; and so they did. Joash became king and entered into a covenant with the priest Johaidah who had helped train him (II Timothy 2:15). The temple of Baal would be torn down and the kingdom would be converted to worship the Lord. What a sequence of events. Jehosheba’s courage saved the life of a king who restored Judah to God’s will. Now that’s a testimony.