2 Kings 9:14-20 – Be swift to obey God

Second Kings 9:14-20 tells us that Jehu was with the army of Israel engaged in dealing with the attack of Hazael of Aram. However, the conspiracy for Jehu to go against Joram was divinely set up. He was anointed to be God’s instrument to punish the household of Ahab and Jezebel for the evil of shedding the blood of His prophets, and that of Naboth. Immediately after being anointed as king of Israel, Jehu swung into action. He was ruthless. Securing the support of the other captains quickly, he had their agreement to seal up the city of Ramoth-gilead. This was to ensure that no one could leave to leak information to Joram. In 2 Kings 8:28-29, we are told that Joram was wounded in the battle, and he returned to Jezreel to recover from his wound. While he was there, Ahaziah King of Judah came to visit him. Besides repeating Ahaziah’s visit to Joram, verse 16 also reveals that Jehu left in a chariot for Jezreel, where Joram was recuperating from his wounds.

Meanwhile, Joram had a watchman stationed at the look-out tower so that they could keep him informed of approaching attacks. Verse 17 said that the watchman saw a company approaching though he couldn’t recognize Jehu.  So he alerted the king who instructed that a horseman be despatched to meet them and inquire if they came with peaceful intention. Jehu told the messenger that there would be no peace and then recruited him to join his band of rebels. And he did. When Joram was told that his messenger met the approaching force but did not return, he sent another one with the same mission. The second messenger approached Jehu just as the first and was also told the same. He was also recruited to join the revolt. The watchman reported to the king again saying the second messenger also did the same as the first. However, this time he could recognize Jehu, for he was riding furiously in the chariot approaching Jezreel.  

The Bible leaves us with no doubt that  God can use anyone to advance His purpose. He would even use godless men such as Jehu to execute His plan. As much as God would use godless Jehu, there was a limit to which God would use him. Though Jehu’s character left us with questions as to why God would use him, we learn how swiftly and obediently he had carried out God’s mission. If there is anything worth emulating from his life it would be this: he swiftly and obediently carried out God’s plan. Are we as swift and obedient when it comes to advancing God’s Kingdom? In John 4:35 Jesus said, “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest"? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.” We must act immediately and obediently to reap the harvest for Him. There’s no time to lose!