Ahaz

 For the Lord humbled Judah because of King Ahaz of Judah, who threw off restraint in Judah and was unfaithful to the Lord.      2 Chronicles 28.19

Could God possibly be with a corrupt leader whose moral compass is oriented only toward himself?

God humbled the entire nation of Judah because of wicked king Ahaz. For Ahaz, ‘throwing off restraint' included burning his sons as offerings to pagan gods and stripping gold from God’s temple to pay an Assyrian king to protect Judah from military attack. That payoff did not pay off, and Judah suffered horrendous losses. Later, Ahaz made sacrifices at a pagan altar he installed inside the Lord’s temple before eventually shutting its doors completely.

Yet Ahaz is listed in the genealogy of Christ. God clearly had a plan.

God allowed the natural consequences of Ahaz's wicked leadership to unfold, affecting the entire nation. But He did not abandon Judah, nor did He cut off Ahaz’s family. Despite the depravity of Ahaz, God preserved one of his sons. When Hezekiah became king, he immediately set out to right the wrongs of his father.

‘If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.’ (2 Timothy 2.13) God’s character doesn’t change. He is gracious to us because of His nature, not because of ours. He extends His love even in the face of the worst behaviour.

We know what it is to live in a culture that has thrown off restraint. Headlines shout stories of brokenness that must surely break the heart of God. Our world may be filled with chaos and corruption, but God is still on the throne. He is with us because His love never changes.

God help me to trust that You are with me in a broken world even when all appearances are to the contrary. Remind me of Your faithfulness in the face of faithfulness, whether my own or those around me. Increase my understanding of Your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen 

‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.    Isaiah 54.10