Human Response 528: Keep the Promise Alive

2 Chronicles 22:11 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.

Athaliah, the wicked queen, usurped the throne of Judah and murdered all the king’s sons, the royal seed of the line of David. But Jehoshabeath took her infant nephew, Joash, and hid him from Athaliah, so that she did not murder at least that one. Jehoshabeath raised the boy for six years. When Joash was seven, Jehoiada the faithful priest anointed him king. Under Jehoiada’s tutelage Joash turned out to be one of the good kings.

These two people, husband and wife, responded by faith in God’s covenant promise of the Messiah by keeping alive the seed of David so that the promise could be fulfilled in Christ. They may not have known the eternal significance and worldwide ramifications of their actions, but they acted in faith. She saved alive the one remaining seed of the promise. Because of Jehoshabeath’s brave response we today have the Savior of the world born of David’s line according to God’s promise.

We don’t always know the beneficial results and consequences of our faithful responses to the Word of God, but we live by faith and so do according to His faithful word and promise. God has a purpose and a plan, and He is always looking for trusting people to carry out His will, with or without knowing how it will all work out for good. God knows, and He guides and directs us to accomplish his will. We simply trust and obey.