II Kings 13: 2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.3 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all their days.4 And Jehoahaz besought the Lord, and the Lord hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them.5 (And the Lord gave Israel a saviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians: and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents, as beforetime.6 Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there remained the grove also in Samaria.)
It was a time of great distress in Israel. One king did what was right; another didn’t. There was a succession of those who did evil in the sight of the Lord. Benhadad was a constant thorn in the side of Israel. Some of this was Israel’s fault. They wanted to have the Lord and their sin as well. We have to turn ourselves to the Lord totally. If we hold to sin, it gives the devil a door to get in.
There is a cry now for deliverance from ISIS, from domestic problems, from foreign problems. Save us now from this and that. Most cry for saving but are not willing to cry for the root problem—sin. Many want deliverance from troubles all the while it is our own sins that bring it upon us. If we’re looking to the United Nations or the government to deliver, it won’t happen. No one can deliver us unless we’re willing to confess sins.
Jehoahaz wanted to keep the temple in Jerusalem but also let the altars be kept for worship of whatever else they wanted. It won’t work. We cannot serve two masters. God knew how everyone would react, but he sent a savior anyway. He did it solely because of his grace. He could have let Israel destroy herself. He can let us do the same. If people are willing to come honestly before the Lord, we have a Savior. He didn’t wait until mankind asked. God sent Jesus anyway. That’s the wonder of his grace and mercy!
Many today, as back in the time of Jehoahaz, are after power and prominence. Some think they have power in their own hands. This is the same old lie of the devil. Notice that verses 5 and 6 are in parentheses. The Lord sent a savior. We don’t have his name. God slipped him in and he delivered Israel. It didn’t come through the kings or the great generals. It was this one person. This savior didn’t care to preserve his name. He did what needed to be done.
The most important person in the world is Jesus Christ. It’s not those in Hollywood or presidents and kings of ours or other nations. Most everyone knows the name of Jesus, but it is largely used as a curse word. If the world would repent, Jesus Christ would save. He didn’t come to make history books or be a celebrity. He didn’t come to exalt himself. He stood and faced sin and the devil. He was born of a virgin and lived a sinless life. He died on the cross and rose the third day. He never sought his own name but did it so that we could be lifted up and changed. Our name could be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Philippians 2:6-10 says who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. Jesus went lower than we’ll go. He didn’t look to make a name for himself. He wanted us nobody’s to be somebody. Peter says we’re made the people of God through Jesus Christ.
God exalted Jesus. If God exalts him, we should too. Don’t be ashamed. The time is coming that all will bow and admit the Lord is right and all others wrong. That day is coming soon. I don’t want to be wailing and crying in that day. I want to rejoice because I know him. The Lord sent a Savior anyway to this wicked world and his name is Jesus.
Jehoahaz prayed as a last resort. That should always be the first resort. The Lord answered his prayer anyway and sent an unnamed person. They didn’t inquire about him. That’s why the people didn’t know who he was. They didn’t bother to ask who saved them. We have not because we ask not. I want to know Jesus. I might forget my own name, but I don’t want to forget Jesus.
Jesus came for us. We should trust him. The world may not want to know him, but that shouldn’t stop us. The people expected the king to save them. Today people look to this one and that one. They’re all like the other one. The man who delivered them was not known but it was the people’s fault not the savior’s. God would have been just in sending judgment to Israel but instead he sent a savior. Jesus came to a world that didn’t ask for him. Keep trusting Jesus. Follow through. If we do, the Lord will see us through. If we don’t, it gives place to the devil. Pray. A Savior has come anyway. Turn to the Lord with all your heart.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 