During the reign of Joash in Judah, Jehu’s son, Johoahaz took office in Israel. He reigned in Samaria for seventeen years. He followed the example of Jeroboam in sinning through idolatry. The Lord’s anger was aroused, and He delivered Israel into the hands of Hazael, king of Syria. Jehoahaz pleaded with the Lord, and the Lord listened to his cries. The Lord provided Israel a deliverer, and they escaped from the oppression of the Syrians and dwelt in their tents as before. Yet they continued to sin as Jeroboam did, and worshiped a wooden image. Their army had been decimated when Syria fought against them, and they were crushed like dust, destroyed by Syria. Then Jehoahaz died, and his son, Jehoash, reigned in his place.
A couple of things to consider here: habitual sin, and the cost of sin. Jehoahaz was warned by God, and God even delivered him once the king cried out to him for help. Yet, Israel–under his leadership–continued to sin through idolatry. Israel, unfortunately, has a track record of forgetting the blessings and deliverance of God upon their existence. They continually go back into the same sins from which God delivered them. In the case of Jehoahaz, he knew what had caused their downfall at the hands of Syria, but continued in those sins anyway. As a result, their habitual sin cost them much of their defensive strength and their ability to rule the earth in their region. It is the same with our spiritual lives. When we sin habitually, it robs us of our spiritual strength and ability to defend our spirits against the actions of the enemy, Satan. We must find a way, through Christ, to overcome the habitual failures of our flesh if we are to gain the strength to truly overcome the enemy and reach the place of living in the true calling of God upon our lives. Break the hold and live. Walk holy and move into God’s calling and blessings. Shake the habit before it shakes you from fellowship with God!
Devoted To You 