Journal Through the Bible: Week 56 Tuesday

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II Kings chapter 17

Hoshea, king of Israel, rebelled against Assyria. He refused to pay tribute any longer and paid the price of insubordination. He and his people were removed. The Assyrians replaced them with foreigners that feared God (because of the lions He sent among them!) but worshiped their own gods.  That plan didn't make sense for that time and it makes no sense now either.

Does God issue any commands?

• No, but the writer makes it clear that the nation had ignored the commands of the LORD that He had given them since the time they left Egypt many years earlier and had forgotten the covenant that they made with Him.

Does God make any promises?

• The writer makes it clear that the reason the northern nation of Israel went into Assyrian captivity was because they had broken God's commands and God punished them just as He had promised through the prophets. (verses 7-18)

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• In this chapter Jesus is described as the judge of the nations. He judged Judah by tearing Israel out of it. He judged Israel by sending her into captivity in Assyria. He judged Assyria by sending lions among the settlers that the Assyrians placed in Samaria.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Not that I identified.