Journal Through the Bible: Week 96 Wednesday

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II Chronicles chapter 25

Ah! Like father, like son. Amaziah's reign started off well but then he got caught up in idolatry just as Joash did and things went downhill from there. Amaziah defeated the children of Seir but then took their gods as his own.

Does God issue any commands?

• God had commanded Moses in the law that children not be executed for the sins of the fathers, nor the fathers for the children, but each man shall die for his own sin. Amaziah followed that law when he put to death those who had assassinated his father, Joash.
• Like his grandfather and great-grandfather Amaziah endeavored to unify Judah and Israel when he hired soldiers out of Israel to fight with his own soldiers against Seir (Edom, the descendants of Esau). God was not pleased with this so He sent a prophet to warn Amaziah of the consequences of his plan.
• God sent a prophet to Amaziah to chastise him for taking the gods of Edom as his gods. This made Amaziah angry and he warned the prophet to stop speaking because he was not one of the king's counselors. (And then it tells us that Amaziah took someone's advice to declare war against Israel. He wouldn't listen to the good advice from the prophet but he listened to the foolish advice from one of his counselors.)

Does God make any promises?

• God promised that if the fighters of Israel that Amaziah hired went to battle with the men of Judah the battle would be lost.
• When the prophet sent from God to chastise Amaziah for idol worship was rebuked he told Amaziah that God had determined to destroy him for his idolatry. (God used the foolish advice to declare war against Israel given by one of his counselors to fulfill this promise. Even the king of Israel warned him that it was a bad idea by comparing Judah to a thistle that would be easily destroyed. Amaziah did not listen so Judah was defeated, Jerusalem was assaulted, the temple and the kings house were robbed of treasures, and hostages were taken back to Israel.)

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• When Amaziah destroyed those who had conspired against his father, Joash, he followed the law that stated that each person should be accountable for his own sins. This is because each person is a sinner who cannot take the place of another. On the other hand, Jesus is not a sinner, and He died for the sins of others whether they be fathers, sons, mothers, or daughters. Those who will not accept Him as their substitute for sin will be required to pay for their transgressions themselves. No other person can take the place of another. (No one but God - Jesus - can have His righteousness imputed in the place of someone guilty of breaking the law.)

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Not that I identified.