Bad leaders must fall, but there’s hope for the future

Every day we're reading or listening to part of the Bible together and sharing thoughts with you. Today it’s Bern Leckie:

What did I like about today’s passage?

The fall of Judah seems all the more dramatic after the glimpse of goodness they got from Josiah. I love the season of recommitment and revival, blessing and the best Passover ever.

So why didn’t this turn Judah’s fortunes around and stop the exile God warned about? The writer puts this down to God’s anger, but there was another gaping, obvious problem. There were no good leaders left. Jehoahaz was old enough to know what he should do to please God but didn’t. He lasted three months and managed to give away the nation’s riches in that short time. Each successor was evil and God ushered in Judah’s adversaries to clean up.

Now here is the bit I find amazing. Zedekiah has virtually nothing - no army, no workers to craft weapons, and no faith in God by this account of his evil doings. Yet he chose to rebel against Babylon. Was this the most pointless rebellion in history? God had given leaders victories over incredible odds, but Zedekiah wasn't trusting God, only his own strength, and he had none of that either. The result reminds of something Jesus says twice in Matthew's gospel about God's Kingdom. People who don't have (gracious blessing from God, and faith put into practice) will find that the little they do have (stuff, and the ability to choose) will be taken away. Zedekiah's final rebellion against God, powerful enemies and all reason resulted in the loss of Judah's identity, independence, freedom and all their remaining stuff.

What was God doing here? If he wanted his Kingdom to come, why did he not let his people defend the land for his glory? We know that God was angry and kept his covenant promise that rebellion would result in destruction. But that's not the whole story. God was going to build his Kingdom his way, for our benefit. There were still people with faith, they were just being moved away for now. One of the people taken into exile was Daniel, and God had great plans for him which would amaze everyone who heard about him to this day.

What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

God wants us to recognise him in all circumstances, good and bad. He can bless people who choose to honour and obey him, and when leaders do this it can change history. But when leaders are not faithful to God, he will guide other people who look to him, perhaps in the most difficult times, in surprising ways.

What am I going to do differently as a result?

We are living in a challenging time and this makes me wonder: when challenge comes, what is worth defending? Not necessarily the old normal things. I want to get better at recognising God’s leadership towards a new normal, his Kingdom, and following leaders who trust and follow him. I’m expecting God to change us a lot before the next election.

Who am I going to share this with?

The many people I seem to know who want to change the world but don’t yet trust God.