Ahaz embraced all the freedoms of kingship. He worshipped the Baals, adopted the gods of his enemies as his own, and even sacrificed his children in the fire—burned them alive. Ahaz, in his misguided wisdom, totally rejected the Lord.

Not surprisingly, Ahaz’s infidelity brought consequences. In one day of a conflict between Judah and Israel, 120,000 soldiers from Judah were killed. The men of Israel then took 200,000 captives, the wives, sons and daughters of the men lost in battle.

These captives marched north, prodded and mistreated by their captors. Oded, a prophet of the Lord, along with some of the leaders of the nation, confronted the mob. Realizing their guilt in taking their fellow Israelites captive, the soldiers gave up the prisoners and sent them home:

They clothed all who were naked…provided them with food and drink and healing balm…those who were weak they put on donkeys…they took them back to their fellow Israelites at Jericho.

As I read this account I wonder about all the innocent men, women and children who suffered through this horrific conflict—what had they done to deserve this?

These citizens bled and died thanks to their king’s blatant disregard for the Lord.

Few of us ever possess power over others like an ancient ruler, but our decisions effect more than ourselves. People around us flourish or fade, partially based on how we live.

Our faith, or our rejection of it, moves outward from us through others. Jesus combined do unto others as you would have done unto you with love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. Those around me bloom when I hold to this combination.

The cult of individualism undercuts the ways of God. Understanding the repercussions on others as we wrestle with our life of faith is part of the journey.

2 Chronicles 28 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Joanne Francis