My wife and I are enjoying a visit from our granddaughter and her parents this week. Grandma and her little sidekick have been to the pool, a splash pad, several parks and the toddler story hour at our local library. They’ve even baked a cake together. All fun grandmother and granddaughter activities.

But not every grandma is so sweet. Athaliah, who shows up in an Old Testament story, was one nasty grandma. She led her son, the king, to the dark side. After he died, she murdered all her grandsons and took power for herself. Only one survived in hiding, later to emerge as king.

Athaliah was twisted—why murder your grandchildren? She craved power, which she enjoyed for a few years, until she was put to death in a palace coup. Her final mention in the Bible reads: All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword.

The leaders of ancient Israel enjoyed absolute power. An old saying goes, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Which certainly appears the case with Athaliah. Today it’s interesting to watch the quest for power among politicians and business leaders. Ruthless men and women sacrifice those around them to climb the ladder.

In this particularly intense political season, it helps me to remember that the Lord is the ultimate source of power—not the latest person in charge—and he turns the heart of a leader wherever he will.

2 Chronicles 22 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by DDP