Dark days in
The king’s mother, Athaliah, goes berserk and kills the royal family. In the midst of this upheaval, the king’s sister –heretofore unnamed and unknown- hides the king’s youngest son, Joash, a mere infant, preserving his life. An unnamed faithful nurse cares for Joash for six years as they remain hidden in the temple. Sometimes, many times in my experience, the Lord’s assignments go on for years!
As the infant prince remains hidden, Athaliah rules the land. Then after 6 years, the priest Jehoiada declares it is time. He summons the guards, reveals the young prince and proceeds with a plan to announce him as king.
For six years the princess, the priest, the nurse and most likely a small tight-lipped cadre of cooks, attendants and servants hid, educated and protected the infant prince, keeping him safe from Athaliah.
For God to fulfill his promise of maintaining a Davidic heir on the throne, many people had to faithfully fulfill their role. Princess Jehosheba had to risk her life for her nephew. The unnamed nurse had to face seclusion for an indefinite time. And we could run through the remainder of the list of faithful agents in this cloak and dagger episode of
What God showed me is how important each person is for God’s plan to be fulfilled. Some played glamorous roles, most had bit parts, but all kept at it for a considerable length of time… that is how God’s kingdom is built. Faithful people filling their assigned role.
The same remains true to this day. God’s kingdom advances as faithful people fill the assignments God directs to them. Some get full billing, some go unnamed, others don’t even get a mention in the history books but God knows them all and all will be met with the same hug and greetings in eternity, “Well done good and faithful servant… come enter my happiness.”
O, God, give me the strength to do whatever You ask me to do… that I may hear those words upon my promotion from this world into the next. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment