“Meanwhile, Elisha the prophet had summoned a member of the group of prophets. “Get ready to travel,” he told him, “and take this flask of olive oil with you. Go to Ramoth-gilead, and find Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi. Call him into a private room away from his friends, and pour the oil over his head. Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: I anoint you to be the king over Israel.’ Then open the door and run for your life!” 2 Kings 9:1-3 NLT
This chapter reads like some CIA operation – Codename: Righteous Justice.
Elisha calls out one of the students in the school of the prophets and in a very clandestinely manner, gives him the assignment. Basically this young prophet was going to instigate a takeover of the country. This prophet would secretly anoint an new king, Jehu. The prophet does as Elisha says and gets Jehu alone. He doesn’t just anoint him King, he tells him that he is going to bring justice to the nation by eliminating Ahab and his wife Jezebel. And the young prophet tells Jehu how Jezebel would meet her demise! “Dogs will eat Ahab’s wife Jezebel at the plot of land in Jezreel, and no one will bury her.” Whoa. Then the young prophet did exactly what Elisha had instructed him, he opened the door and ran. Secrecy doesn’t last long and word travels fast, so this was a quick “in & out” job.
When God moves on something he does so quickly. This whole timing thing is real. It can feel like you’re waiting forever for an answer or opportunity or for justice to kick in, but it’s all about the perfect timing of God who is control of every tiny detail. Crazy thing – it all happened just as God had said it would. Jehu pulls into the palace court where flashy, trashy Jezebel is sitting in the palace window, high above the ground. After throwing some serious verbal shade on Jehu, things turn very dark for the wicked woman who had been so cruel to so many.
“When Jezebel, the queen mother, heard that Jehu had come to Jezreel, she painted her eyelids and fixed her hair and sat at a window. When Jehu entered the gate of the palace, she shouted at him, “Have you come in peace, you murderer? You’re just like Zimri, who murdered his master!” Jehu looked up and saw her at the window and shouted, “Who is on my side?” And two or three eunuchs looked out at him. “Throw her down!” Jehu yelled. So they threw her out the window, and her blood spattered against the wall and on the horses. And Jehu trampled her body under his horses’ hooves. Then Jehu went into the palace and ate and drank. Afterward he said, “Someone go and bury this cursed woman, for she is the daughter of a king.” But when they went out to bury her, they found only her skull, her feet, and her hands.” 2 Kings 9:30-35 NLT
Prayer:
Dad,
Personally, I am glad this is included both in the Bible and in your storyline of how humans can really screw things up. I’m just a huge fan of justice, especially when it comes to flagrant disregard for others and their worth. These characters, Ahab and Jezebel, are a wicked duo that represents thousands of local and global leaders who so arrogantly rule over their change and do so out of a complete and utter sense of self. At any point, these two could have turned from their wickedness and repented, but there was no way they were going to break or bow. Jezebel’s last words bellowing out her perched window was proof that she believed she was untouchable and no one could do anything about it. Wow, her own bodyguards pushed her out the window.
As a leader in such a small venue of family and church, I just want to serve. I just want to do right. I don’t need to store up power, fame or fortune – I just need wisdom and mercy to lead and do my best.