Era of Jeroboam II in Israel

YEA, we finally have a new king who is doing right in the eyes of the Lord. Amaziah. But it makes a special note to tells us he was not like David but like Joash. So I thing that must be important enough for us to remember as we read.

Then once again there is this special note on Elisha and how a man was thrown into his tomb and how he came to life once he dead body touched the bones of Elisha.

Once king Hazael died and Ben Hadad took over, he was defeated three times and all the towns of Israel were taken back in the Jews hands. And to top all this off Amaziah take all the gods of Edom and sets them up to be worship and consulted by himself. Ok, now even a man of God confronts him and says if these gods could not save the Edomites why on earth would you consult them and think they could help you. But he does not listen and even threatens him.

Amaziah decided to gather up the Israelites who were old and strong enough to fight , but a man of God came to him and told him that the Lord was not with them. Sot the king sent them home and of course they went home angry. So the king took what army he did have and fought and won. Meanwhile the people as they went off home in anger they decided to plunder Judean towns. They ended up killing 3000 people. Seems to me all out of anger?!?

Anyway, this was a short lived victory for Amaziah over Edom because he got a little to proud and full of himself and had to go and pick a fight with the king of Judah. Now king Jehoash tells him that he is getting a bit to big for his britches and tells him to stay at home. But does Amaziah listen? No!! Of course when he dies his son takes over and does more evil in the eyes of the Lord.

Our patience is limited...very limited as a human, but I can see here that God is extremely patient. But I think even he has some limits and then end may be coming. Look it is very easy to sit here read these and judge these me for their blind acts. But we have to remember that this event were taken over many years and we also have to remember that if someone were to write our life out in a few chapters how would it look!? Would someone look at it and pass some judgment on us. We do some of the same things these men did in the past. The difference...culture. Our time and our culture is soooooo very different. It is easy to say I live for God every day and in everything and then turn around and curse or deliberately cut someone off on the street on steal or, or, or. Repentance is so important. We have to ask God to forgive us of all those thoughts and actions everyday. When we read these stories we need to read them as if it is a how to book. How to be closer to God and stay focused on Him.