NOT YOUR HISTORY

• DAY 276
• FAITH FILE: JEHU
• SCRIPTURES: 2 KINGS 9:30-32

Now when Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she put paint on her eyes and adorned her head, and looked through a window. Then, as Jehu entered at the gate, she said, “Is it peace, Zimri, murderer of your master?” And he looked up at the window, and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” So two or three eunuchs looked out at him.

In our text today, we see a very short-lived standoff (If we would even call it a standoff). The children of Israel. Had kings that had the habit of going away from the Lord. Sometimes they were lucky to get a king as upright as David (or close enough) but most times they got rebellious kings who oppressed them, led them away from God, and introduced them to idols. God calls them wicked kings. Ahab was such a king. His wickedness topped the wickedness of everyone else. He took it a step further by marrying a Jezebel. She became the fuel to the fire of wickedness already burning in him.

When a wicked king arises and refuses to repent God will anoint someone to defeat and overthrow them. Jehu was the one anointed to replace Ahab and destroy his house. In carrying out this assignment, it was time for Jezebel to be killed. As Jezebel sees him coming, she comes out to meet him and calls him Zimri. In case you missed it, the man who came to kill her is named Jehu, so why call him Zimri? It will be easy to assume it was in error but this is the bible, nothing is a coincidence or error.

A Subtle Threat

In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha became king over Israel, and reigned two years in Tirzah. Now his servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against him as he was in Tirzah drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, steward of his house in Tirzah. And Zimri went in and struck him and killed him in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place. 1 KINGS 16:8-10

Jezebel was right, Zimri was the murderer of his master and Jehu was coming to do the same thing he was raised to do. In this way they shared similarities but that was not why Jezebel brought his name up. I believe the reason is found a few verses later.

Now the people who were encamped heard it said, “Zimri has conspired and also has killed the king.” So all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp. Then Omri and all Israel with him went up from Gibbethon, and they besieged Tirzah. And it happened, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the citadel of the king’s house and burned the king’s house down upon himself with fire, and died, 1 KINGS 16:16-18

So when Jezebel recalled Zimri, she was telling Jehu indirectly, that he would end up like Zimri. That was not a slip of the tongue it was a threat. She was telling Jehu to check how others like him ended up. She wanted him to know that his pursuit was futile and that he would lose in the end. That is enough to make anyone afraid, not Jehu. He was a man of courage. He ignored the subtle threat and completed the assignment he was there for.

Out The Window

Beloved, sometimes your mind will call up some history of people who have tried the things you are thinking of doing and failed. For example, if you want to write that book that has been in your heart for a while, you will remember or stumble on some post that tells you of people who wrote books and no one published it or bought it and they lost money and time for nothing. That is not a thought, memory, or advice (if it is coming from people). It is a subtle threat.

The goal is to attack your faith and confidence in that dream such that you become afraid and abandon the project. But you must do like Jehu and disregard it. That history has nothing to do with you. Precedent is not a sign of what’s to come. It is not a prophecy for your future. I know history repeats itself but you are not in that line of history. You are in the line of God. And as long as you are in obedience to God. Evil history cannot be repeated in your life. Affliction cannot arise a second time.

So when that thought comes up. Remind it that you are on the Lord’s side. And please do yourself a favor and throw those thoughts down through the window, like they did Jezebel. Because you will fulfill. Everything that God has called you to fulfill. You have faith, courage, and confidence in God.

Take a moment to reject every negative history that has been introduced in the atmosphere over your life and decree that it is not yours today and forever. In Jesus’ name.

Shalom.