“Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people that they would be the Lord’s people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people. And all the people of the land went over to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They demolished the altars and smashed the idols to pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. Jehoiada the priest stationed guards at the Temple of the Lord. Then the commanders, the Carite mercenaries, the palace guards, and all the people of the land escorted the king from the Temple of the Lord. They went through the gate of the guards and into the palace, and the king took his seat on the royal throne. So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was peaceful because Athaliah had been killed at the king’s palace. Joash was seven years old when he became king.”
2 Kings 11:17-21 NLT
Joash was one of a handful of infant salvation moments in scripture that point to God’s providence and sovereignty. Like Moses and Jesus, Joash nearly was killed as a baby, but God spared him for a purpose. He was chosen. Interestingly, he would do many good things for the kingdom and was largely considered a good king. But in the drama surrounding his childhood, we find him lose his faithfulness in his adulthood and ultimately assassinated after returning to Baal and other things. God’s hand cannot be stopped, but man’s status as a chosen instrument does not secure his place in blessings. When we choose to forget God, no matter what purpose we had set aside for us, it is easy to become a victim of our own arrogance and pride. It is easy to forget God. It is important that we not only refrain from trying to stop God’s plans, but that we also continue seeking to pursue them.
JOSH McGARY. COM 