God brings revolution, but he initiates change for a reason, for a better way. While violent and gruesome, God chose Jehu to ascend to rule the northern kingdom of Israel to correct his people and place them back on the right path.
Over time, God gives time and opportunity for his people to change and repent when they go astray, and this happened in Israel with the family of Ahab. Out of his love, God sent prophets (namely Elijah) to King Ahab and his descendants to keep his people from destruction. Ultimately, they rejected God to worship other idols.
God used Jehu to exact the consequences and fulfill his prophecy. Yet we see Jehu ultimately fall prey to the same sins of Ahab and Jezebel. The story of Jehu from 1 and 2 Kings serves as both an example of God fulfilling his word and a warning to avoid the same consequences once the Lord raises us up to enact change.
What Did God Choose Jehu to Do?
Jehu was a military commander in the army of Israel during the reign of King Joram, the son of Ahab and Jezebel. Jehu’s family had a history of military service: his father, Jehoshaphat, was a close associate of Ahab (2 Kings 9:2).
The prophet Elisha played a pivotal role in God appointing and commissioning Jehu. Elisha (mentored by Elijah and given a double prophetic anointing) sent the son of a prophet to anoint Jehu as king over Israel and deliver a message from the Lord. The young prophet poured oil on Jehu’s head, symbolizing his consecration as king, and proclaimed God’s command to execute judgment upon Ahab’s house (2 Kings 9:1-10).
As a commander, Jehu had leadership and power, and God essentially anointed Jehu to stage a military coup against his king. Jehu likely knew about Ahab and Jezebel’s corrupt and murderous actions.
The Lord chose Jehu to accomplish a couple of main tasks.
First, Jehu was appointed to avenge the prophets and servants of the Lord that Ahab and Jezebel had killed. Through the prophet Elijah, the Lord declared that none of Ahab’s family members would escape (2 Kings 9:7-10).
Second, Jehu was commissioned to eradicate Baal worship from Israel. Baal worship, promoted by Ahab and Jezebel, had become rampant, leading the people away from worshipping the true God. Jehu was instructed to destroy the prophets and priests of Baal and demolish their temples and altars, purging the nation of idolatry (2 Kings 10:18-28).
Why Did God Want Jehu to Kill Ahab’s Family?
Throughout the lineage of Old Testament kings, God offered these leaders the options of promise and judgment. The Israelites’ initial request for a king proved their hard hearts, that they were rejecting God as king. Still, God used the kings to further his redemptive plan. If these kings followed God, their lineages continued and prospered. If they rejected God, he ended their family lines and brought judgment upon the nation.
The first king, Saul, experienced this. He was chosen by God and installed as king. However, over time, he became ruled by fear and pride. His rebellious heart and actions led to God taking the kingdom from him and giving it to a “man after God’s heart,” David.
David pleased God to the degree the Lord promised the Messiah would come through David’s family, of the line of Judah. While God maintained the line of Judah, evil kings of Judah were removed, beginning with David’s grandson who had most of the kingdom taken away because of his injustice.
After Israel’s split into two nations (Judah and Israel) a pattern emerged in the northern kingdom of Israel. God would raise up a king, yet when that king rebelled against the One who blessed him, God would replace the king’s lineage with another as judgment. King Ahab was one of many of this pattern.
Ahab and Jezebel led the nation into idolatry, worshipping the false god Baal. They refused to listen to the prophets, primarily Elijah, and even killed and persecuted them. They murdered a man, Naboth to steal his vineyard. Through Elijah, God pronounced judgment upon Ahab’s dynasty: “The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel” (1 Kings 21:23). This prophecy sets the stage for the eventual downfall of Ahab’s lineage.
We might understand God judging Ahab and Jezebel, but why the whole family? During this time, lineage and legacy communicated future blessings and success. A person, especially a king, lived on in the lives of those who came after him. God encoded this in the Law: families and tribes were given perpetual pieces of land, passed down.
When we follow God, he gives us a good future. If we reject him and worship other gods, then he removes his blessing, including the removal of our assured blessed future. In the Old Testament period, they understood their future in terms of their promised land and subsequent generations. Ahab and Jezebel’s sin brought judgment upon them and their future.
For us, this takes on eternal meaning. Following Christ ensures our eternal future.
How Did Jehu Remove Ahab’s Family?
Jehu’s first target was Jezreel, where the remnants of Ahab’s family lived. In a calculated move, Jehu orchestrates a plot to eliminate King Joram, the son of Ahab, along with Ahaziah, the king of Judah, who had allied with the house of Ahab (2 Kings 9:14-29). Ahaziah was also related to Ahab’s family. Jehu’s swift and decisive action kills both kings, and fulfills the prophecy pronounced against the house of Ahab: if Ahaziah had lived, t he could have reunited Israel under Ahab’s lineage.
With the royal heirs eliminated, Jehu turns his attention to Jezebel, the infamous queen mother. Jehu confronts Jezebel, and she meets a dramatic and brutal end as she is thrown from a window and trampled by horses, fulfilling Elijah’s prophecy (2 Kings 9:30-37). Following Jezebel’ death, Jehu kills 70 of Ahab’s sons.
Having dealt with the royal family, Jehu purges the land of idolatry. Jehu gathers all the worshippers of Baal in one place under the pretext of a great sacrifice (2 Kings 10:18-28). Once assembled, Jehu orders the slaughter of all the Baal worshippers, decimating the idolatrous priests and destroying the temple of Baal.
Unfortunately, Jehu didn’t remain faithful to the Lord.
When Did Jehu Move Away from God’s Will?
Despite his initial fervor, Jehu’s subsequent actions reveal a willingness to compromise with the very practices he had vowed to eradicate.
Although Jehu had eliminated the worship of Baal, he allowed the golden calves set up in Israel by Jeroboam to remain, continuing the idolatrous practices initiated by Jeroboam (2 Kings 10:29).
Jehu fails to follow the law of Moses wholeheartedly. Even though he initially revealed zeal to follow God’s word, Jehu allowed the sins of Jeroboam to persist, leading Israel further away from the path of righteousness (2 Kings 10:31).
Ultimately, Jehu’s reign is characterized by religious zeal mixed with political expediency, departing from God’s commands and failing to uphold his covenant. While Jehu’s actions may have initially appeared righteous, his subsequent compromises demonstrate the danger of allowing self-interest to overshadow obeying God.
What Can We Learn from Jehu Today?
By examining Jehu’s life and actions, we can glean valuable lessons.
- Zeal for God’s Commands. Jehu’s initial zeal for executing God’s judgment upon the house of Ahab serves as a commendable example of fervent obedience. His response was based upon God’s written and prophetic word—both the Law and the prophet Elisha. We can learn from Jehu’s dedication to carrying out God’s will without hesitation or compromise. God’s prophetic personal calls to us will align with the Scripture; with this confidence, we can stand with love against evil.
- Courage in the Face of Opposition. Despite facing his king and a family known for murder and oppression, Jehu remained committed to God’s purposes. His courage in confronting idolatry and unrighteousness encourages us to stand firm in our faith, even amid adversity. The powers of this world resist God and those who follow him. We must rely upon God’s Word and the strength of his Spirit to speak the truth in love.
- Awareness of Spiritual Compromise. Jehu’s downfall is a sobering reminder of the dangers of spiritual compromise and half-hearted devotion. His failure to fully eradicate the idolatry that Jeroboam initiated illustrates sin’s insidious nature and the importance of wholeheartedly obeying God’s commands. This reminds us how we can be tempted to compromise along the way. We must be humble and not take the convenient way for our temporary benefit.
- Leadership with Integrity. Jehu’s example highlights the significance of leadership characterized by integrity, justice, and righteousness. While he initially appears as a righteous avenger, Jehu’s later actions reveal a willingness to pursue power at any cost, compromising his commitment to God’s commands. We face the same temptations. While being used by God, we must prioritize integrity as we serve God and others ensuring we don’t compromise along the way and fall into the same sins as those who came before us.
- The Consequences of Compromise. Jehu’s story also shows the long-term consequences of compromise and disobedience. His failure to fully obey God’s commands leads to a legacy of instability: Israel spiritually declines and Jehu’s royal line ends prematurely. This reminds us to remain faithful to God’s word and avoid the allure of worldly compromise (Galatians 6:7). God calls us to repentance to avoid the destruction from living by any idolatry.
- Seeking God’s Guidance. Jehu demonstrates the importance of seeking God’s guidance and direction in all matters. While God sanctioned Jehu’s initial actions, his subsequent deviations highlight the dangers of relying on human wisdom rather than divine counsel. He could have developed more relationships with Elisha or other prophets, seeking God’s heart, but he didn’t. Today, we remember that we must seek a continual relationship with God, asking his wisdom and counsel in every aspect of our lives (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Jehu’s story is full of violence and death. Yet, we should remember the history of idolatry, oppression, and murder leading up to these consequences, both for Ahab’s family and Jehu himself. We aren’t beyond the same temptations, in our individual lives or when God calls us to stand for him in other areas. Our only hope for faithfulness resides in Christ. He gives the wisdom and strength to walk in truth and have a powerful future where all things work out for good.
Photo Credit:©GettyImages/B-C-Designs
This article is part of our People of Christianity catalog that features the stories, meaning, and significance of well-known people from the Bible and history. Here are some of the most popular articles for knowing important figures in Christianity:
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