“But Jehosheba…sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being murdered; and they hid him and his nurse in the bedroom, from Athaliah, so that he was not killed.” ~ II Kings 11:2
REFERENCE:
It was a chaotic time in Israel; judgment came because of the sins of Ahab’s house. God used Jehu to execute His judgment on Ahab’s sons. Having killed them, including Ahaziah, Athaliah’s son, she vowed to kill every son in the royal line so she could reign unchallenged. Joash was the only prince that escaped because his aunt, Jehosheba, took him away. He was hidden in a bedroom.
You might call that luck, but it is providence; it is the display of God’s omnipotence and His power to do everything in a man’s life to ensure that He lives to see all God plans to do in his life. Joash was destined for the throne; for that reason, the sword of Jehu missed him, and the wrath of Athaliah could not touch him. God raised a woman to keep him in seclusion for six years before he was ready to sit on the throne, while Athaliah sat on the throne … illegally.
The wisdom of God is evident in the names of these two critical players: Joash means given by the Lord. Hence, Joash came on a mission: to reign, bless lives, lead Israel to God, etc. On the other hand, Jehosheba means, ‘Jehovah has sworn.’ Her name suggests that God will keep His promise. When God gives a man as a gift to his world, with a call to reign and to inject new blood into any system, he needs a Jehosheba, the assurance of God that He will keep his word.
The assurance that God would keep the covenant with Joash prepared a place for him in the bedroom of the temple. For God to keep His word with a man, He will protect him from His enemies’ hate, and those who seek to stop him will fail. He will be hidden in the bedroom in the temple, ‘interacting with God’s word.’ He will go through seasons of obscurity; however, God is raising a king in that bedroom. You may feel hidden now; God is growing you to be a king.
Have you wondered why so much is happening around you, but God has kept you? It is for future glory; it is because you are not yet ready; there are dimensions to you that the world will soon see. There is a crown you must wear, and God will raise a Jehosheba to hide you so that the arrows of satan will not hit you. Let the mountains shake, let the oceans rage; what God has said concerning you will come to pass. This May, God will hide you in His bedroom (secret place) until the time of your showing comes shortly, in Jesus’ name.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXTS:
Psalm 31:19-22, Colossians 3:2-4, and Luke 1:80
PRAYERS:
+ Lord, hide me from all the arrows of the enemy designed to sabotage my destiny.
+ In May, let me enter my season of ‘showing.’ Announce me, Lord.
+ I call forth my Jehosheba, who will risk their safety to ensure I fulfill my purpose.
