In 2 Kgs. 9:1, we read that Elisha has one of the sons of the prophets head for Ramoth-gilead to anoint Jehu, son of Jehoshaphat, as king over Israel. The problem here was that there was still a king in Israel, namely, Joram. But after Jehu was doused with oil, he heard this word from one of the sons of the prophets: "I anoint you king over the people of YHWH, over Israel. And you shall strike down the house of Ahab your master, so that I may avenge on Jezebel the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of YHWH" (2 Kgs. 9:6-7). And so it all comes to pass (2 Kgs. 9:24-26, 30-37; 10:6-17). Go ahead and read the sobering, gruesome description of this whole affair. Nothing of the word of YHWH fell to the ground, a word he had spoken concerning the house of Ahab, for YHWH did what he said he'd do by his servant Elijah (2 Kgs. 10:10). And lest we suppose that Jehu acted out of step with God's will in this regard, we have this text: 2 Kgs. 10:30.
Now something sounds all wrong about this to our ears. Jehu is anointed to strike down the house of Ahab his master, and Jezebel and apparently all connected with her were massacred. Yet this was YHWH's vengeance, avenging on Jezebel the blood of YHWH's servants the prophets, and the blood of all YHWH's servants. Indeed God's ways are not our ways, but there they are, his ways in plain view in Scripture. Look at them head on, embrace them in faith, and bow low to worship the Lord who governs all things justly.
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