READING THE BOOK OF SECOND KINGS CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.
What would have been the future of Israel if they would have listen to the word of God and follow His commandments? It is possible that we are leading our lives to the same destruction and pain by our refusal to abandon our sinful practices. .
Our favorite verse in 2 Kings Chapter 17 is:
until the Lord removed them from his presence, as he had warned through all his servants the prophets. So the people of Israel were taken from their homeland into exile in Assyria, and they are still there. ( 2 Kings 17:23 NIV)
Lesson
Learn from the saddening end of the people of Israel (North)
- Historical context: Shalmaneser V, king of Assyria, Besieged Samaria for three years and on the year 722 a.c. the city fall and King Hoshea ws taken prisoner. According to the records 27,290 were deported to the region of the Jabur river, which becomes part of the Euphrates about 210 km west of Nineveh, which was part of Mesopotamia and Media. Never again that part of the people of God returned to the promised land.
- What a difference in leadership between Hosea, also named Joshua, who said: “I and my house will serve the Lord”, and Hosea, king of Israel who lead the people of Israel away from God and into sin.
- Read again verses 7 to 17 and write down all the sins committed by Israel. These acts separated Israel from God and lead to their destruction, pray To God to be cleansed from all our sins and to work in our lives every day.
Prayer.
Dear loving father, thank you for your love and mercy and for allowing us to live under your saving grace. Please transform our lives that we may not fall into the sinful destruction of northern Israel. Allow us to be more sensitive to your warnings and obey. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
By Dr. Franz Rios, Translated and adapted by Pablo J. Rios.
