2 Kings 14:23-27

"In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and reigned forty and one years. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spoke by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher. For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel. And the LORD said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash."

This passage is the summary of the reign of Jeroboam II over the nation of Israel. We find here that Jonah (yes, the one that was swallowed by a great fish) was a prophet during the reign of this king. We also find that this king was another in a long line of kings in Israel that led them into idolatry. King after king came along and without exception lead Israel away from the God of the universe to worship stone and wood.

God's care for this nation is also here evident, though. Israel was in this awful line of kings because of their refusal to worship God in the first place. But God had big plans for this nation, and so He punished, yet cared for them. So in the middle of this passage we find that God saw the affliction of Israel and that it was very bitter, and that they had no helper. So, it goes on to say, He used Jeroboam II to save them.

Jeroboam II was a stinker, but God used him anyway. And herein is a great lesson concerning God. His plans will never be thwarted. And those for whom He cares are always under His care. Romans tells us that "All things work together for good to those that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose." God had promised Israel that they would have a land of a particular size. This land has yet even today to fall to Israel. Nonetheless, in the days of Jeroboam II, much land was restored to Israel, in keeping with God's promise. The lands that Jeroboam II conquered are recorded in this passage. Likewise, for those that know Him as savior, even the bad events of life bring glory to God, and work to our ultimate good. God showed His faithfulness to Israel in using Jeroboam II to keep them a nation in spite of their idolatry. He will use the events of our life in such a way that one day we will look back, and say, "The LORD, He is God."

HJK