Journey Of The Seed - Catch The Bible's Big Picture In 60 DaysSample

INTERMISSION

[Scheduled Reading: 2 Kings 18-25]

The erratic see-sawing of good kings and bad kings continues for Judah.

After Azzariah and Jotham (both good kings), the next king, Ahaz (#45), sinks Judah into deeper darkness. Among his notables is sacrificing his sons in the fire to the idol Molech! 

Shockingly, somehow Ahaz’s son, Hezekiah (#46), grows up to be a great God-fearing king. (Think about it, Hezekiah’s very own brothers are sacrificed by their father Ahaz!)

Hezekiah seeks to undo the sins of Ahaz and labors dutifully to restore worship reforms for Judah.  

As the see-saw motion goes, Hezekiah is succeeded by King Manasseh (#47) who also burns his son as an offering. 

It’s amazing that these children-sacrificing kings do not extinguish The Seed along the way! (Of course, God would prevent that, wouldn’t He?)

After another evil king, Amon (#48), Judah claims another legendary God-fearing king, Josiah (#49). 

Josiah discovered the Books of the Law and once again restores the worship customs, feasts and sacrifices for Judah.

Let’s go back to King Hezekiah for a moment. There’s a significant prophecy given to him. 

The prophet Isaiah tells Hezekiah that a day is coming when all the kingdom treasures, and even the kings sons, will be carried off to Babylon. (2 Kings 20:16-19) 

Yes, Babylon!

If God wants to expose the people for their sins and humble them to their knees, I think exile to Babylon might do it. 

Remember, God led Abraham away from Ur (nearby Babylon) and toward an open spacious land so that the Seed Family could grow and thrive. Going back to Babylon is nearly fifteen hundred (1,500) years backwards!

Sure enough, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invades Jerusalem and captures King Jehoiakim (#50). 

Later Nebuchadnezzar invades again and this time carries off Jehoiakim’s son, King Jeconiah (#51), the royal family, all the royal treasures and the remainder of the inhabitants of Jerusalem (leaving behind only the poorest of the land). 

Roughly ten years later (587 BC), Babylon returns and Jerusalem is finally, fully desolated and officially in exile.

There’s supposed to be a special SEED, a baby boy, born in nearby Bethlehem in about 590 years. But The Seed is stuck in Babylon!

If we were watching this Bible reading journey as a play, now might be a good time for intermission. How about a popcorn break? 

Talk about it

Does it surprise you to see how God allows the Israelite nation to crumble and fall into complete disarray and captivity? 

Why or why not?