We come now to one of the most tragic events recorded in the biblical history. It is the destruction and exile of the northern kingdom of Israel. Israel consisted of ten tribes and after this event only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin would survive as the last remaining remnant of the covenant people of Abraham and Moses (they became known as ‘Judah’ or ‘Jews’). This chapter provides the explanation for why this happened. The explanation was poignant when it was written because the books of Kings were written after Judah also went to exile. So, the question that was on the minds of the original audience of this account was: “How did this happen? How is it that we find ourselves cast away like this?” The answer to the Jews is given in this explanation for the fall of the northern tribes. It was the same cause. Israel did not listen to God. God does not cast us off when we sin, rather, he seeks to restore us. However, if we do not respond to his call to restoration, if we persistently turn away from his appeals, then he will let us taste the consequences of our choice. There will be times in your life when you will find yourself feeling alienated from God. You may seek for a while and still feel that God’s face is turned away from you. If you feel this way, ask yourself this question: “What was the last thing God said to me? What was he trying to address in my life that I was unwilling to yield to Him?”
Ask God to show you what he wants to address in your life.
Read 2 Kings 17
