In this story we see the continuing destructive legacy of the bad marriage of Ahab to Jezebel. Athaliah, Jezebel’s daughter, exercised a controlling influence over both her husband Joram and her son Ahaziah. When Ahaziah was killed, Athaliah killed off all his potential successors to ensure she could hold on to power. And so, it came to this, the lowest point in the history of the southern kingdom of Judah up to this point. Judah was being ruled by the pagan daughter of Jezebel. Ahab’s marriage to Jezebel would have been a political marriage used to secure a good alliance with the Phoenicians, upon whom Israel had been dependent for trade income since the time of Solomon. Solomon’s ambition for greatness was expensive, and, to feed the political machine he built, he needed a big income which the Phoenicians helped him to secure. But when Solomon built his kingdom on this alliance, he was creating a relationship of dependence that would come back to bite his people. This is what we see with Jezebel and her daughter. Yet again we are reminded to think about the legacy we will leave to posterity. The things that you become dependent upon will inevitably become strongholds down through your family line. It may be that you have inherited some destructive values or tendencies. You can choose, however, to cut off these patterns. Make that choice today.
Recognise and confess to God any negative family patterns you see yourself repeating. Ask God to set you free from these.
Read 2 Chronicles 22
