2 Kings 13

The brief stories of the son and grandson of Jehu are included here for our benefit. These men were not inspiring rulers over Israel. They “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.”

What is inspiring is that even though the kings and the entire nation made God angry, He listened to them when they cried out to Him. He continued to show loving-kindness to Israel even after years of their covenant unfaithfulness.

God used the Syrians against Israel as His agent of justice, just as He had spoken so many years before to Elijah and Elisha. But He provided a deliverer for them when they prayed to Him for aid. The Lord saw the oppression of Israel, and He cared for them.

During the reign of Jehoash, Elisha drew near to death. It is striking to see the sadness of the wicked king of Israel as a result of Elisha's mortal illness. Jehoash referred tenderly to Elisha as his “father,” and wept for him. God was using His prophet to bless Israel in their struggle with Syria even during these generations when they would not turn away from idolatry.

The line of Jehu, and the entire northern kingdom of Samaria, would soon be lost, but the Lord was still giving shocking testimony among them regarding the prophet Elisha. Accidental contact with the grave of Elisha brought a dead man to life! What would be the point of such an astounding miracle if the Lord had no more plans of blessing for the northern tribes? The prophet was the voice of God in his generation. The Lord was showing that His Word from heaven was a powerful agent of resurrection, even during an era when it might have seemed that all hope of blessing in Israel was lost.

God would come in person and provide His own faithfulness, not only for the remnant of Jacob, but for all who would call upon His Name. The Lord would not be satisfied with anything less than resurrection life among all His beloved people. Though the kings that reigned in Samaria were wicked, the compassion and holiness of the Lord, expressed so perfectly in Jesus Christ, will never fail.