2nd Chronicles 28 TOTAL DISASTER How quickly prosperity can turn into disaster! Sixteen years of prosperity under Jotham soon changed to sixteen years of rapid decline under Ahaz until there was hardly anything of God to be seen publicly among the children of Judah. Rampant idolatry, the smell of incense burnt to idols, the smell of children being burned, war in the north and south, humiliation, the house of the Lord closed down and idols on every corner of the capital city left the whole nation in essence - a ruin. Whatever happened? How did it happen so quickly? "Dearth in the land. Is there not a cause?"
It is hard to explain or even know why a godly father can be followed by a very wicked son who are even living at the same time. Many believers have children who are raised in the same home, taught the same things, gone to the same assembly meetings, attended the same school experienced the same family dynamics, and yet one turns out righteous and the other really evil. Parents often feel guilty thinking they have failed in some way in their parenting - and that may be true in some cases. But ultimately each individual makes moral and spiritual choices that have an effect on their whole life.
The two leaders, Jotham and Ahaz were totally different men even though they were father and son. The reign of each over the nation, each for sixteen years, was completely different. For some reason the character of Ahaz seemed to that of unrestrained wickedness. The righteousness and success of his father, and his consciousness of his need of God had no effect on Ahaz. His wickedness seemed to have no bounds. He thought wrong, he did wrong, he was given to idolatry, he deliberately forsook the Lord. Even as his life unfolded and his reign progressed, he increased in evil intentions and actions. As a father, as a king - as a person there was nothing good to be found in the man. It seems like he was actually committed to do evil.
When there is no consciousness of God, there are no limits to how far a person will go in the pursuit of pleasure and sin. Ahaz never showed any respect for God nor gratitude toward God. He ignored the warnings of the prophets. In his apostasy he "made molten images for Baalim" almost like a challenge to what he had been taught. The sacrifices in high places, the burning of incense to false gods were one serious evil. Then he went even farther to sacrificing his own children by burning them in fire to the gods of the Canaanites and others who the Lord God had wanted His people to eliminate. When he closed down the temple and the worship of God, he promoted idolatry and total disobedience to God even though the nation was falling apart.
A willfully disobedient man can wreak havoc on God's people and create problems from which there is no way back to normalcy. The messages of those who care for the people and have been called by God to preach His word need to be listened to and heed given to teaching and counsel they give when it is scriptural and appropriate to the need. One out-of-control man of influence, can negatively affect all of God's people when he has a personal agenda he is trying to promote.
Ahaz became ruler over a prosperous nation and in a short time spoiled it completely. War came from the north and the south. In both case they were defeated and there was a great slaughter of people, chaos followed. Failure marked his reign and military defeat ended with thousands of women and children taken into captivity. The prophets Isaiah and Oded made it plain to the leaders and the people why disaster had come upon them. There was a fierce rage that reached up to heaven and the fierce wrath of God came down upon them as an offended God judged them in view of correcting them and making them want to turn back to obedience to Him.
In this chapter there is a very remarkable message of mercy that came to the northern tribes what had captured so many people from Judah. In an act of grace and mercy, God intervened in the plans of the men of Israel even as He was judging the actions of the idolaters. How wonderful it was of God to not only bring judgment on the evil doers but to reverse the consequences of judgment on the captive women and children. Mercy in times of judgment always stands out in a remarkable way. The response of those Israelites to the message of the prophet Oded, and the need of the captives was a positive respond by showing grace. This is an example of "Christian grace" in which we seek to bring blessing to those in distress.
In spite of that, Ahaz appealed to the king of Assyria for help instead of calling upon the Lord for help. The Lord humbled the whole nation because of the defiance of Ahaz. He continued in his wickedness and as he went down, he took others with him. The whole nation suffered as a result of his arrogant stand against God. Spiritual collapse and troubles go together. Defiance against right and looking for help in the wrong places go together. How it must grieve and provoke our righteous God when we further our own willful ways and ignore the tried and proven truth of God and the good results that follow. We cannot but pray earnestly for wisdom, grace, mercy and faith for those who lead God's people. "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived."