Who Is Jehu in the Bible?
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Scripture has a lot to say about leadership and the responsibility of leaders to God’s people. Most of the kings of Israel and Judah were disobedient to God and led His people astray by worshipping false gods and idols and setting up high places in Bethel. God is sovereign and in control, all of the time. He is good, all of the time. The waywardness of the world and consequences for disobedience lie under His just and merciful hand. Not all of the kings of Israel and Judah were fully corrupt. Jehu was one such king, who was obedient to God in dismantling the wicked King Ahab, whose evil queen Jezebel was known for leading him astray to worship Baal.
Who Was Jehu?
“The LORD said to him, ‘Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu.” 1 Kings 19:15-17
God gave Elijah specific instructions in order to dismantle the evil reign of King Ahab. Jehu was a captain in Israel’s army, who God anointed as king over Israel. He reigned for twenty-eight years and was rewarded for his obedience to God. Though many of the kings of Israel and Judah were wicked and led God’s people astray, King Jehu was used by God to draw His people back to God. Occasionally, a king would remove all other idols, gods, and altars and revert the people’s attentions back to the One True God. “King Jehu was the 10th king of the northern Kingdom of Israel and anointed by God to enact judgment against the house of Ahab for its wickedness,” Joel Ryan explains.
What Was Jehu Known For?
“So Jehu destroyed Baal worship in Israel.” 2 Kings 10:28
King Jehu overthrew the wicked kings Ahaziah of Judah and Ahab of Israel. (2 Kings 9:14-29) Tasked by the prophet Elijah, Jehu joined his predecessor Elisha and began to overthrow the wicked idolatry and worship of Baal. Jehu is known for dismantling the evil King Ahab and his dynasty. The wicked wife of King Ahab was thrown over a balcony at Jehu’s order. “When they went out to bury her, they found nothing except her skull, her feet and her hands,” 2 Kings 9:35 records. A brutal death, to fulfill Elijah’s prophecy.
“Amon’s officials conspired against him and assassinated the king in his palace. Then the people of the land plotted against King Amon, and they made Josiah his son king in his place.” - 1 Kings 21:23-24
2 Kings 10:1-17 records the fall of Ahab, his sons, allies, and family. Jehu even made sure the prophets of Baal were destroyed. Unfortunately, Jehu did not unravel the high places at Bethel. His son Jehoahaz succeeded him as king. “Jehu rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria,” 2 Kings records, “And Jehoahaz his son succeeded him as king.” (2 Kings 10:35)
What Can We Learn from Jehu?
“Jehu struck down all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezebel, all his great men and his close friends and his priests, until he left him none remaining.” 2 Kings 10:11
Obedience matters to God, and blessing often follows it. Jehu, though He didn’t follow God’s commands fully, was obedient in dismantling Ahab’s dynasty. Because of his obedience, God blessed four generations of his family. “In 2 Kings 10:12-14, we read that he put to death the relatives of King Ahaziah of Judah who were on their way to visit the king at Jezreel,” Ligonier Ministries explains, “Ahaziah, of course, had met a deserved end at the hands of Jehu for his own idolatry and friendship with Israel (8:25-29; 9:27-28). But the Lord never told Jehu to destroy the family and friends of Judah’s king.”
Jehu obeyed some of God’s commands but allowed his prideful agenda, and his wayward heart, keep him from fulfilling them completely. Obedience is still important to God, and blessing still follows our obedient steps. Obedience is a reflection of our trust in God’s promises and our belief in who God is. Our purpose in this life is to bring glory to God, and we are all made with talents and gifts which allow us to carry out God’s call on our lives in unique ways.
Jehu reminds us of the consequence of disobedience in this life. God is a good Father, and though He loves to bless us for our obedience because He is a good Father He allows us to receive the consequences of disobedience. Unfortunately, we often learn the most from our mistakes, especially the mistakes which afford us painful consequences. God never turns His back on us, and always waits with open arms for us to turn to Him and away from our wayward disobedience.
Scripture warns us to guard our hearts. If Jehu, who was tasked by God to take out the god of Baal and all of the worship surrounding it, himself eventually succumbed to it …how much more so do we need to guard our hearts against the evil in the world which seeks to distract us from obeying God’s call on our lives? We are to put on the armor of God daily, Scripture says! Paul wrote to the Ephesians:
“Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:10-12
Many God-seeking, Christ-centered leaders have fallen astray and suffered the consequences for it. Jehu reminds us to be aware of the gradual distraction which seeks to completely take us out. “Obedience to God’s commands is the true sign of your love of God,” Bible Study Tools reminds, “and the only way you can know if you are obeying God is by knowing his Word.” Jesus told us,
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)
What Does the Bible say about Obedience?
1. “But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it- not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it- they will be blessed in what they do.” James 1:25
2. “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.” Hebrews 13:17
3. “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love.” John 15:9
4. “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’" Exodus 19:5-6a
5. “Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him.” Psalm 128:1
6. “Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you.” Jeremiah 7:23
7. “For just as through the disobedience of one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of one many the many will be made righteous.” Romans 5:19
8. “And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” 2 John 1:6
9. “Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.” 2 Corinthians 9:13
The Bible is full, not of irrelevant stories of the violent overthrow of wicked kings, but of people God worked through to unravel His divine purposes on this earth. We are all a part of it! Each of us has been created with a specific purpose. We can glean from the life of Jehu because we know God’s Word is alive and active, relevant and applicable to our daily lives, and current generations. Reading God’s Word prayerfully and consistently will help us to follow His call on our lives obediently.
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