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Standing Up for Our Brethren
by David Maxson
Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family. But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away... Thus they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not put to death. (2 Kings 11:1-2)
It was killing time in Israel. Jehu had just finished a rampage killing Jezebel, Joram (king of Israel), Ahaziah (king of Judah), and all that was left of the house of Ahab (including all the prophets of Baal). The queen mother in Judah, Athaliah, saw the kingdom potentially slipping from her fingers with the death of her son, and so she proceeded to kill off all the heirs.
But then a woman of great faith stepped in and saved the Davidic line from extinction. Jehosheba stole away Joash, the last remaining heir of David, saving him from the daughter of Jezebel. She did this knowing that if Athaliah caught her she would be put to death.
When someone is the victim of vicious and malicious attacks, what do you do? Do you stand up and try to defend the innocent or do you become cautiously passive and silent? Do you fear getting caught in the cross fire?
We cannot allow the blood thirsty, power hungry attackers to do all this without a fight. We cannot sit idly by while good reputations are being destroyed. We must be willing to make a stand.
There's another way to look at this story. Joash was the last physical heir of David. The promises of God rested on his life. Therefore, when Jehosheba saved Joash, there is a sense in which she saved Jesus.
In the same way, when we identify with those who are in prison (literally or figuratively), when we come to the aid of those who are victims of gossip and slanderous accusations, we are aiding Jesus as well (Matt 25:39-40).
Lord, give us the courage to stand up for our brethren who are being unjustly condemned by the world.
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