The Courage of One

Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 22:10-12

Most Christians understand that the coming of Jesus was promised in the Old Testament. As the story unfolds, the Promise was given broadly – “the Seed of the Woman” in Genesis 3 – and then, over time, became more and more focused – first through Abraham, and then the tribe of Judah, and finally the household of David. The Messiah could not be just any man, born in any family, from any ethnic group. He had to be a Jew from the tribe of Judah and a descendant of David. That is the point of the genealogies of Matthew and Luke.

What if, though, before Christ could be born, the Messianic lineage could be cut off? I’ve known a few people whose family tree died with them. They either had no children or only had girls, so their family name (at least their branch of the family tree) ended when their life ended. So, hypothetically speaking, what if David’s family tree ended before Christ came? It would nullify the promise of God and upend God’s intent to save. Hypothetically, of course.

It almost happened! When Ahaziah died, Athaliah, his mother, in a lust for power decided she would rule the kingdom and had all claims to the throne killed. She destroyed all of the royal family, the descendants of David who were the lineage through whom the Messiah would come. She murdered them all.

Well, except one. Jehoshabeath (have you heard of her?) snatched up young Joash and hid him in her bedroom, later moving him to the Temple where he was hidden by the priests and preserved from death. Joash was the last living link between David and the Promised Messiah. He was saved by the quick-thinking, and courageous actions of a young woman named Jehoshabeath.

I doubt Jehoshabeath was thinking about the Messianic promises. Maybe she was, but the Scriptures don’t say that. I suspect she was acting out of motherly instinct and a love for this young boy. She was doing what was right. She was a model of courage, doing what was right and honorable when she knew it might cost her life. God used her to continue the march toward his fulfilling His promise that “a virgin would conceive,” and that “unto us, a child would be born and a son would be given.”

We never know at the moment what an act of courage will ultimately lead to. It may bear fruit years after we are gone. We may never see the outcome. God may be using our obedient, courageous faith to carry out his plan in ways we didn’t expect or anticipate. Be a Jehoshabeath.