2 Chronicles 21

Jehoram takes over as king when Jehoshaphat dies.  Things turn quickly away from God.  The first thing Jehoram does is kill all his brothers.  No reason to take a chance that one of them might make a run for the throne.  This guy is a bad egg.  Scripture tells us: “God considered him an evil man”.  He did not follow in the footsteps of his father and walk with God.  In fact, he turned completely the other way and married “into the Ahab dynasty” which is exactly what God said not to do.  “He brazenly led Jerusalem away from God”.  Oh how fast things change.  There is one statement that stands out to me about how Jehoshaphat raised his kids.  Check out what it says here: “Their father had lavished them with gifts–silver, gold, and other valuables, plus the fortress cities in Judah. But Jehoram was his firstborn son and he gave him the kingdom of Judah”.  Maybe the word spoiled comes to mind here.  These kids were not lacking and did not learn to trust and obey God.  In a matter of days the kingdom moves away from God – they didn’t need Him or anyone for that matter.  Of course God responds.  We have learned that God often waits for us to move before He takes action.  Well that works both ways.  Jehoram takes action to move away, God “is going to afflict your people…with a terrible plague”.  He gives them a terrible disease and the enemies come in and route the kingdom.  A very prominent place is turned upside down.  Jehoram only lasts 8 years on the throne, and the last two he spent “writhing in pain”.  What a lesson guys.  We have to stay tuned into God and we have to make sure our kids learn that as well.  Walking away from God is not a wise decision.  If we don’t train up the next generation correctly, we face similar results.  “No tears shed when he died”.  He was a loser of a king.