Idolatry to Exile

The mini-series concludes with Israel led into exile from Samaria to Assyria. Why does God allow the exile? Maybe God cannot control His wrath. Maybe God’s patience with Israel runs out. Or maybe we witness the wrath of God as the deepest act of love Yahweh pours out to His people Israel. As Israel runs into deeper darkness of idol worship, the exile rescues them from complete destruction.

In preparing for this passage, I compiled two pages of notes over a few hours with bullet points to nicely outline both chapters. And most of my notes capture the details, but misses the point of why God includes this part of the story of Israel in 2 Kings. Why does it matter? I threw out the notes to make a hard pivot today. I encourage you to read on your own to see the details. I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to fit the pieces together that do not make sense to you. He is faithful to give clarity every time we read the Word.

The story of Israel ebbs and flows between full allegiance to God, divided worship, and complete rebellion from God. We are in the part of the story where idolatry is beyond rampant. Israel throws up a praise to God and then runs up to the high places to burn incense to idols they have created. Israel is described as people that “fear the Lord but also fear other gods” and “would not listen” to the warnings from God not to fear other gods. The covenant God makes with Israel back in the days of Jacob is reiterated in 2 Kings 17:35-40. Israel is to fear Yahweh and no other gods, but Israel continues to entertain and change their lives so that everything revolves around their idols. Allow me to list examples of how this looks in 2023: girl’s night of gossip instead of gospel community, ranking my sleep higher than time with God, budget for vacations and then think about what’s left to give to missions, working extra hours for that promotion causes me to miss church and Saturday morning outreach.

God sends Assyria to capture Israel to rescue Israel from themselves. My initial reaction to what happens to Israel is whoa, yikes, and God is really mad. How is God unloving to the people He made a covenant with? I believe the “why” God pours out His wrath that sends Israel into exile is rooted in love. As believers on this side of the cross, I say this because of Ephesians 2:1-10. Paul says, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses made us alive together with Christ.” God acts with eternity in mind. Our sight is limited. This is where faith comes in for Israel and us too. The idols we stack up are temporary. But the Holy One of Israel, Yahweh, God… He is eternal. He is steadfast. And sometimes the best way God can love us is rescuing us to exile. Uproot us from the comforts of idol worship. Change our scenery for better perspective. This is a merciful act of God.

Decades after decades we watch kings change in Judah and Israel that saturate the cities with places of idol worship. The culture feeds off more and more from the focus of idolatry that the temple of God is dismantled. Things escalate and it’s time for a reset. If God did not love Israel, He would have let them keep spiraling until they turned into every nation around them. Nations ruled by idols created by their hands and powerless to save them. But God. He is different. The greatness of His power is for Israel, and us too. This is good news today.

Q: Who or what am I turning to? Where do I give most of my attention and devotion? Ask God to examine your heart to confess whether those things draw you close to God or distract you from God.

Additional Reading: 2 Chronicles 27-28