ROOTED - Wednesday, March 18, 2026

2 Kings 10:18-19

18 Then Jehu
assembled all the people and said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little, but
Jehu will serve him much.19 Now therefore
call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers and all his
priests. Let none be missing, for I have a great sacrifice to offer to Baal.
Whoever is missing shall not live.” But Jehu did it with cunning in order to
destroy the worshipers of Baal.

Reflection: Jehu Kills Worshippers
of Baal

Written By: Pastor Jesse Caro

Jehu is now king, having killed all of Ahab’s descendants,
according to the Word of the Lord. Jezebell has also been killed, having been
part of leading Israel down a path of idolatry. In a righteous plot to destroy
all the remnants of Baal worship from the land, Jehu spreads the notion that he
too is a Baal worshipper. “If my predecessors were worshippers of Baal, I am
all the more committed to Baal,” he says. He sends to all Baal worshippers an
invitation to worship Baal, with him, in one big sacrifice service in the
“house of Baal.” The vestments for Baal worship are prepared, the people
gather, and the worship begins. However, outside guards are ready, at Jehu’s
command, to destroy the idolaters once and for all. And so it is that Jehu
destroys the evil worship of Baal (for now) in the land.

Sadly, we read, “But Jehu did not turn aside from the sins of
Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin—that is, the golden
calves that were in Bethel and in Dan” (verse 29). As the saying goes, “one
step forward… two steps back.” Success. Failure. Good decision. Bad decision. Now,
my initial tendency as I read this is to be critical of Jehu. I think, “dude…
why would you not go all the way and remove the ‘golden calves that were in
Bethel and Dan?!’” I think that! Until I remember that I am doing well in one
area of honoring God, while often struggling to honor God in another area. This
is a reflection of the human condition… honoring God successfully in a few
things while failing miserable in others. So, we await the coming of the Lord
when, at last, we will serve God perfectly! Until then, thank God he is patient
with us!

Prayer

Lord, may we more and more be devoted to you, killing off heart
idols that are so destructive over our souls.