Seventh-Day Adventist Devotional For Children: “A Miserable End”

*DAILY BREAD – A DEVOTIONAL FOR CHILDREN*

Eastern Nigeria Union Conference Children’s Ministries

*THEME: I WILL GO*

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Topic: A miserable end

_Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between his shoulders. The arrow went through Joram’s heart. And he fell down in his chariot. 2 Kings 9:24_

Have you ever thought that anything evil you did would go unpunished? Certainly, some of you must have thought that you escaped the punishment meant for you for whatever evil you committed but guess what? The Lord is not ignorant of any evil that you commit. Do you remember how King Ahab of Israel conspired with his wife, Jezebel to kill Naboth, the Jezreelite, who had a beautiful vineyard? I’m sure we all do. Ahab and his wife thought they were free from the consequences of the grave sin they had committed by killing Naboth and taking his family inheritance. Well, they did escape in their own eyes but God had other plans.
Jehoram, the king of Judah followed the ways of the kings of Israel. This was just as the family of Ahab had done. It was because Ahab’s daughter was Jehoram’s wife. Jehoram did what the Lord said was wrong and did other terrible things such as worshipping idols. But the Lord would not destroy Judah because of his servant David. Jehoram died and was buried with his ancestors in Jerusalem. Jehoram’s son Ahaziah ruled in his place. At this time, Joram, the son of Ahab was king in Israel. So, God remembered what Ahab and his household had done and decided to take revenge.
After the battle (in which Joram was terribly wounded) with Hazael, king of Syria, Ahaziah, the son of Jehoram, who had become the king of Judah came to visit him. During this period, the Lord had chosen another king for the Israelites, Jehu the son of Nimshi and he was anointed and made king. Then the Lord told him through the prophet to rise against the house of Ahab and kill every last one of his household and Jehu listened to the voice of God and rose to go to Ramoth Gilead. And so it was that when Joram heard that Jehu was afar off, he sent out messengers to ask if his visit was for peace but he got no response. Then he rose with Ahaziah and went out to meet Jehu. As they met, Jehu said in vs 22 “what peace can exist, as long as the harlots and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel are so many?” but as Joram turned to escape, he was shot with a bow and arrow by Jehu and he bled to death in his chariot. Jehu directed that Joram’s body be picked up and thrown in the field of Naboth the Jezreelite whose vineyard was forcefully taken by Ahab and Jezebel.
My dear children, you can see that whatever evil we do will live after us even when we die. Exodus 20:5 states that God will visit the iniquities of those who hate him on their future generations. May that never be your portion.

*Song*
A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our helper he amidst the flood,
On mortal ill prevailing;
Twas still our ancient foe,
Dost seem to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And harms with cruel hate,
On earth is not His equal.

*Prayer*
Dear Jesus, help me to always be careful of the things I do, so as not to bring your anger upon my family in Jesus name, Amen.