NOVEMBER 29, 2025 – DEATHS

READ: 1 Kin. 15:25–16:14: … by which they had made Israel sin, in provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger with their idols …

The book of Kings not only records the kings of Judah (as Chronicles does) but also those of Israel. After Jeroboam’s death, his son Nadab reigned. His reign lasted only two years. Nadab showed himself just as sinful as Jeroboam. He was murdered by Baasha, likely a military officer.

Baasha then took power and wiped out all of Jeroboam’s house. Thus was fulfilled what the Lord had announced earlier through Ahijah of Shiloh: Jeroboam and his house must perish because of their sins (1 Kin. 14:10,14).

But Baasha proved just as sinful as Jeroboam. Through Jehu, son of Hanani, God’s word came to Baasha: he and his descendants would suffer the same fate as Jeroboam’s house, because of their sin. Because they had been warned, their destruction would be even more dreadful. It would serve as a warning: dogs would eat them in the city, and birds in the field.

Baasha’s son Elah, who succeeded him, fell victim to a conspiracy by Zimri, one of his commanders. Drunk in his palace, Elah was murdered. Zimri then became king and exterminated Baasha’s entire household, including relatives and friends. This fulfilled the warning spoken by the Lord through Jehu concerning their idolatry.

God is not mocked. He shows His divine attributes in all of this. In His faithfulness and mercy, He loves His people, but He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. He visits the sins of the fathers upon the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation (Ex. 34:7).

These were grave sins against the first and second commandments. The Lord is so clear in His law about this:

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image … you shall not bow down to them or serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God …”

Why do God’s warnings to Jeroboam and Baasha not work?

Sing: Ps. 2:4