Jehu Stopped Short

Jehu Stopped Short

II Kings 10:29-31 NKJV

[29] However Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin, that is, from the golden calves that were at Bethel and Dan. [30] And the Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in doing what is right in My sight, and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” [31] But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart; for he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin. 

God has standards. Whatever you do in life must meet God's starndard. Jehu stopped short. He only exchanged Baal for the golden calves at Bethel and Dan. The golden calves were two idols that King Jeroboam of Israel had created as a way to get the people to worship in the northern and southern parts of his kingdom without having to travel to Jerusalem. 

   Jeroboam's actions were a great sin because they went against God's command to worship only Him and not to bow down to idols. Jeroboam's actions also changed God's system of worship into a man-made system. The actions led to the downfall of his house and the destruction of Israel. Jeroboam is repeatedly called out in the Bible for "making Israel sin". Other kings of Israel, such as Baasha, Zimri, Omri, Ahab, and Ahaziah, are said to have "walked in the way of Jeroboam". And Jehu added to the list.

   Surprisingly, God was still merciful to Jehu because he obeyed God at the beginning of his reign. So God allowed him to have four generations on the throne. The mercies of God. So Jehu did no live up to God's Standard.

    God's standard is holy perfection, and it's different from human standards. Jesus summarized God's high standards in two simple commands in Matt. 22:35-40: "Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind and love your neighbour as yourself". We need the help of Jesus to live up to this expectation. That's what happens when we surrender our lives to Christ. Jehu stopped short. Will you live yours right? Good morning.