Leadership & God Part 6

 

    Jehoahaz was replaced by a man that Neco chose by the name of Eliakim.  Neco wanted to show his complete control by changing Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim.  Jehoiakim was another son of Josiah.  He led his people in fear of Pharaoh Neco.  No leader can truly lead when they are being controlled by another.  I am not saying that he was not in an impossible situation, but God thrives in impossible situations.  Jehoiakim paid a high ransom to Neco.  He had to tax the people a high tax to pay this ransom.  Him leading in fear hurt his people.  

    King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded Jerusalem taking Jehoiakim.  That is two of Josiah's children taken prisoner, but Jeoiakim lived for three years.  When he finally had lived in fear long enough he tried to rebel.  That is when he was killed at the age of 36.  

    God's promise that the people would pay for their sins was now coming to pass.  God sent the Babylonians, Arameans, Moabites, and Ammonites to destroy Judah and all remanence of the evil that King Manasseh's enacted during his reign.  

    Jehoiakim's son, Jehoiachin, became king during the most turbulent time of the Israel's history.  With the fate of his father and uncle.  If I were him, then I would not be very anxious to be king.  King Nebuchadnezzar had already defeated Pharaoh Neco, so he was no longer in the picture, but that was not exactly a pretty picture.  One scary dictator was replaced by a scarier one.  

    Jehoiachin was only 18 years old.  That means he had been alive when his grandfather was king.  He had seen the good and the full brunt of the bad.  He only survived three months doing evil as the official king.  

    King Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin prisoner too and was done with the rebellious nation.  Jehoiachin was king for eight years in excile.  He was the king that lost all of the nation's treasure and money.  The entire nation, but the poorest people, were exciled under the leadership of Jehoiachin.  

    King Nebuchadnezzar appointed Jehoiachin's uncle, Mattaniah, as Judah's king once the nation was in excile.  King Nebuchadnezzar changed Mattaniah's name to Zedekiah.  Zedekiah was 21 and he reigned 11 years not turning to God.  Lets be honest his reign was just a title.  King Nebuchadnezzar was the one in control.  Because he did not turn to God, God turned his back on the nation.

2 Kings 24