(REFLECTIONS ON 2 Kings 10:1-17)

In today’s Scripture, we see Jehu, captain of Israel’s army and then king of Israel after conspiring against the house of Ahab, fulfill the words of the Lord in destroying the descendants of Ahab (Israel) and Ahaziah (Judah) because the two houses had become intertwined through marriage.

We then see an interesting figure appear seemingly out of nowhere. This seems to happen frequently in biblical text doesn’t it? People appear for no apparent reason, but in fact these are the very people that we should be paying attention to.

15 Now when he (Jehu) had departed from there, he met Jehonadab the son of Recab coming to meet him; and he greeted him and said to him, “Is your heart right, as my heart is with your heart?” and Jehonadab answered, “It is.” Jehu said, “If it is, give me your hand.” And he gave him his hand, and he took him up to him into the chariot. 16 He said, “Come with me and see my zeal for the Lord.” So he made him ride in his chariot.

Jehonadab the son of Recab was a descendant of the Kenites. The Kenites were associated with Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law. The Kenites were Midionites, Gentiles, and not related by blood to the Israelites. However, through Moses’ father-in-law, they were brought into a relationship with Israel and with God, and were part of the promises of God.

The Rechabites, descendants of Jehonadab, appear some 250 years later in the Book of Jeremiah as faithfully obeying the commands of Jehonadab (referred to as Jonadab in Jeremiah 35). They were a faithful people to the Lord, despite not being Israelites, they were part of God’s promise, His protection, and His covenant.

Faithful is a word we can use to describe Jehonadab the son of Rechab. When Jehu asked him, “Is your heart right, as my heart is with your heart,” Jehu wanted to know if Jehonadab approved and supported his zeal for the Lord. That is why when Jehonadab said, “it is,” Jehu shared with him his hand of friendship and wanted to show him the zeal he had for the Lord.

Jehonadab’s faithfulness survived over time, even to his descendants. But how long would Jehu’s faithfulness to the Lord last? Yes, he wanted to show his zeal for the Lord, but would his zeal last the test of time?

Today’s Scripture, and the appearance of Jehonadab the son of Rechab reminds us of Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, and also reminds us of a faithfulness that is not just one generation, one moment in time, but a zeal that lasts. It is a reminder that the true test of our faith, is not our zeal today, but if we remain faithful tomorrow.

Let us remain faithful, even when the zeal is lost in those around us. Let us remain faithful, live faithfulness, and teach faithfulness in this generation and for the next.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: 2 Kings 10