Courage – The Courage to Protect (365/279)
Sometimes courage means quietly protecting someone who cannot defend themselves.
“But Jehosheba the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being murdered; and they hid him ...” (2 Kings 11:2)
The Bible in 2 Kings 11 recounts the reign of evil Athaliah. When Jehu killed her son Ahaziah, Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, seized Judah’s throne and ordered the massacre of the royal family to secure her rule. Amid the slaughter, Jehosheba, Ahaziah’s sister, rescued his infant son Joash and hid him and his nurse in the temple for six years. Along with her husband, Jehoiada the priest, she kept the child safe, risking her own life. Though unaware of its significance, her courageous act preserved David’s royal line, through which Jesus, the promised Messiah, would come.
Jehosheba’s courage reflects the protective love of Jesus, our Saviour, who welcomed children, defended the vulnerable and willingly laid down His life for us (Mark 10:14; John 10:11). In Him, we see the perfect example of sacrificial love and find the assurance of His care.
Pause and Ponder
Is there someone vulnerable in your life who needs you to speak up or stand up for them?
What has God entrusted to your care that requires greater vigilance, commitment or courage?
Are you willing to remain faithful in a hidden responsibility, even when no one recognises what you are doing?
May we too, like Jehosheba, faithfully protect and nurture what God has entrusted to us, knowing that He sees every act of faithfulness.
Lord, give me a heart for the vulnerable and courage to protect what You have entrusted to me. Help me remain faithful, even in unseen responsibilities. Amen.
Extended Reading: 2 Kings 11
Comments