The Faithfulness of God

The God who is faithful even when we are not
Read 2 Kings 13:14-25

“But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them and turned to them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them or cast them from His presence until now.”

The northern tribes of Israel had forsaken God and embraced the worship of Baal, the god of the Canaanites. While the southern tribes of Judah had periods of revival, the northern tribe continued their downward descent. No matter how much God sought to draw them back because of his faithfulness and mercy, they continued to pursue other gods. As a result, God allowed foreign nations to attack them to draw them back to him.  

When Elisha was nearing his death, God sought to discipline Israel one more time so they might repent. Through Elisha, God offered Israel the opportunity to demonstrate his power and protection by delivering them from the Arameans. Jehoash (also called Joash) came and wept in grief after hearing of Elisha's illness. He speaks of Elisha as the “chariots of Israel and its horsemen,” testifying that Elisha’s prophetic words were more powerful than the chariots and horsemen of Israel’s armies. Consequently, if they trust in the prophet's words, they will not need the chariots and horsemen, for the power of God is more significant. But Jehoash’s words are empty, for he continues to reject the counsel of Elisha.  

As he did throughout this prophetic career, Elisha offers to help Jehoash achieve victory through two symbolic acts. First, he is to shoot an arrow out the east window as a symbolic act that God would give them victory over the Arameans. Second, Jehoash is to strike the ground with the arrows. Since Elisha does not tell him how many times, if he genuinely believed the power of the symbolic act, he would have struck the ground until Elisha told him to stop. Instead, he demonstrates his lack of faith in Elisha’s words by only striking the ground half-heartedly. As a result, Elisha informs him that he will only obtain partial victory over the Arameans.

However, verse 23 shows a remarkable statement of God’s faithfulness and grace despite their failure to trust in him. Even though Jehoash did evil in the sight of God and refused to turn away from the idolatry of the Canaanites (vs. 11), God remains faithful to his covenant. To describe God’s faithfulness, the writer uses three terms. First, God was gracious to them. The word gracious depicts someone who feels benevolence and sympathy for another in need. God is not indifferent to his people but recognizes their needs and has mercy upon them. Second, God has compassion on them. While the first word depicts being favorable to someone in need, the second word points to the person's attitude. To have compassion is to “look upon them with the tenderest affection.”  Because of this deep love, God is willing to forgive and show mercy to us. The third word, “turned to them,” speaks of God directing his attention towards them; it is to turn his face upon them and give them his total interest and attention.  

Thus, the irony, while Israel had turned their face away from God, God had not turned his face away from them! Even though they continued to descend into sin, God did not destroy them. Despite all they have done in their rebellion, God had not cast them aside. Patience and faithfulness radiate from God’s treatment of Israel. Israel would eventually face destruction, not because God had abandoned them, but because they chose punishment over blessing and death over life.

This same God is faithful and patient with us. Despite our failures, he still turns his face toward us. He still maintains his deep love for us and desires to act on our behalf. No matter how much we ignore God and give him little attention, God always keeps his focus and affection towards us and is ready to forgive and respond to our needs if we just ask. Such is the act of a faithful God.