This past week we celebrated international ladies’ day. Throughout history there have been many remarkable and courageous women. Women who were strong confident leaders but also those who, in the face of danger protected their families and loved ones. Women who were willing to take decisive action to protect the innocent and vulnerable of society. The story is told of a wicked lady called Athaliah, she was so wicked that when her son the king was killed, she gave orders that all her own grandchildren should be murdered. This would remove all the legitimate royal seed leaving her to rule on the throne instead. However, she hadn’t anticipated the courage and fortitude of one lady. Her name was Jehoshabeath, she was a half-sister, by a different mother, to the king who died. When she heard about the order of Athaliah she rushed over to the rooms where the king’s sons were kept. Can you imagine her fear and trepidation! Soldiers were already there carrying out the brutal orders of Athaliah. Nonetheless, she believed that something had to be done and quickly, there was no time to wait. Some children already lay dead, they had been murdered but in the midst of this chaos she was able to smuggle out a baby, of less than a year old, called Joash with his nurse and hide them in her own house for six years! During this time Athaliah ruled with cruelty and terrible persecution. Yet Jehoshabeath courageously hid the young child risking her life and that of her husband and her own children. It was a time of intrigue and spies throughout the palace and surrounding homes. Even so, she was not prepared to betray the legitimate king. It was a dangerous time. In the sixth year she and her husband decided it was time to make him King. Therefore, they sought out others who were brave and told them what they had done. These trusted captains made agreements with them to help and support the young child so that he could be put on the throne. They all realised the danger they were in and so came with weapons to protect themselves, for if it failed, they would be put to death. They divided up the men into three groups to protect the king and to bring him forth to be crowned. When Athaliah heard the cheers of the people and looked and saw the young king she shouted ‘Treason! Treason!’ Yet her evil rule came to an end, and her and her followers were killed and the nation rejoiced that the rightful heir was on the throne. All because one lady Jehoshabeath showed courage and took action and saved the boy King. She demonstrated her love for her brother by taking care of his son, regardless of her own safety. In Isaiah chapter 49 verse 15 we read these very insightful words. ‘Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.’ Some women are not like Jehoshabeath and can forget their child, yet the verse tells us that God will never forget us. God is a compassionate God and he loves his children and will never forget them. He will never leave them nor forsake them. Jehoshabeath was the chosen lady in her day and generation to be courageous and loving. God is always loving and caring to all who come and trust in him.
P. Pilgrim pilgrimway101@yahoo.com
