Leadership 1-On-1... Leadership Advisory Board/Godly Advisors Part 1/ Rashea@LLO2 Academy

In a time of disorder in the house of Ahab King of Judah... God saw fit to spare and to preserve the life of the infant son Joash (the great grandson of King Ahab) and the infant son of Ahaziah (Azariah) King of Judah (son of Athaliah who was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel).👀 

He was brought up by Jehosheba sister of King Ahaziah and wife of the high priest Jehoiada who served the Lord to his transition at the age of 130 years old. Even when you are brought up in a family of corruption and disorder, God can spare your life and raise you up to be a godly leader and to be the difference maker in your family lineage.

At the time of his father's death (King Ahaziah) son of Athaliah and grandson of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel... Joash was too young to reign as king. He was only an infant when his father Ahaziah passed in battle at the hands of King Jehu and his army of Israel who was raised up by God to bring divine judgment on the house of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel for their severe practices of idolatry in the nation of Israel in the land of Judah. But God remembered King Jehoshaphat who walked in the ways of the Lord and did not depart his entire reign (2Chronicles 20:31-32). He was the great great grandfather of King Joash. His son was King Jehoram who married into the family of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. 

Please note that Jehoram and Joram are two different kings. King Jehoram was the son of King Jehoshaphat. Joram was the son of King Ahab who assisted King Ahaziah (Athaliah's son) in battle against the Syrian army. Jehoram transitioned as a result of an incurable disease God brought on him as a result of his spiritual disobedience (2Chronicles 21), and Joram lay wounded  while recovering from battle wounds at the hands of the Syrian army (2Chronicles 22:5-7) who God raised up against the dynasty of King Ahab for his idolatry.

King Jehoram married the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. He did not follow in the godly ways of his father King Jehoshaphat but practiced the pagan ways of his wife Athaliah. And because King Jehoram turned his heart away from God... God destroyed him. 

His son King Ahaziah (Azariah) became king in his sted and listened to and obeyed the wicked advice of his mother Athaliah. God raised up King Jehu of Israel in the days of King Ahaziah to fulfill the prophesy of the Prophet Elijah against the house of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. King Ahzaiah while in hiding from King Jehu was found, brought before King Jehu and was destroyed.

When word reached Athaliah that her youngest son King Ahaziah was destroyed by King Jehu... she became enraged and destroyed her own family. She destroyed all the royal males accept Joash infant son of King Ahaziah. His life was spared by the hands of his aunt Jehosheba the sister of King Ahaziah and his uncle the high priest Jehoiada who served the Lord to the age of 130 years old.

Joash's aunt Jeosheba and uncle high priest Jehoiada raised Joash to serve the Lord. They advised him wisely to depart from evil and wickedness and to walk in the ways of the Lord. At age 7 years old, Joash became king of Judah and reigned in Jerusalem for 40 years, and he did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of his uncle high priest Jehoiada the high priest of the Lord in the land of Judah and Jerusalem.

King Joash brought reform and repaired the house of the Lord. Although Athaliah's wickedness through here lineage had attempted to hinder the work of God... Joash's proclaimation to reform the nation of Israel and the house of God in the land of Judah and Jerusalem prevailed. The work was completed and the grandeur and order of it restored according to the blueprint given.

But then at the age of 130 years old... Jehoiada the high priest of the Lord goes to rest with his forefather's as a result being well advanced in years. Without a godly voice to counsel him and to give him sound biblical guidance... King Joash who served the Lord heeded the unwise counsel of others in leadership and veered away from God and from sound principles.

The advice King Joash received from his unwise advisory board was so embedded in his soul and heart that he would not heed the godly counsel of the high priest Zechariah son of the former high priest Jehoiada. Instead of heeding the godly counsel of Zechariah his cousin, Joash and the wicked leaders on his advisory board conspired against Zechariah and had him stoned.👀

As Zechariah was dying he prayed that God would avenge his wrongful death at the hands of King Joash and his wicked advisors. And God did. By the end of that same year of Zechariah's death... God allowed the army of Syria to destroy the  leadership of Joash, and as Joash laid upon his bed sick and wounded... he was overthrown by two men, Zabad the Ammonitess and Jehozabad the Moabitess (2Chronicles 24:15-27).

What is the moral of this passage of Scripture? These are real events that occurred in the leadership of Jewish historical kings. It is imperative that we as leaders know God for ourselves and have a solid relationship with God for ourselves.

Although it is important to have other godly leaders around us who, also, heed the sound counsel of the Holy Spirit and God's Word, it is very important that we have those sound principles rooted in our own hearts. These sound principles rooted in our hearts will anchor us, so that in times of transition, whatever they maybe in life and in leadership, we will remain solid and sound in right principles that lead to ongoing prosperity and good success. It is clear that although King Joash practiced God's law physically, he had no root of the Word of God in his own heart spiritually.

He depended fully on his uncle the high priest Jehoiada for spiritual guidance and service unto the Lord. This did not show while Jehoiada was alive but after his departure. And because King Joash was fully reliant on his uncle Jehoiada and not on God for himself, he heeded the advice of wicked leaders who turned his heart to idolatry and away from God.

Even when his cousin Zechariah came to reason with him, Joash would not listen or obey wise counsel. Joash became so callous in his heart and thoughts that he killed his own cousin who was the son of Jehoiada his uncle.👀 The Book of Proverbs warns us to stay clear of wicked counsel devised in the hearts of the wicked.

Wickedness leads to corruption. Corruption leads to prideful conceit and a callous heart toward what is right and toward sound  principles. Prideful conceit and a callous heart eventually leads to sin and to destruction. 

It is imperative that we know God for ourselves. And even in times of transition in leadership, it is important that we turn to God for guidance and for help. Doing so will keep us as leaders from receiving and heeding the wrong advice from ungodly leaders who have abandoned moral principles. 

Seeking God in times of transition will enable leaders in head positions to maintain law and order, put the right people in the right positions of power and authority and sustain the lives of moral leaders, right counsel and the people. Having an advisory board isn't just about titles, entitlement and benefits packages. It's about having the right people in the right positions to help cover and expose your blind spots in leadership and advise you to rule well. It is not leaders alone who have destroyed their own reigns of rule and power. It is having the wrong leaders in leadership who have advised them that has caused them to be destroyed.👀

Rashea@LLO2