9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3
9 He isn’t really being slow about his promised return, even though it sometimes seems that way. But he is waiting, for the good reason that he is not willing that any should perish, and he is giving more time for sinners to repent. 2 Peter 3, The Living Bible
The world is in a time of transition now and many believers are finding this time very long – waiting never seems easy, but God’s timing is always perfect.
The story of Elijah’s showdown with the pagan prophets of Baal and Asherah is well known. 1 Kings 18 Jezebel then boasted what she would do to Elijah for putting those false prophets to death and he fled for his life, leaving Ahab and Jezebel in power.
9 The prophet Elisha summoned a man from the company of the prophets and said to him, ‘Tuck your cloak into your belt, take this flask of olive oil with you and go to Ramoth Gilead. 2 When you get there, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go to him, get him away from his companions and take him into an inner room. 3 Then take the flask and pour the oil on his head and declare, “This is what the Lord says: I anoint you king over Israel.” Then open the door and run; don’t delay!’ 2 Kings 9
Elisha was now the prophet in Israel and he gave a younger man the task of going to Jehu, getting alone with him and anointing him king in Israel. Jehu was told through the prophet to cut off Ahab’s whole line from Israel, including Jezebel.
22 When Joram saw Jehu he asked, ‘Have you come in peace, Jehu?’
‘How can there be peace,’ Jehu replied, ‘as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?’
24 Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow pierced his heart and he slumped down in his chariot. 2 Kings 9
God wasn’t going after a few branches, He wanted the whole tree destroyed, so that no more fruit could come from it and Israel would be safe. Jehu drove into Jezreel and immediately met Jezebel, wife of Ahab. He had the eunuchs throw her from a balcony under his horses and chariots and she also died.
34 Jehu went in and ate and drank. ‘Take care of that cursed woman,’ he said, ‘and bury her, for she was a king’s daughter.’ 35 But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing except her skull, her feet and her hands. 36 They went back and told Jehu, who said, ‘This is the word of the Lord that he spoke through his servant Elijah the Tishbite: on the plot of ground at Jezreel dogs will devour Jezebel’s flesh. 37 Jezebel’s body will be like dung on the ground in the plot at Jezreel, so that no one will be able to say, “This is Jezebel.”’ 2 Kings 9
The power of the occult was broken in Israel that day by a man anointed away from public view. A new day had begun and we are in a similar place today, God is working to remove corrupt systems of leadership deep rooted in society. It may seem to be taking a long time, but when it’s over we’ll all be free of the tyranny of the past. As Ana Werner’s post said, ‘Hold on’, breakthrough is coming.
May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.