💖Repost: A Time Before Christmas Story

A Time Before Christmas Story

Once upon a time, nearly three thousand years ago, a brave woman defied a wicked ruler. She hid and protected a vulnerable child, as her family members were unmercifully slaughtered, by one of their own relatives. But this is no dark fairy tale, it’s biblical history. Prophecy foretold that the messiah Jesus Christ would descend from the family line of King David (see Matthew 1:1-17; Jeremiah 23:5-6 KJV). This hidden child was from that Davidic line and the rightful heir to the royal throne. The woman carefully crept into the royal nursery, gathered the child and his nurse, and took them to safety in a bedchamber. The woman’s name was Jehosheba. And this is a time before Christmas story.

It was a period of great rivalry between the two Hebrew Kingdoms: Israel (the northern kingdom) and Judah (the southern kingdom). These ancient lands were also involved in Baal worship in opposition to the Lord’s commandments. The infamous couple, King Ahab of Israel and Queen Jezebel, had a daughter named Athaliah. She married King Jehoram of Judah and they had a son named Ahaziah. When both her husband and son died, a power-hungry Athaliah decided she would illegitimately ascend to the royal throne. She accomplished this by murdering the other heirs, her grandsons.

Jehosheba was the daughter of King Jehoram of Judah and sister of the deceased Ahaziah. It is unclear from biblical scripture if Athaliah was her biological mother or stepmother.¹ Either way, Athaliah was the matriarch of the family. The Bible speaks of this mother and daughter in 2 Chronicles 22:10-11 KJV:

“But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah. But Jehosabeath [Jehosheba], the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehosabeath the daughter of King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.”

*“Jehosheba was a brave woman…The unholy terror released upon her family and the kingdom was finally over.”*

Jehosheba was a brave woman who successfully hid and protected her nephew Joash for six years, while Athaliah reigned as the kingdom’s wicked ruler. After a time, the people revolted against Queen Athaliah, as she ironically accused them of treason (see 2 Chronicles 22:13-15). She was assassinated. Jehosheba and her husband could now reveal Joash to the people. The unholy terror released upon her family and the kingdom was finally over. Joash took his rightful seat on the royal throne at the age of seven years old and reigned for forty years in Jerusalem (see 2 Chronicles 24:1).

*“But the Lord Almighty is not to be mocked. He found in Jehosheba the faith and courage to serve his purpose.”*

The Lord Almighty can use what the world calls ordinary or foolish to fulfill his extraordinary divine will. And at the same time prove his supreme authority over the evil works of darkness. During Athaliah’s bloody coup and reign, Satan and his army of the fallen must have been salivating at the mouth, looking at the destruction of the Davidic lineage. The foretold prophecy of a coming messiah would have been known to them as well. But the Lord Almighty is not to be mocked. He found in Jehosheba the faith and courage to serve his purpose. The Bible tells us in John 3:16 KJV: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Merry Christmas!