Devotion 395
“Ahaz Sacrificed His Children To Idols”
Reference: 2 Chronicles Chapter 28
Every man or woman is required to bring a lamb. This is what separated Abel from Cain.
Genesis 4:3-7 “And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. [4] And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: [5] But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. [6] And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? [7] If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.”
Life depends on blood. For man to live eternally requires eternal blood. Life is in the blood.
Leviticus 17:11,14 “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. [14] For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.”
Animal blood could not give human spiritual life. It has to be human blood to give human spiritual life.
Abel had to bring a lamb (a type of Christ the Lamb of God) , and so does any person today.
Hebrews 11:4 “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”
Today, God has made it possible for everyone to bring the Lamb by faith in the Lamb of God.
He is the Lamb Who has already shed His Blood. This Lamb of God and the shed Blood is received by simply believing. By this act of faith, we, like Abel are deemed righteous, and passed from death unto life.
John 6:53-54 “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. [54] Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Ahaz thought he knew better. Instead of bringing a lamb for a sacrifice to live, he brought his children as sacrifice unto idols.
Let’s read:
2 Chronicles 28:1-3 “Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father: [2] For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim. [3] Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.”
Ahaz was not the only victim. All the heathen nations sacrificed their children to idols because the heathen nations did not know the source of life. They did not know the God of Israel. They did not know the essence of the blood sacrifice.
Ahaz on the other hand knew the God of Israel but did not believe His Sacrifice. He believed in the idol Baalim. An idol which had no blood or life to give.
We continue our reading:
2 Chronicles 28:4-5 “He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. [5] Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.”
Unbelief will always deliver us into the hands of the Enemy. Unbelief will always deliver us into the hands of Satan the enemy.
We continue our reading:
2 Chronicles 28:6-16 “For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. [7] And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king. [8] And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria. [9] But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven. [10] And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God? [11] Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you. [12] Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war, [13] And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the LORD already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel. [14] So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation. [15] And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria. [16] At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.”
The unbeliever is no different from a dog. It returns to it’s own vomit. Ahaz is seeking the help of Assyria because of unbelief. He will not believe the God of Israel.
We continue our reading:
2 Chronicles 28:17-23 “For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives. [18] The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth–shemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there. [19] For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD. [20] And Tilgath–pilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not. [21] For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the LORD, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not. [22] And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz. [23] For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.”
The blindness of unbelief often times cannot be explained with words. That’s why unbelief is the unpardonable sin.
John 3:18 “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
He that believes not to bring the Lamb of God (Son of God) as the Sacrifice is condemned already. They cannot be pardoned, it’s an unpardonable sin.
We conclude our reading:
2 Chronicles 28:24-27 “And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem. [25] And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers. [26] Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. [27] And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.”
Ahaz died unpardoned, for he refused to come to the God of Israel with the lamb to receive life.
Let the Lamb of God be your sacrifice. BELIEVE and confess Christ the Word as we’ve revealed Him from the First Adam. To have life requires faith in the blood of Sacrificial Lamb, in Christ!
Reference: 2 Chronicles Chapter 28
Every man or woman is required to bring a lamb. This is what separated Abel from Cain.
Genesis 4:3-7 “And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. [4] And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: [5] But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. [6] And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? [7] If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.”
Life depends on blood. For man to live eternally requires eternal blood. Life is in the blood.
Leviticus 17:11,14 “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. [14] For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.”
Animal blood could not give human spiritual life. It has to be human blood to give human spiritual life.
Abel had to bring a lamb (a type of Christ the Lamb of God) , and so does any person today.
Hebrews 11:4 “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”
Today, God has made it possible for everyone to bring the Lamb by faith in the Lamb of God.
He is the Lamb Who has already shed His Blood. This Lamb of God and the shed Blood is received by simply believing. By this act of faith, we, like Abel are deemed righteous, and passed from death unto life.
John 6:53-54 “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. [54] Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Ahaz thought he knew better. Instead of bringing a lamb for a sacrifice to live, he brought his children as sacrifice unto idols.
Let’s read:
2 Chronicles 28:1-3 “Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father: [2] For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim. [3] Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.”
Ahaz was not the only victim. All the heathen nations sacrificed their children to idols because the heathen nations did not know the source of life. They did not know the God of Israel. They did not know the essence of the blood sacrifice.
Ahaz on the other hand knew the God of Israel but did not believe His Sacrifice. He believed in the idol Baalim. An idol which had no blood or life to give.
We continue our reading:
2 Chronicles 28:4-5 “He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. [5] Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.”
Unbelief will always deliver us into the hands of the Enemy. Unbelief will always deliver us into the hands of Satan the enemy.
We continue our reading:
2 Chronicles 28:6-16 “For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. [7] And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king. [8] And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria. [9] But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven. [10] And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God? [11] Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you. [12] Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war, [13] And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the LORD already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel. [14] So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation. [15] And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria. [16] At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.”
The unbeliever is no different from a dog. It returns to it’s own vomit. Ahaz is seeking the help of Assyria because of unbelief. He will not believe the God of Israel.
We continue our reading:
2 Chronicles 28:17-23 “For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives. [18] The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth–shemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there. [19] For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD. [20] And Tilgath–pilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not. [21] For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the LORD, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not. [22] And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz. [23] For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.”
The blindness of unbelief often times cannot be explained with words. That’s why unbelief is the unpardonable sin.
John 3:18 “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
He that believes not to bring the Lamb of God (Son of God) as the Sacrifice is condemned already. They cannot be pardoned, it’s an unpardonable sin.
We conclude our reading:
2 Chronicles 28:24-27 “And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem. [25] And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers. [26] Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. [27] And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.”
Ahaz died unpardoned, for he refused to come to the God of Israel with the lamb to receive life.
Let the Lamb of God be your sacrifice. BELIEVE and confess Christ the Word as we’ve revealed Him from the First Adam. To have life requires faith in the blood of Sacrificial Lamb, in Christ!
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