The Woman Who Saved The World

 The Woman Who Saved The World


OK; so she really did not (literally) "save" the world.  (I knew that title might grab your attention.)  We know that only Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world.  But this woman that I will refer to did save the Messianic line from extinction.  Have you ever heard of her?  Her name is Jehoshabeath, and we read of her in 2 Chron. 22:11-12.

 

Athaliah, the wicked woman who usurped the throne of Judah, was in the process of murdering all the sons of the now-deceased legitimate Davidic king (whose name was Ahaziah).  Ahaziah had perished, in a foolish effort to visit the evil king of Israel (whose name was Joram).  God Himself specifically "ordained" Ahaziah's "downfall," (see 2 Chron. 22:7).

 

Ahaziah was actually Athaliah's son; and Athaliah then began the project of seeking to murder all of the king's (her son's) sons (the sons of Ahaziah).  These would be her grandsons; right? . . . Jehoshabeath, on the other hand, was the daughter of Jehoram, so she was a sister of Ahaziah and some kind of relative [daughter?] of Athaliah.  (Apparently, Athaliah did not consider her deceased son's sisters as threats--so they survived her purge of the royal family.)  [I think I got all that family line down right.  Let me know if I did not.]

 

Jehoshabeath, then, took her little (probably youngest) male king-line surviving nephew, whose name was Joash; and she hid him (and his nurse) for six years, while Athaliah terrorized the kingdom.  Jehoshabeath was also the wife of the very good priest Jehoiada; and, when the time was right, he (Jehoiada) pulled off a God-glorifying "coup"; and had Athaliah executed, and Joash anointed king of Judah.

 

So, the point is this: what would have happened if the Davidic line had been completely exterminated by Athaliah?  Would we have a Savior today?  The answer is, "No."  Jesus had to come through the unbroken kingly line of David; and if this line had been cut off, there would be no Redeemer of God's elect church.

 

Sometimes it is the most obscure people who do the most glorious things.  This is a classic example of that.  Therefore, if you are a true Christian today, one who sincerely loves Jesus Christ and the people that make up His redeemed church--you are not only supremely special, you may be marvelously used by your Heavenly Father in ways you could never have imagined.

 

In this vein, especially for us who now live in the glories of the New Covenant, these words of our blessed Lord Jesus apply to us.  They come from Lk. 7:28; and say this: "I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John [the Baptist]. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he," (ESV).

 

Rev. Mark J. Henninger

Treatise #48

6 December 2025

https://theologicaltreatisesinretirement.blogspot.com

https://henningerdevotions.blogspot.com/

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