Joel M Bradshaw

…12because they did not obey the voice of the LORD their God but transgressed his covenant, even all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded. They neither listened nor obeyed.–2 Kings 18

“And the LORD will scatter you [the nation of Israel who breaks the covenant] among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known. (Deuteronomy 28:64)

1. This came at a key moment in the history of Israel. Generations ago, the nation had divided after King Solomon into Israel and Judah.
2. Here, the Assyrian Empire came and destroyed the nation of Israel.
3. Assyria even carried the Israelite people away. It was an exile before the famous Babylonian exile.
4. As the chapter progresses, you will read that they besieged Jerusalem and threatened to destroy the nation of Judah.
5. Why did this happen? Some would ask why God would allow this. Others would boldly wonder why God planned this.
6. The Bible gives the answer. They didn’t obey God. They broke the covenant. They didn’t listen to prophetic warnings or care about obeying God’s law. When Moses gave them the covenant back in Deuteronomy, he promised blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. Exile (cited above) was one of the curses.
7. You are not Ancient Israel. The old covenant is dead and no longer on the books. But you can take one step back from this text and ask yourself if you ever act like Ancient Israel. Do you obey God’s Word? Are you stubborn or diligent? How would the Bible describe you?--JMB