HAZAEL (PART I): THE FOREIGN RULER
HAZAEL. There was a biblical person who was associated with this name. Hazael was a man who had received prophecies concerning his destiny from two major prophets, first from Elijah, and then from Elijah's successor, Elisha. He was not an Israelite, he was a Syrian and therefore a historical enemy of Israel according to biblical reference.
Hazael was a king’s general. Perhaps his was an illustrious career - one has to be pretty good to rise through the ranks and be placed in a position of trust and authority. And he’d been anointed to lead.
In the earlier days of his career, God had sent Elijah to anoint Hazael as a future king of Syria. I Kings 19: 15-17. It seemed to be an important assignment. Elijah had just left his wilderness experience, met with God and gotten a fresh wind. God then sent him to anoint three people: Elisha to the be the future prophet over Israel in Elijah's stead, Jehu, to be a future king of Israel, and Hazael to be a future king over Syria. This assignment touched on these three leaders' destinies. Respectively, they were
A FOREIGN KING, ISRAEL'S KING and A PROPHET.
Their futures were then unknown to the world, but unmistakably known to God. Elisha would be a prophet given great authority, and as king of Israel, Jehu would be a ferocious foe of the enemies of the Lord. But Hazael?
I can imagine Elijah might have puzzled over why he, an Israelite, was being sent to Syria. The two countries were not often at peace. It therefore seems strange that God would have sent Elijah to anoint a future king of Syria, which was an enemy of Israel. However, God is over all things and no part of our life's plan is beyond His reach or control.
There is very little about Hazael written in the scriptures. However, God had told Elijah this years before:
Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu.
Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him."
I Kings 19: 17-18.
It seems, then, that these three - foreigner, king and prophet were to accomplish a particular objective. They were together to put to rout the enemies of the Lord, those given to Baal-worship. But perhaps not in the way we might want to imagine. Elisha guided Israel's battle plans with the knowledge from God. The first sword against the idolaters would come at the hand of Hazael, the foreigner or outsider. It's not that Hazael was interested in honoring the God of Israel. He was serving his own purposes, but in so doing, he would accomplish what God had permitted for Israel. Then, to those idolatrous people who remained, Jehu, the king of Israel himself would lay his sword. Both men were reigning at the same time. Their purposes were opposed, but as each carried out his goals, the end result that had been prophesied was coming to pass.
Let's analogize this to the state of the Church today. These days, there is a tremendous sifting underway. There is death, loss, disappointment, sorrow and struggle of such great proportions. It is terrible to behold, and it is happening all around us and the flames are lapping at our heels. Yet the Lord has also said this a time of transition into blessing, abundance and favor. The fire burns away dross, much as the wind blows away chaff during threshing. That is what is happening to us individually and collectively, even as we move forward into abundance. It has to happen. The world is laying its own sword to the name and reputation of the Church, and of Christ Himself. There are some leaders who are calling for a return to godliness and humility before the Lord. And there is a clear word coming from Jesus Christ to His Bride, the Church today as well. It's time to fear (meaning to honor, cherish and esteem highest) the Lord Jehovah. He that endures to the end will be saved.
It seems to me that Hazael, the king who was appointed by God, was not supposed to act as a supporter of Israel. In fact the story goes on to say that Hazael began to reduce the size (geographic boundaries) of Israel through his attacks against it. 2 Kings 10:32. He took the land east of the Jordan, and burned the homes of the Israelites. In this way, he served a chastening purpose toward Israel, and he may have even limited the spread of Baal-worship since the people themselves were constrained in certain areas. At the same time, Hazael reportedly protected the Mediterranean coastal lands (including Israel) from conquest by the Assyrians under Shalmaneser II, a powerful king who himself was not easily defeated. If Shalmaneser had been successful, he would have merged Syria, Damascus and Palestine, and created a much bigger unified enemy against Israel.
In the same way, I believe that blows from a "foreign" source -- meaning not within our normal sphere -- may be written into the treatment charts for our lives, because God is allowing (and dare I say even ordaining?) them as part of the prescription for our development. And these strange experiences may even protect us from much larger threats that could devour us later on.
As for Jehu, he was anointed to eliminate the ways Ahab had introduced to the people. 2 Kings 9: 1-10. He did exactly as he was told, and executed many of the priests of Baal who had remained from Ahab's day. In so doing he brought an additional layer of purification, if you will. However, Jehu did not stop the worship of the golden calves, which was still going on, and that caused additional problems that had to be addressed later on.
So there was affliction from within and without for Israel during the reigns of Hazael and Jehu. But even in the sifting, I believe God intended a good result, and in our present-day sifting that is also true. The things that assault us may be protecting us from greater harm. It is time to let go of the chaff. It's time to be tenacious, and to wrestle with God as Jacob did. We may be beset by outside forces, the hand of the unbeliever, or the hands of those who are our kings and prophets. They may be bad circumstances, but I believe all these may indeed be a part of the blessing.
Jacob, whose name means Supplanter, had some issues that had to be purged before he could truly bear the name ISRAEL. In the same way, God is dealing with me, with you and all who carry His name, that we may be fully aware of who we are, and even who we cannot be, in Him.
Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for [you], that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to Me again, strengthen your brothers.
NEXT ISSUE:
HAZAEL (PART II): THE SUPPLANTER
April 26, 2007