Nadab, then Baasha, Rules over Israel
25 Now Nadab the son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. 26 He did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father and in his sin which he made Israel sin. 27 Then Baasha the son of Ahijah of the house of Issachar conspired against him, and Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, while Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon.
28 So Baasha killed him in the third year of Asa king of Judah and reigned in his place. 29 It came about as soon as he was king, he struck down all the household of Jeroboam. He did not leave to Jeroboam [k]any persons alive, until he had destroyed them, according to the word of the Lord, which He spoke by His servant Ahijah the Shilonite, 30 and because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, because of his provocation with which he provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger.
31 Now the rest of the acts of Nadab and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
War with Judah
32 There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.
33 In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah became king over all Israel at Tirzah, and reigned twenty-four years. 34 He did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin which he made Israel sin.
As we saw previously, Jeroboam refused to change his ways, even after his encounter with the prophet, and now we see the fruit of that rebellion. His son would have definitely known all about the prophet’s word, and also did not change his course. Ultimately, things happened just as God said they would, which is a warning and a comfort for us both.
A warning, because there is nowhere we can hide our wrongdoing. Much like Jonah found out years later, you can’t run from God, as if he were bound by distance or time.
But also a comfort, because our God is not bound by distance or time. He is with us always, and if you have chosen to follow God, his Spirit lives right inside you. You don’t have to call out loudly just to make sure He hears you, He knows your every thought, every doubt, every fear, all our distress, He knows before we ever say it. And He is just waiting on our invitation to walk with us through the fire and will sustain us through any trial.
He is our Comforter, and though Jesus promised us trials, He also promised to be with us every step of the way, guiding and leading us through it all.