Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, then Jehoiachin Rule
36 Then the people of the land took [a]Joahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in place of his father in Jerusalem. 2 Joahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. 3 Then the king of Egypt deposed him at Jerusalem, and imposed on the land a fine of one hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold. 4 The king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. But Neco took Joahaz his brother and brought him to Egypt.
5 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord his God. 6 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him and bound him with bronze chains to take him to Babylon. 7 Nebuchadnezzar also brought some of the articles of the house of the Lord to Babylon and put them in his temple at Babylon. 8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim and [b]the abominations which he did, and what was found against him, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. And Jehoiachin his son became king in his place.
9 Jehoiachin was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem, and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.
Captivity in Babylon Begun
10 At the turn of the year King Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon with the valuable articles of the house of the Lord, and he made his kinsman Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.
Josiah’s foolish battle with Egypt was not done bringing ruin. His decision to fight a battle that was not his to fight resulted in series of tragedies for Israel. His sons did evil, and Neco replaced Joahaz with Jehoiakim, who was no better of a leader. Eventually, Nebuchadnezzar attacks Judah and took Jehoiakim captive also.
The decisions we make affect other people all the time. There is no room for selfishness, because God designed us as relational beings, and that means we are connected to others in ways we cannot see. Our actions trickle out to others, and so we must be ever more diligent about them. We must look to God for wisdom, and seek not for our best interests, but His. Ultimately, His was are higher and better than ours.
God wants what is best for us and the people we are connected to, and following His plan and looking to His wisdom will allow us to have a positive impact on those we love, unlike what Josiah did when he challenged Neco in battle.
Live daily for Him, not for yourself, and you’ll see God work in the lives of those around you as well as your own. Remember God sees far more than you ever could, and trust His wisdom to guide your footsteps and be “a light to your path”.