1 Kings 16:1-6: a reflection

1The LORD’s word came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, 2“Because I exalted you out of the dust and made you prince over my people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam and have made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins, 3behold, I will utterly sweep away Baasha and his house; and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 4The dogs will eat Baasha’s descendants who die in the city; and he who dies of his in the field, the birds of the sky will eat.” 5Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 6Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah; and Elah his son reigned in his place.

God sends a word of judgment against Baasha, king of Israel, and notice how it begins: Because I exalted you out of the dust and made you prince over my people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam and have made my people to sin. God had raised Baasha up from the dust, given him his position; and Baasha, instead of honoring the God who raised him, walked in the sins of his predecessor. He forgot the God who had lifted him, and used the position God gave him to do evil.

Notice the charge: God had raised Baasha up, and Baasha forgot him. Whatever Baasha had, his position, his power, he had because God raised him from the dust; it was God's gift, not his own achievement. But he did not honor the God who raised him; he walked in evil, as though he owed God nothing. The one who had lifted him from the dust was forgotten, and the position God gave was used against God's own purposes. Baasha received from God, and forgot the Giver.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too can forget the God who raised us to whatever we have. Whatever position, ability, or blessing we possess, we have because God gave it; we did not raise ourselves. But we can forget this, taking the credit ourselves, and failing to honor the God who lifted us; we can even use what he gave us in ways that dishonor him. Remember that whatever you have, you have because God raised you to it; do not forget the God who lifted you, as Baasha forgot the God who raised him from the dust. Honor the God who gave you your position and blessings, using them for him rather than forgetting him and turning them to your own or to evil ends. Whatever you have was given by God who raised you up; remember him, and honor him with what he has given, rather than forgetting the Giver as Baasha forgot the God who exalted him from the dust.

Lord, you send a word of judgment against Baasha, king of Israel, and notice how it begins: because I exalted you out of the dust and made you prince over my people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam and have made my people to sin. You had raised Baasha up from the dust, given him his position; and Baasha, instead of honoring the God who raised him, walked in the sins of his predecessor. He forgot the God who had lifted him. Show me the charge: you had raised Baasha up, and Baasha forgot you. Whatever he had, his position, his power, he had because you raised him from the dust; it was your gift, not his own achievement. But he did not honor you; he used the position you gave against your own purposes. He received from you, and forgot the Giver. Take that to my heart, for I too can forget the God who raised me to whatever I have. Whatever position, ability, or blessing I possess, I have because you gave it; I did not raise myself. But I can forget this, taking the credit myself, and failing to honor you; I can even use what you gave in ways that dishonor you. Help me remember that whatever I have, I have because you raised me to it; keep me from forgetting the God who lifted me, as Baasha forgot the God who raised him from the dust. Help me honor you with what you have given, Lord, using it for you, rather than forgetting the Giver.