Israel’s Sin and Punishment

Every year, King Hoshea would send a tribute to Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, to protect them. One year, however, he betrayed his allegiance by sending a plea to the king of Egypt begging for his help against his current masters. However, Assyrian spies found out before the message could arrive and their fate was sealed. Because of his rebellion, Shalmaneser raided Israel, uprooted its people, and imprisoned its king. After years of rebelling against God and ignoring His warnings, all were led back to Assyria as slaves.

In our previous episode, we heard about King Ahaz and his complete rebellion against God. He did despicable things, killing his own children to sacrifice to pagan gods. Ahaz suffered God’s judgment as Syria and Israel both went to war against Judah and took the land, devastated Judah’s army, and plundered its cities. Still, Ahaz refused to humble himself and turn to God. He bowed to more and more foreign idols until he finally died, never experiencing peace or victory. Today we’ll turn north once more to the kingdom of Israel. They too are plunged into deep darkness, and God’s anger will burn against them leaving devastated cities, suffering people, and citizens taken as slaves by the enemy. Yet, just as Ahaz did, they will not release their idols, whose grip on their hearts they cannot seem to break.