In 2 Chronicles we find the story of betrayal. We find Ahaziah serving as king of Judah and getting counsel from his mother Athaliah. She was evil and directed him the same way. We find Ahaziah and when his mother saw that he died she betrayed him. She killed all of his children. That is all but one. Jehoshabeath, the sister of Ahaziah hid Joash her nephew. Jehoshabeaths’ husband was Jehoiada the priest. Jehoiada and Jehoshabeath hid Joash and protected him then when he was 7 they crowned him as king and set up guards to protect him. For 40 years Joash served as king of Judah, but at the 37th year Jehoiada dies. The Word says that Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest (2 Chronicles 24:2 KJV). When Jehoiada dies the king turns away from God. God sent the prophet Zechariah the son of Jehoiada to correct them. What does the king do? This was the son of the very people that saved his life and established him as king. This was his cousin. The Word says this. They conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD. Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require it (2 Chronicles 24:21-22 KJV).
He betrayed the very people that helped him.
Why did I take you through this story? I want you to see that even though you’re doing the right thing, even though you are faithfully serving God. It does not mean that you won’t be betrayed. This is important to know.
It’s too easy to say, “ Why would God let this happen, I was doing the right thing.” You see you’ll even start to question God’s faithfulness. Because betrayal can cause you to question everything. You will question yourself, if you did the right thing. You’ll begin to question if you should even help people any more. And yes, you’ll question God and His faithfulness.
You being betrayed has no reflection on you or the help you extended and it has no reflection on God. There were many people in the Bible that were betrayed. Some even by family. Joseph, David, and yes even Jesus. But they stayed faithful. As the old phrase goes, “when things go wrong, don’t go with them.”
We can’t let someone else’s betrayal determine what we do or how we do it. We have to forgive them and move on. Remember that’s the thing about forgiveness. You don’t have to forgive those who have done you no wrong. You only give forgiveness to those who have wronged you.
God is good and faithful. We must remain faithful and help others, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before (Philippians 3:13 KJV).
1 Thessalonians 5:24 ISV The one who calls you is faithful, and he will continue to be faithful.
Luke 6:27-28 NET 27 “But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.