When Zeal for God Becomes Deception and Murder
Jehu's assault upon Baal worship presents a peculiar tragedy: the right cause pursued through radically wrong means. He had crushed Ahab's dynasty with the speed...
This is historical examples on the corruption of zealous action and deception in service of religious goals, drawing on 2 Kings 10:18-31.
Jehu's assault upon Baal worship presents a peculiar tragedy: the right cause pursued through radically wrong means. He had crushed Ahab's dynasty with the speed and severity of lightning, gaining the support of Jehonadab the Rechabite, clearly a Yahweh worshipper. Yet when Jehu turned his fury toward eliminating Baal worship, he abandoned truth for audacious deception. His stratagem was brazen: he announced an intention to outdo the fallen dynasty in honoring Baal, inviting every priest, prophet, and worshipper throughout the land to the great temple in Samaria.…
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