2 Chronicles 22

The Explanation

Long ago there was a palace. Big and stone and quiet.

Inside lived a tiny baby. His name was Joash.

He had soft cheeks. Little fingers. He liked to sleep in his blanket.

But Joash's daddy had died. And now something scary was happening.

Joash's grandmother was named Athaliah. She was not soft. She was not gentle.

Athaliah wanted to be queen, all alone, with no one else. Not even a little prince.

So Athaliah did something terrible. She wanted to hurt all the little princes. All of them, one by one.

The palace, that had once been quiet and safe, was suddenly full of fear.

What Does This Mean?

But wait. Someone loved baby Joash very much.

Her name was Jehoshabeath. She was his aunt.

Jehoshabeath's heart went fast, thump, thump, thump. She had to be quick.

She scooped up baby Joash. Softly. Quietly. She held him close to her chest.

She ran, on tiptoe, through the dark palace. Past closed doors. Past shadows.

She hid him in a little bedroom, with his nurse to feed him and rock him to sleep.

Nobody knew he was there. Not the soldiers. Not Athaliah. Nobody at all.

Then Jehoshabeath took him somewhere even safer. To God's own house. The big, tall temple.

Joash stayed there. Six whole years. Hidden away. Warm. Fed. Safe.

The Common Thread

Why did God let this happen this way?

Because long, long before, God had made a promise.

God promised that a King would come from this family. Forever and ever.

Athaliah tried to stop that promise. She tried very, very hard.

But God kept baby Joash breathing, and sleeping, and growing, hidden in His own house.

Nobody, not even a queen with a crown, could break what God had promised.

For You

Do you know what? God watches over little children too. Even you, right now.

When you are scared of the dark, God sees you.

When you hide your face in your pillow, God is right there.

Jehoshabeath held Joash close, so he would not be afraid.

God holds you close too, every single day, even when you cannot see Him.

Who hid baby Joash to keep him safe? Where did Joash stay hidden for six whole years?

Praying Together

Dear God, thank You for baby Joash, kept safe in Your house. Thank You for keeping me safe too. Hold me close tonight. Amen.