The wicked Queen Athaliah destroyed all the royal seed, the male descendants of King David. The whole sad story and happy ending is recorded in 2 Chronicles 22–23. Her effort to destroy the royal seed was thwarted by the intervention of godly Jehoiada. One child, Joash, was preserved. A dramatic moment in messianic history! The ancestor of Christ was preserved; had Joash been killed, the Savior could not have been born into the world (humanly speaking); but God’s providence was overseeing this. Jehoiada was not a famous person; in fact, you may never have even heard of him. But he is famous in the kingdom of God. Perhaps today, some intervention or act of grace on your part may have a lasting impact upon the kingdom of God. It may never make you famous or get recognition by the world, but heaven sees it, and the interests of Christ and His kingdom will be advanced.

God oversees every detail of our lives. He preserved Joash from the murderous Athaliah when the messianic line was seemingly hanging by a thread. But no worries, God was in control. Did not the Lord Jesus teach that if even one sparrow falls to the ground, it does not do so apart from the Father’s will? (Mt. 10:29). I recently read the following from a Christian author:

Every hair? Numbered—Matthew 10:30

Every tear? Counted—Psalm 56:8

Every day? Ordained—Psalm 139:16

Every saint? Chosen—Ephesians 1:3

Every history? Written—Acts 15:18; Isaiah 46:9–10

Every decree? Unchallenged—Daniel 4:34

Every ruler? Appointed—Daniel 4:17; Romans 13:1

Every power? Subjected—Ephesians 1:20–23