New Beginnings

Readings:
II Kings 24
Acts 1:12-26

Focus:
II Kings 24:12:"King Jehoiachin of Judah, along with his mother, his courtiers, his officers, and his eunuchs, surrendered to the king of Babylon. The king of Babylon, now in the eighth year of his reign, made him a prisoner."
Acts 1:26:"They drew lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was elected to be an apostle with the other eleven."

The kingdoms of Israel and Judah fell greatly into sin. Time after time, God sent prophets to them tell them to repent, and to warn them, so that they could avoid disaster. But they wouldn't listen, and eventually God showed his "tough love" for them by sending them into exile. The lines of the kings of Israel and Judah came to an end, or so it seemed.

When the religious and political leaders felt threatened by the sway that Jesus held over the people, one of his apostles, Judas Iscariot, betrayed him to them. His remorse after he did this was such that he then went out and killed himself. The group of 12 apostles, matching the number 12 of the patriarchs of Israel, had come to an end, or so it seemed.

But God is a God of new beginnings. He can always make something new and good happen when we turn to him in a desperate situation. A twelfth apostle was supplied and the work of the new church continued, despite what Judas Iscariot had done. God can renew any situation.