Why did God allow Pekah to reign for twenty years despite his evil actions? Historical Context of Pekah’s Ascendancy Pekah, son of Remaliah, seized the throne of the Northern Kingdom in 752 BC (Ussher’s chronology) during a period of political fragmentation. The Assyrian menace under Tiglath-Pileser III was rising, while idolatry and social injustice dominated Israel (cf. Hosea 4:1-2). Pekah’s coup and subsequent twenty-year reign (2 Kings 15:27) unfolded in a vacuum of righteous leadership that had plagued Israel since Jeroboam I. Chronological Nuances and Co-Regencies The “twenty years” harmonizes with overlapping reigns. Pekah began as a rival king over Gilead while Menahem and Pekahiah ruled in Samaria. When Tiglath-Pileser’s annals (ANET 284-285) record tribute from Menahem c. 738 BC, Pekah was already active east of the Jordan. God therefore allowed an extended period in which Pekah’s power grew, culminating in sole kingship c. 740 BC, yet Scripture counts the entire span to stress divine oversight of every year he wielded influence. Spiritual Climate and Covenant Warning Israel had crossed covenant lines. “They set up kings, but not by Me; they made princes, but I knew it not” (Hosea 8:4). Deuteronomy 28:25-52 warned that persistent rebellion would invite foreign invasion. Pekah’s tenure would become the very stage on which those curses began to fall, showing that God’s toleration of an evil ruler was never approval, but the deliberate turning of sinful choices back upon the nation for corrective judgment. Divine Patience and Opportunity to Repent Ecclesiastes 8:11 notes, “When the sentence for a crime is not speedily executed, the hearts of men are fully set on doing evil.” Yet 2 Peter 3:9 explains the reason for apparent delay: “The Lord is patient… not wanting anyone to perish.” The twenty-year span fits this paradigm. Prophets like Hosea, Amos, and Isaiah proclaimed repentance throughout Pekah’s reign (Isaiah 7:1-9; Hosea 10:5-8). God extended years to provide genuine space for national repentance before irreversible exile. Instrument of Judgment on Judah Pekah allied with Rezin of Aram to attack Judah (2 Kings 16:5). Though wicked, Pekah became a rod of discipline for King Ahaz, whose own apostasy led Judah into child sacrifice (2 Chronicles 28:3-5). Isaiah 7 shows the Lord using the Syro-Ephraimite threat to expose Judah’s unbelief and to introduce the Immanuel prophecy. Thus, Pekah’s continued reign served a broader redemptive storyline culminating in the Messiah. God’s Sovereignty and Human Freedom Scripture holds both truths: “The king’s heart is a watercourse in the hand of the LORD; He directs it wherever He pleases” (Proverbs 21:1) and “Woe to the wicked! It will go badly for him” (Isaiah 3:11). Pekah freely chose idolatry, yet each decision simultaneously advanced God’s sovereign timeline toward Assyria’s partial deportation (2 Kings 15:29) and, ultimately, the 722 BC fall under Hoshea. Archaeological Corroboration • Tiglath-Pileser III’s summary inscription (Nimrud Prism) lists “the land of Bit-Humria [Israel]… all its inhabitants and their possessions I carried off,” matching 2 Kings 15:29. • The Annals of Tiglath-Pileser mention receiving tribute from “Menahem of Samaria” and later appointing “Hoshea” after the assassination of Pekah—direct external verification of the biblical sequence. • Ivory fragments from Samaria strata VII indicate continued luxury amid moral decay the prophets decried (Amos 6:4-6). Lessons on Leadership and National Consequences 1. God may permit unrighteous rulers to expose societal sin, summon repentance, and fulfill prophetic words. 2. Length of service is not divine endorsement; final judgment verifies God’s moral governance (2 Kings 15:30). 3. Believers should discern God’s larger purposes rather than assuming quick retribution proves His justice. Parallel Biblical Patterns • Pharaoh (Exodus 9:15-16) preserved to display God’s power. • Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 25:9) raised as “My servant” to discipline Judah. • Antichrist yet future (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7) permitted for a set season. Practical Implications for Today Patience with evil rulers highlights God’s enduring mercy and His absolute control of history. It calls individuals to personal repentance and steadfast trust, echoing Habakkuk’s resolve: “The righteous will live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). Concise Answer God allowed Pekah’s twenty-year reign to (1) demonstrate covenant patience, (2) offer genuine opportunity for repentance, (3) employ Pekah as an instrument of judgment upon both Israel and Judah, and (4) advance the prophetic storyline leading to Messiah, all while showcasing His sovereignty over human freedom and history. |
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