Protected by God: The Rise of King Joash (2 Kings 11:1–21)
Sometimes it looks like evil is winning. Sometimes it feels like darkness has taken over and all hope is lost. But the story of King Joash in 2 Kings 11 reminds us that God is always at work, even when we can’t see it.
Let’s walk through this powerful story together.
A Wicked Queen Takes the Throne
After King Ahaziah died, his mother Athaliah did something terrible. She wanted to rule Judah herself, so she tried to kill every member of the royal family, including her own grandchildren! Her goal was to wipe out the family line of King David.
And it looked like she had succeeded.
Lesson: Evil may look like it’s winning, but it never gets the final say. God always has a plan.
A Baby Is Rescued and Hidden
But someone was brave enough to step in. A woman named Jehosheba, the king’s sister, secretly saved baby Joash from being killed. She and her husband Jehoiada, who was a priest, hid Joash in the temple of God.
He stayed there, hidden and safe, for six years while Athaliah ruled.
Lesson: God can protect His people in amazing ways—even a little child hiding in plain sight.
A Bold Plan to Reveal the True King
In the seventh year, Jehoiada decided it was time to act. He gathered a group of trustworthy leaders and guards and made a secret plan. They promised to protect Joash and bring him out as the true king of Judah.
They positioned guards all around the temple and made sure everything was ready for a big reveal.
Lesson: Sometimes God works through faithful people behind the scenes—ordinary people with courage and wisdom.
The King Is Crowned at Last
At the right moment, they brought out young Joash. He was crowned and anointed with oil as the king. The people clapped, shouted, and celebrated:
“Long live the king!”
When Athaliah heard the noise, she rushed to the temple and saw what was happening. She shouted, “Treason!” but the guards removed her and put an end to her evil rule.
Lesson: No matter how strong evil may seem, it can’t stop God’s timing and power.
A Fresh Start for the Nation
After Joash was crowned, Jehoiada led the people in renewing their commitment to God. They tore down the temple of the false god Baal and got rid of its idols and priests.
At just seven years old, Joash began to reign as king. But he wasn’t alone—he had wise people like Jehoiada to guide him.
Lesson: When God restores what was broken, He also brings leaders and truth back to His people.
Final Thoughts
This story reminds us that God never forgets His promises. He had promised that David’s family would always have a king—and even when it looked like that line had been destroyed, God was still protecting it.
Sometimes we feel like things are too broken or too far gone. But the story of Joash shows us that God is never defeated, and He can bring hope back to life—even from a hidden place.
Do you feel like hope is hiding in your life right now?
Don’t give up. God is still working. He protects, He provides, and He always keeps His promises.
2 Kings 11:1-21 (WEB)
11:1 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal offspring. 2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were slain, even him and his nurse, and put them in the bedroom; and they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not slain. 3 He was with her hidden in the LORD’s house six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.4 In the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the captains over hundreds of the Carites and of the guard, and brought them to him into the LORD’s house; and he made a covenant with them, and made a covenant with them in the LORD’s house, and showed them the king’s son. 5 He commanded them, saying, “This is what you must do: a third of you, who come in on the Sabbath, shall be keepers of the watch of the king’s house; 6 a third of you shall be at the gate Sur; and a third of you at the gate behind the guard. So you shall keep the watch of the house, and be a barrier. 7 The two companies of you, even all who go out on the Sabbath, shall keep the watch of the LORD’s house around the king. 8 You shall surround the king, every man with his weapons in his hand; and he who comes within the ranks, let him be slain. Be with the king when he goes out, and when he comes in.”9 The captains over hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded; and they each took his men, those who were to come in on the Sabbath with those who were to go out on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 The priest delivered to the captains over hundreds the spears and shields that had been King David’s, which were in the LORD’s house. 11 The guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, along by the altar and the house, around the king. 12 Then he brought out the king’s son, and put the crown on him, and gave him the covenant; and they made him king and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, “Long live the king!”13 When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the LORD’s house; 14 and she looked, and behold, the king stood by the pillar, as the tradition was, with the captains and the trumpets by the king; and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!”15 Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds who were set over the army, and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks. Kill anyone who follows her with the sword.” For the priest said, “Don’t let her be slain in the LORD’s house.” 16 So they seized her; and she went by the way of the horses’ entry to the king’s house, and she was slain there.17 Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD’s people; also between the king and the people. 18 All the people of the land went to the house of Baal, and broke it down. They broke his altars and his images in pieces thoroughly, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. The priest appointed officers over the LORD’s house. 19 He took the captains over hundreds, and the Carites, and the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from the LORD’s house, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king’s house. He sat on the throne of the kings. 20 So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. They had slain Athaliah with the sword at the king’s house.21 Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.