Jehoahaz son of Jehu began to rule over Israel in the twenty-third year of King Joash’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria seventeen years. But he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He followed the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat, continuing the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit. So the Lord was very angry with Israel, and he allowed King Hazael of Aram and his son Ben-hadad to defeat them repeatedly.
Then Jehoahaz prayed for the Lord’s help, and the Lord heard his prayer, for he could see how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel. So the Lord provided someone to rescue the Israelites from the tyranny of the Arameans. Then Israel lived in safety again as they had in former days. [2 Kings 13.1-5]
Anyone who says God does not hear a sinner's prayer is just wrong.
Here we see Jehoahaz, deemed an evil king who practiced all the debauchery of Jeroboam, prayed and God answered his prayer!
This should give us the assurance that God wants us to turn to Him. I know it does assure me! So if a person known to be outwardly evil humbles himself and prays and God hears and answers his prayer, then surely those who are trying to follow God who pray should be heard as well!
Father, thank You for this example of Jehoahaz and his prayer to You - even though it was just a moment.
