Is Trump a Modern-Day Jehu?
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
Mark 12:30
I have read several blogs comparing President Trump to Jehu in the Bible. Both men are usually portrayed as a type of "Savior." But when I read articles only about Jehu, I find a complete story. There are definitely a lot of similarities between Jehu and Trump, but not all of them are positive or would end well for America if Trump refuses to see his need for God. As of now, Trump's presidency is not over. We do not know his legacy, and hopefully, it will end differently than Jehu's legacy did. I am not endorsing Trump or opposing him in this blog. I am more questioning whether Trump being like Jehu is a good thing overall and how Christians should respond if he is. Regardless, we know that God chose Donald Trump to be our president for His purposes. What if God is saying to him, "I want you to acknowledge your need for Me so that I can bless you and bless this country. I am giving you a chance to have a different ending than Jehu had."
THE STORY OF JEHU: 2 KINGS 9-10
Jehu was a commander in Ahab's army in the northern kingdom of Israel. God used Jehu to destroy the house of Ahab.
When Jehu was anointed king, the prophet spoke these words, "This is what the Lord says: I anoint you to be king over Israel. You are to destroy the family of Ahab, your master. In this way, I will avenge the murder of my prophets and all the Lord's servants who were killed by Jezebel." Ahab and Jezebel were the evil king and queen that had brought Baal worship to Israel and tortured and killed many of God's prophets. Ahab had died, but Jezebel was still living.
After Jehu was anointed king, he wasted no time in carrying out God's plan. He ordered his men to seal the town so that no one could alert Joram, the current king, and son of Ahab, of his anointing. King Joram had been injured in battle and had gone to Jezreel to recover. Ahaziah, king of Judah, was in Jezreel visiting when Jehu drove like a madman to find Joram.
Both kings came out to meet Jehu once they realized it was him...his reckless driving gave him away. King Joram arrived first and asked Jehu if he had come in peace. Joram would have thought he was coming as a commander and wanted to know if he was bringing good news or bad. He had no reason to suspect what was about to happen. Jehu responded by saying, "How could I come in peace as long as the witchcraft and idolatry of Jezebel are all around?" Joram realized what was going on and turned and fled, shouting, "Treason, Ahaziah!" But Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders, piercing his heart. He fell down dead in his chariot. Jehu proceeded to chase down Ahaziah and killed him too!
Since Ahaziah was related to King Ahab by marriage, my research seems to agree that Jehu was supposed to kill both kings. He was well on his way in obeying what God commanded him to do.
But Jezebel was still alive. She must have gotten word that Jehu had killed both her son and Ahaziah and was now entering Jezreel. She most likely suspected what was coming. She fixed her hair and put on makeup, and when Jehu entered the gate of the palace, she shouted out the window, "Have you come in peace, you murderer?" Two or three officials were with Jezebel, and Jehu yelled at them to throw her out the window. And they did! Her blood splattered everywhere. Jehu then ran her over with his horse before going in to eat. Afterward, he said, "Someone go and bury this cursed woman, for she is the daughter of a king." But when they went out to get her, they found only her skull, her feet, and her hands. This fulfilled Elijah's prophecy that her body would be eaten by dogs.
Ahab had seventy sons (heirs) living in the city of Samaria. Jehu sent a letter to their guardians, informing them that the king was dead, and they should choose the best of the sons to be their king and to fight for their father's throne. The guardians wisely refused and said they would do whatever Jehu told them to do. Jehu sent a second letter telling the guardians to kills all seventy sons and bring their heads to him in Jezreel the next day. The following day, the heads were sent and put at the entrance of the gate. Jehu told the people they were all innocent because the gruesome deaths were the Lord's will, and he reminded them of the prophecy given to Elijah in
1 Kings 19:16-17 and 21:21-24. But did God's command to destroy the family of Ahab include the seventy sons? Or Ahab's surviving relatives, officials, personal friends, and priests, as well as the relatives of Ahaziah? Hosea 1:4 tells us God punished Jehu's dynasty to avenge the murders he committed at Jezreel. God brought an end to Israel's independence and broke its military power in Jezreel Valley. Israel suffered because Jehu went beyond what God had told him to do.
Jehu then brought an end to Baal worship. He called a meeting of all the people in the city and claimed he was going to offer a great sacrifice to Baal. He required all the priests and people to attend, or they would be killed. He sent messengers throughout Israel, inviting all who worshiped Baal to come to witness this great sacrifice he was going to make. When all were gathered, Jehu offered his sacrifice and then commanded his guards and officers to kill everyone. Together, they destroyed every trace of Baal worship from Israel. Ending Baal worship may seem like a wonderful thing for Jehu to do, but slaughtering all the people was not okay. And since he neglected to wipe out the idol worship that Jeroboam brought to Israel, Jehu, and the Israelites continued in their idolatry. They did not turn to the God of Israel.
The Bible tells us that Jehu did not obey the Law of the Lord, and as a result, the Lord began to cut down the size of Israel's territory by allowing King Hazael to conquer several regions of the country. It was Israel that paid the price for Jehu's defiance. Jehu ruled twenty-eight years. As far as we know, Trump will not get more than eight.
DO YOU SEE THE SIMILARITIES?
Jehu was a commander in King Ahab's army, not in a royal line before he became king; Donald Trump was a businessman and not a politician before becoming president.
Jehu had a following, and when they heard he was anointed king, they rejoiced. "Then they quickly spread out their cloaks on the bare steps and blew the ram's horn, shouting 'Jehu is king!' " (2 Kings 9:13); Donald Trump has a very loyal following.
Jehu was considered a wild man, a maniac, one who was easily identified from a distance by his reckless driving (2 Kings 9:20); Donald Trump has been called reckless, a maniac, and a madman.
Jehu was a fighter, and Trump calls himself a fighter.
The Lord anointed Jehu because He wanted him to take out Ahab's family. Many Christians believe God chose Donald Trump to take out the spirit of Jezebel in America.
Jehu faced and eliminated Jezebel; Donald Trump ran against and defeated Hillary Clinton in an election. Some Christians say Hillary has the spirit of Jezebel and needs to be taken down.
Jehu obeyed the Lord by taking out the family of Ahab but killed more than he should have and refused to obey God's Law. There were consequences. I know God chose Donald Trump, and maybe it's to take out the spirit of Jezebel, which he hasn't been able to do yet. But more importantly, Trump hasn't yet seen his need for a Savior or to follow in God's ways. If he doesn't, won't there then be consequences for America if he is a Jehu.?
Jehu's reign was characterized by turmoil and unrest. So is Trump's presidency.
THE SPIRIT OF JEZEBEL
In Christian Forums, JehuSupporter writes:
This election is not as much about Donald Trump but rather the judgment of the Clintons and liberals that influence and control many areas of the government and culture. Could it be that God is orchestrating a clear judgment and defeat of corrupt Hillary Clinton and her liberal allies? Pray that God brings them to account. (Psalms 10:15) This could provide a mandate to enable a real restoration of Biblical and constitutional principles to our government and culture.Intercessors of America tells us what Jim Tarter, a prayer leader from Roanoke, Virginia, said:
The news media establishment in the U.S. and much of the world is dominated by the spirit of Jezebel with its lying, manipulations, witchcraft, and deception. This stronghold will need to come down one way or another for our land to be healed and stay healed.What these two quotes seem to be saying is that if Trump is a modern-day Jehu, and he is successful in getting rid of the spirit of Jezebel, then our country will be healed and go back to Biblical principles and have a godly culture. But is that what Jehu did? No. Israel was not healed under the rulership of Jehu, nor did they return to worshiping God. God was not blessing them. The weakness of Israel under Jehu made it possible for Hazael to take Israel's territory, and Hosea 1:4 tells us the Lord punished the house of Jehu for the bloodshed of Jezreel. So I think the above quotes come to a false conclusion based on Trump being a Jehu.
TWO NEGATIVES AND POSSIBLE OUTCOMES FOR AMERICA BASED ON TRUMP BEING A JEHU
First, Jehu refused to worship God and obey His law, so God began to cut down the size of Israel. If Trump refuses to acknowledge his need for a Savior, and listen to God, will God begin to take away the influence or land of America? Is that what Christians are saying?
Second, Jehu went beyond his God-given assignment. If Trump doesn't see his need for God and continues to take matters in his own hands, will God allow America to collapse completely? I hear all the time that America is not mentioned in the Bible and will have no significant role in the end times. Nowhere in the story of Jehu do we find him asking God before acting, and nowhere does the Bible tell us that God was guiding Jehu. And yet many believers will say that God is guiding Trump even though Trump is not seeking him. That would make Donald Trump more like a King Cyrus.
This whole comparison between Jehu and Trump is interesting but also speculation. Some similarities are straightforward-- unruly character and unrest in the nation. We know that neither man would have been the obvious choice for their position, but that doesn't mean we know that God is repeating history. We can only see the possibilities. But what is clear is, regardless of whether Trump is a Jehu or not, he needs forgiveness and salvation because he is a sinner, just like everyone else.
OUR NEED FOR FORGIVENESS
A lot of people in the media have asked Trump if he has ever asked for forgiveness or if he thinks he would ever need to. Here are some of the ways Trump has responded about his relationship to God, his need for forgiveness, and doing wrong:
"I have great relationship with God. I have great relationship with the Evangelicals,"
"I like to be good. I don't like to have to ask for forgiveness. And I am good. I don't do a lot of things that are bad. I try to do nothing that is bad."
"I am not sure I have," Trump said when asked if he'd ever asked God for forgiveness. "I just go on and try to do a better job from there. I don't think so," he said. "I think if I do something wrong, I think, I just try and make it right. I don't bring God into that picture. I don't."
"I try not to make mistakes where I have to ask forgiveness,"
"Why do I have to repent or ask for forgiveness, if I am not making mistakes?" asked Trump. "I work hard, I'm an honorable person."
“When people wrong you, go after those people, because it is a good feeling and because other people will see you doing it. I always get even.”
“I fully think apologizing is a great thing. But you have to be WRONG ... I will absolutely apologize sometime in the hopefully distant future if I’m ever wrong.”
“When I go to church and when I drink my little wine and have my little cracker, I guess that is a form of forgiveness. I do that as often as I can because I feel cleansed.”It seems clear to me that Donald Trump does not understand that he is a sinner by nature and needs to be forgiven. The Bible says, "We all sin and fall short of the glory of God." (Rom 3:23), and "Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins." (Eccl 7:20) Sin is more than making mistakes. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me." (Jn 14:6) We need to pray that our president will see his need for forgiveness, and his need for a Savior, so that he will have eternal life, and will govern this country the way God wants him to. Then maybe he can leave a better legacy than the one Jehu left.
Sources in addition to the Bible:
Who Was King Jehu in the Bible?
Trump: "Why Do I Have to Repent or Ask for Forgiveness if I'm Not Making Mistakes?"
Donald Trump: "I haven't asked God for forgiveness."
Trump on God: "I don't like to have to ask for forgiveness
10 Donald Trump Quotes That Should Horrify Evangelicals
Is Donald Trump Like King Jehu?
Comparing Jehu and President Trump as Rulers
A Biblical Blueprint for America: Jehu as Trump's Paradigm
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