G-d's perfect will compared to His permissive will.

G-d's perfect will compared to His permissive will


When speaking of G-d’s will, you can see different aspects of it in the Bible. First G-d made man to talk to and G-d only (verbally) directed Adam (the first man) to not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil - man broke G-d's verbal express or perfect will and G-d threw man and woman out of the Garden of Eden. After some time G-d gave Moses the 10 Commandments written in stone. Once again, this was the clearly the stated will of G-d - expressed in the form of 10 laws carved by G-d's own hand in stone. In the Old Testament, the command not to murder let every man know it is G-d's perfect/written will for him not to murder others. The command not to commit adultery makes it clear that G-d's perfect/written will for man is not to commit adultery - but, Jesus said in the New Testament that if we hate anyone we have committed murder and if we lust after anyone - we have committed adultery. No human could ever keep these 10 simple written laws that gave us G-d's perfect will! There is no one righteous - no not one.

His only begotten Son, Jesus kept all of them for us and paid for all of our failures! Jesus simply has given us one commandment - Jesus commanded us to Love one another - this is truly His perfect will! But the denominational churches literally teach their members to hate and judge all the "others". Some say "they" are the only ones who will go to heaven and thereby damn themselves. Some teach their followers to hate certain sins - when all have sinned and fallen short of G-d's perfect will! For anyone to pretend that G-d's stated perfect will is not known to them is simply not true - it also is written on our hearts.

We know that G-d loves to show mercy, and yet He will execute judgment (Exodus 34:6-7). It is on this basis that Moses appealed to G-d to forgive Israel many times (see Numbers 14:17-19). Not only Moses, but others prayed that G-d would repent and show mercy (Nehemiah 9; Daniel 9). G-d takes pleasure in the salvation of sinners; He does not take pleasure in pouring out His eternal wrath on sinners (Matthew 18:14; 1 Timothy 2:3-4; 2 Peter 3:9; Ezekiel 18:32; 33:11) but, He will do so - if we do not trust Jesus!

Jesus Christ is designated as the mediator because He reconciles G-d's perfect will and man. For there is one G-d and one mediator between G-d and men, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19. All this is from G-d, who reconciled us to His perfect will through Jesus Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that G-d was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. Romans 2:4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that G-d's kindness leads you toward repentance? In Hebrews 7:25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to G-d through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Jesus intercedes with us to bring us back to G-d. The believer is brought into communion with G-d's perfect will through Jesus Christ because Jesus Christ came to earth to reveal to the world the very nature of G-d. Understanding who G-d is and what is His perfect will, is the major step needed to prompt us to come back to a relationship with G-d. Jesus intercession is pictured for us in Rev 3:20: Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Jesus is the God-Man who came in time and space to reveal the perfect nature of G-d's will. This was a major work of intercession and reconciliation. But G-d also is spiritually interceding with mankind (He always lives to intercede for us ). In Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the perfect will of G-d. Intercession is G-d pleading for us to come back, and have a relationship with Him, to no longer rebel, to no longer be the enemies of G-d.

Our desire should always be - to do that which pleases G-d (Romans 12:1; Colossians 1:10; 2 Corinthians 5:9; Ephesians 5:10). G-d's permissive will is what G-d allows man to do, even though it is obviously not His perfect will. G-d allowed Joseph's brothers to betray him and to sell Joseph into slavery, and to deceive their father, so that G-d could have His perfect will and could then bring His chosen people (few in number) to Egypt, where G-d would save them, and they would greatly multiply (Genesis 50:20). Not a sparrow falls out of the heavens without His ok, because G-d is still in control, and His perfect will is being accomplished - in spite of whatever man or devil does. In the end all things work together for our good and all things can be and will be used by G-d to the accomplishment of His good, acceptable and perfect will.

What is G-d’s good and acceptable will? This truly is G-d’s "ultimate" will - because His sovereignty ordains everything that has come, is come and/or will come to pass. Clearly from scripture - there is nothing that happens that is outside of His good and acceptable will. In Ephesians 1:11, we learn that G-d is the one “who works all things according to the counsel of His will,” and in Job 42:2, "I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.” Because Almighty G-d is sovereign, His will can never be frustrated. Nothing happens that is beyond His control and/or correction.

G-d specifically asked Jonah to go to Nineveh and tell them to repent. Jonah refused and ran away. G-d knew he would run and when Jonah was right where G-d wanted him to be - a great storm came up and the men on the boat who knew that Jonah had fled from the presence of the Lord - finally agreed with Jonah and cast him overboard - as soon as they did so the storm ceased. Then a great fish that the Lord had already prepared swallowed Jonah. Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and nights (being digested as the fish swam to Nineveh) until he finally agreed to do as the Lord asked and then the Lord spake unto the fish and it vomited Jonah upon dry land. As Jonah crawled out of the vomit - I believe that Jonah was white as snow and when Nineveh saw this sight - they repented. G-d used His permissive will with Jonah and even though Jonah did not want to do G-d's perfect will and simply go preach - even so, Nineveh repented and G-d's perfect will was still accomplished for G-d had accepted what Jonah was going to do and turned it into His advantage.

Jesus was perfected and He alone obeyed His Father in all things that He was verbally commanded (John 8:28) or saw His Father doing (John 5:19). At the end of His Ministry - Jesus did not want to go and die and asked three times that this cup might pass from Him but each time He learned obedience and Jesus only asked for His Father's perfect will in His life. In Romans 12:1-2 we are also called to present our “bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to G-d, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of G-d.” To know the perfect will of G-d, we obviously need to hear Him (John 10:27). While we should all seek to be “led by the Holy Spirit,” we must never forget that G-d calls us to live our lives by every word that proceeds from His mouth (not what our carnal minds interpret what is written in the Bible). Then we are to trust Him that "All things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose." Let us look at a few of Jesus' ancestors that G-d accepted and used for His perfect will in spite of themselves!

Hezekiah's (Ezekias) illness and death

Hezekiah is a name more properly transliterated as "Ḥizkiyyahu" or "Ḥizkiyyah or Ezekias." The narrative of Hezekiah's sickness and miraculous recovery is found in 2 Kings 20:1, 2 Chronicles 32:24, Isaiah 38:1. Various ambassadors came to congratulate him on his recovery, among them Merodach-baladan, the king of Babylon (2 Chronicles 32:23; 2 Kings 20:12). Hezekiah gave too much confidential information to Baladan, king of Babylon, for which he was reprimanded by Isaiah the prophet (2 Kings 20:12-19). According to Jewish tradition, the victory over the Assyrians and Hezekiah's return to health happened at the same time, the first night of Passover. Hezekiah introduced substantial religious reforms. The Talmud (Bava Batra 15a) credits him with overseeing the compilation of the Biblical books of Isaiah, Proverbs, Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes. Hezekiah saw to it that the worship of YHWH was concentrated at Jerusalem, removing the shrines to Him that had existed before then elsewhere in Judea (2 Kings 18:22). Idolatry, which had resumed under his father's reign, was banned. Hezekiah abolished the shrines and smashed the pillars and cut down the sacred post. (2 Kings 21:3) He also smashed the bronze serpent which Moses had made, "for until that time the Israelites had been offering sacrifices to it" (2 Kings 18:4). Hezekiah also resumed the Passover pilgrimage and the tradition of inviting the scattered tribes of Israel to take part in a Passover festival. (2 Chronicles 30:5, 10, 13, 26) The Scripture says “he (Hezekiah) trusted in the Lord G-d of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him” (II Kings 18:5). Notably, Isaiah and Micah prophesied during his reign. Hezekiah enacted sweeping religious reforms, during which he removed the worship of foreign deities from the Temple in Jerusalem, and restored the worship of YHWH the G-d of Israel as instructed by the Torah of Moses. Hezekiah became coregent with his father Ahaz in about the year 729 B.C E.. It was during this period of coregency that Hezekiah watched as Israel was carried off into captivity. Israel was taken captive by the Assyrians “because they did not obey the voice of the Lord their G-d” (v. 12). On numerous occasions, Israel had aligned itself with a number of pagan kings as it attempted to protect itself from foreign invaders. Obviously, their carnal man-made alliances didn’t save them. When Sennacherib (the king of Assyria) came up to attack Judah in the 14th year of Hezekiah’s reign, Hezekiah originally demonstrated a lack of faith and trust in G-d. Rather than calling upon the Lord for deliverance, “Hezekiah gave Sennacherib, the Assyrian King all the silver and gold that was found in the house of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king’s house” (v. 15). Sennacherib then proceeded to insult their G-d and to require even more silver and gold tribute from Hezekiah. Finally, Hezekiah “went up to the house of the Lord” and prayed that G-d would let everyone “know that You are the Lord G-d, You alone” (II Kings 19:14, 19). Isaiah assured Hezekiah that G-d had heard his prayer and that He would take corrective action. After letting Sennacherib know that he had sinned “against the Holy One of Israel” (v. 22), the Angel of the Lord was dispatched during the siege of Jerusalem and the Bible says the Angel of the Lord killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. Herodotus (c. 484 BCE – c. 425 BCE) wrote of the invasion and acknowledged many Assyrian deaths, which he claims were the result of a plague of mice. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living G-d” (Hebrews 10:31). Hezekiah and the people of Judah became committed to the one true G-d and G-d had prospered them greatly. In 2 Chronicles 32: 22-23 we read: "Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side. And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah:so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth. After seeing G-d perform this powerful salvation, Hezekiah seemed to trust the Lord. But, when he was confronted with the news of his impending death, he leaned on his own understanding and no longer trusted the Lord but he cried out to G-d for "mercy" - not His perfect will.

King Hezekiah would have "gone home" when G-d wanted - had G-d not repented and given him 15 more years to live. (2 Kings 20:1-11, 2 Chronicles 32:24-26 and Isaiah 38). Each record tells part of the event. We will see the whole picture by examining all three records. II Kings gives us the record as it happened, 2 Chronicles gives us a glimpse of why the king got in this predicament and Isaiah tells us what Hezekiah wrote during his sickness. Hezekiah had not had an heir to the throne yet. One reason why he was so distraught about dying was because his seed would not be passed on. 2 Kings 20 tells us that his son Manasseh, his son, reigned after him and he was only 12 years old when he began. Even after Hezekiah was recovered it took at least two years for his wife Hephzibah to become pregnant with Manasseh.

In 2 Kings 20: 1-11 we read: "In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying, I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the G-d of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD. And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered. And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day? And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees? And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees. And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz." G-d had heard Hezekiah and spared him - in 2 Chronicles 32:24-26 we read: "In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign. But Hezekiah rendered not again [did not return unto G-d either praise or gratitude] according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah." G-d even confirmed His promise of 15 more years by allowing the entire earth to rotate backward on its axis.

After this extension of his earthly life, Hezekiah became so wealthy - he had trouble staying thankful to G-d for all he had been given. He became prideful and boastful. His transgression is also mentioned in Isaiah in Hezekiah's own writings. In Isaiah 38:9-19 we read a whole lot of "I's, me's and mine's: "The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness: I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years. I said, I shall not see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living: I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world. Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a shepherd's tent: I have cut off like a weaver my life: he will cut me off with pining sickness: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me. I reckoned till morning, that, as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me. Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me. [take on a pledge for me, act as surety] What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul. O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live. Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: [mar marar - was bitterly bitter] but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth." In Isaiah 14: 12-14 we read: "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of G-d: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." - here we see Lucifer saying only 5 - "I's". Jesus taught us how to pray - the Lord's perfect prayer has no I's, me's or my's in it!

G-d had tried to protect Judah by taking Hezekiah home early (His perfect will) as G-d already knew that if He gave Hezekiah another 15 years (His permissive will) - first of all, that Hezekiah would show his Babylonian enemy all his precious things, armour and everything else - which would eventually provoke Babylon to attack Judah later and then secondly Hezekiah would subsequently have an evil son and evil grandchildren to undo all of the good that Hezekiah had done in his life - and finally G-d also knew that Hezekiah’s additional reign would end in selfish boasting and pride and selfish "gratitude" that after Hezekiah's reign the entire country would be looted and destroyed by Babylon! (II Kings 20:12ff). After Hezekiah's death - his 12 year old son Manasseh began to reign and Manasseh did evil in the sight of the Lord, after the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel! Manasseh would not have been born if Hezekiah had allowed G-d to have His perfect will.

Hashem teaches us of Hezekiah's pride and bitterness of heart and His selfishness so that we may learn from it. We must always remain thankful and humble before Him and want His perfect not His permissive will for us - "Not my will but thine be done Lord!". Hezekiah's pride in the riches G-d had prospered him with - eventually led to his downfall. The king of Babylon sent letters and presents to Hezekiah after he heard that he was recovered (II Kings 20:12-21 and Isaiah 39:1-8). Hezekiah listened to him and showed him all of the treasures in his storehouses: the silver, the gold, the spices and precious ointments, the armour; he showed the king of Babylon everything. Isaiah confronts him and tells him the word of the Lord; that all his house will be carried away unto Babylon and his sons will be eunuchs in the palace of Babylon. Hezekiah is grateful that it will not happen while he lives what a selfish ruler and father! Hezekiah dies at the age of 54. Obviously G-d repented again because Hezekiah became an ancestor of Jesus (Matthew 1:9-10) as was his "eunuch" son Manasses who begat "eunuch" Amon and Amon begat "eunuch" Josias who begat "eunuch" Jechonias or Jehoiachin.

Manasses or Manasseh did evil in the sight of the Lord, after the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel!

Amon began his reign at the age of 22, and reigned for two years. (2 Kings 21:18-19) Amon continued his father's practice of idolatry, and set up the images as his father had done. (Zephaniah 1:4; 3:4,11) describes his reign as marked by moral depravity. He was assassinated (2 Kings 21:18-26, 2 Chronicles 33:20-25) by his servants, who conspired against him, and was succeeded by his son Josiah, who was eight years old. (2 Kings 22:1)

Josias or Josiah was the son of King Amon and Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. His grandfather Manasseh was one of the kings blamed for turning away from the worship of YHWH. Manasseh adapted the Temple for idolatrous worship. Josiah's great-grandfather was King Hezekiah who was a noted reformer. Josiah had four sons: Johanan, Eliakim by Zebudah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah, Mattanyahu and Shallum both by Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. Shallum succeeded Josiah as king of Judah, under the name Jehoahaz. Shallum was succeeded by Eliakim, under the name Jehoiakim, who was succeeded by his own son Jeconiah; then Jeconiah was succeeded to the throne by Mattanyahu, under the name Zedekiah. Zedekiah was the last king of Judah before the kingdom was conquered by Babylon and the people exiled. In the eighteenth year of his rule, Josiah ordered the High Priest Hilkiah to use the tax money which had been collected over the years to renovate the temple. It was during this time that Hilkiah discovered the Book of the Law. While Hilkiah was clearing the treasure room of the Temple he found a scroll described as "the book of the Law" or as "the book of the law of YHWH by the hand of Moses". The phrase "the book of the Torah" (ספר התורה) in 2 Kings 22:8 is identical to the phrase used in Joshua 1:8 and 8:34 to describe the sacred writings that Joshua had received from Moses. The book is not identified in the text as the Torah and many scholars believe this was either a copy of the Book of Deuteronomy or a text that became a part of Deuteronomy. Hilkiah brought this scroll to Josiah's attention, and the king ordered it read to a crowd in Jerusalem. He is praised for this piety by the prophetess Huldah, who made the prophecy that all involved would die without having to see God's judgment on Judah for the sins they had committed in prior generations. Josiah encouraged the exclusive worship of YHWH and outlawed all other forms of worship.2 Kings 23 According to the biblical account, Josiah destroyed the living quarters for male cult prostitutes which were in the Temple, and also destroyed pagan objects related to the worship of Baal, Asherah), "and all the hosts of the heavens". Josiah had living pagan priests executed and even had the bones of the dead priests of Bethel exhumed from their graves and burned on their altars, which was viewed as an extreme act of desecration. Josiah also reinstituted the Passover celebrations. (2 Kings 23:4-15). According to 1 Kings 13:1-3 an unnamed "man of G-d" had prophesied to King Jeroboam of Israel, approximately three hundred years earlier, that "a son named Josiah will be born to the house of David" and that he would destroy the altar at Bethel. And the only exception to this destruction was for the grave of an unnamed prophet he found in Bethel (2 Kings 23:15-19), who had foretold that these religious sites Jeroboam erected would one day be destroyed (see 1 Kings 13). Josiah ordered the double grave of the "man of G-d" and of the Bethel prophet to be let alone as these prophecies had come true. According to the later account in 2 Chronicles, Josiah even destroyed altars and images of pagan deities in cities of the tribes of Manasseh, Ephraim, "and Simeon, as far as Naphtali" (2 Chronicles 34:6-7), which were outside of his kingdom, Judah, and returned the Ark of the Covenant to the Temple.

Jehoiachin succeeded his father Jehoiakim (B.C. E. 599) when only eight years of age, and reigned as King or ruler of Judah for one hundred days (2 Chronicles 36:9). He is also called Jeconiah (Jeremiah. 24:1; 27:20, etc.), and Coniah (22:24; 37:1).In 2 Chronicles 36:9 we read: "Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD." So much so that in Jeremiah 22: 24-30 G-d curses Jehoiachin and "forever" strikes him down: "As I live, saith the LORD, though Coniah (Jehoiachin) the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence; And I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life, and into the hand of them whose face thou fearest, even into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans. And I will cast thee out, and thy mother that bare thee, into another country, where ye were not born; and there shall ye die. But to the land whereunto they desire to return, thither shall they not return. Is this man Coniah (Jehoiachin) a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not? O earth, earth, earth, (666) hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah." But even here G-d repented of this curse, because in Matthew 1:12, we find our Lord Jesus is a descendant of Jeconiah (Jehoiachin)!

In the apocryphal book Baruch, we read that Jehoiachin was one of those who collected money in Babylon to send to Jerusalem so sacrifices could be made for their atonement (Baruch 1.1-14). And G-d heard their cries and granted them forgiveness, for we read in 2 Kings 25.27-30 that Jehoiachin was released from the Babylonian prison and resided as one of the guests in the presence of the Babylonian king for the rest of his days.

Since no descendant of Jehoiachin could ever sit on the throne, if Jesus is truly a descendant of this G-d cursed king, he is disqualified from being the Messiah. If this is true, then what is Jeconiah doing in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew's and Luke's Gospels? Jehoiachin is the grandfather of Zerubabel who was a descendant within the Messianic lineage through Solomon. Both Jehoiachin and Zerubabel are listed within Yeshua's (Jesus') ancestry in Matthew 1:12. Zerubabel also appears in the genealogy of Jesus in Luke 3:27. If this curse is correct, how can Jesus qualify to be the Messiah? G-d again has obviously repented and His "forever" curse was totally reversed by Himself.

There are three parts to the curse on Jeconiah (who is also called Jehoiachin, Jechonias or Coniah): 1) that he would be childless (this is how the Hebrew text literally reads) 2) that he would not prosper in his lifetime and 3) that none of his descendants would rule in Judah.

The Scripture shows that in fact none of these took place. 1) Though the Hebrew literally reads, "Record this man childless," Jeconiah in fact had children. - The descendants of Jehoiachin the captive: Shealtiel his son, Malkiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama and Nedabiah -- 1 Chronicles 3:17-18. 2) He did prosper in his day. - In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the year Evil-Merodach became king of Babylon, he released Jehoiachin from prison on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month. He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat of honour higher than those of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. -- 2 Kings 25:27-28. 3) His grandson Zerubbabel prospered and ruled. In fact the same words G-d used in rejecting Jeconiah were deliberately used in establishing Zerubbabel. "As surely as I live," declares the LORD, "even if you, Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring on my right hand, I would still pull you off. -- Jeremiah 22:24 - "'On that day,' declares the Lord Almighty, 'I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,' declares the Lord, 'and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,' declares the Lord Almighty." -- Haggai 2:23. Though Zerubbabel did not sit on the throne as king, the fact that Haggai 2:23 uses the same terminology as Jeremiah 22:24 shows that Haggai intended to indicate a reversal of G-d's curse. We find rabbinic sources which also agree that G-d repented of His curse on Jeconiah, which they attribute to initial repentance on Jeconiah's part. We even find that the Messiah will descend from Jeconiah! Some of these sources are as follows:

1. Sources stating that Jeconiah repented and so G-d repented and reversed the curse.

Sanhedrin 37b-38a - R. Johanan said: Exile atones for everything, for it is written, Thus saith the Lord, write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days, for no man of his seed shall prosper sitting upon the throne of David and ruling any more in Judah. Whereas after he [the king] was exiled, it is written, And the sons of Jechoniah, -- the same is Assir -- Shealtiel his son etc.(1) [He was called] Assir, because his mother conceived him in prison. Shealtiel, because G-d did not plant him in the way that others are planted. We know by tradition that a woman cannot conceive in a standing position. [yet she] did conceive standing. Another interpretation: Shealtiel, because G-d obtained [of the Heavenly court] absolution from His oath.(2) (1) I Ch. III, 17. Notwithstanding the curse that he should be childless and not prosper, after being exiled he was forgiven. (2) Which He had made, to punish Jechoniah with childlessness. --Soncino Talmud edition, with selected footnotes

Pesikta de-Rab Kahana (5th c.) - I accepted the repentance of Jeconiah: shall I not accept your repentance? A cruel decree had been imposed upon Jeconiah: Scripture says, This man Coniah is a despised, shattered image ('sb) (Jer. 22:28), for Jeconiah, according to R. Abba bar Kahana, was like a man's skull ('sm) which once shattered is utterly useless, or according to R. Helbo, like a wrapper of reed matting that dates are packed in, which, once emptied, is utterly useless. And Scripture goes on to say of Jeconiah: He is a vessel that none reaches for with delight (ibid.), a vessel, said R. Hama bar R. Hanina, such as a urinal; or a vessel, said R. Samuel bar Nahman, such as is used for drawing off blood. [These comments on Jeconiah derive from] R. Meir's statement: The Holy One swore that He would raise up no king out of Jeconiah king of Judah. Thus Scripture: As I live, saith the Lord, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim . . . were the signet on a hand, yet by My right, I would pluck thee hence (Jer. 22:24), words by which G-d was saying, explained R. Hanina bar R. Isaac, "Beginning with thee, Jeconiah, I pluck out the kingship of the house of David." It is to be noted, however, that the Hebrew for "pluck thee" is not as one would expect 'tkk, but the fuller and less usual 'tknk, which may also be rendered "mend thee"--that is, mend thee by thy repentance. Thus in the very place, [the kingship], whence Jeconiah was plucked, amends would be made to him: [his line would be renewed]. R. Ze'era said: I heard the voice of R. Samuel bar Isaac expounding from the teacher's chair a specific point concerning Jeconiah, but I just cannot remember what it was. R. Aha Arika asked: Did it perhaps have some connection with this particular verse -- Thus saith the Lord: Write ye this man childless, a man [who] will not prosper in his days (Jer. 22:30)? "Yes, that's it!" said R. Ze'era. Thereupon R. Aha Arika went on to give R. Samuel bar Isaac's interpretation of the verse: In his days Jeconiah, so long as he is childless, will not prosper, but when he has a son, then he will prosper by his son's prosperity. R Aha bar Abun bar Benjamin, citing R. Abba bar R. Papi, said: Great is the power of repentance, which led G-d to set aside an oath even as it led Him to set aside a decree. Whence the proof that a man's repentance led Him to set aside the oath He made in the verse As I live, saith the Lord, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim were the signet on a hand, yet by My right, I would pluck thee hence (Jer. 22:24)? The proof is in the verse where Scripture says [of one of Jeconiah's descendants] In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel . . . the son of Shealtiel . . . and will make thee as a signet (Haggai 2:23). And the proof that a man's repentance led God to set aside a decree He issued in the verse Thus saith the Lord: Write ye this man childless, etc. (Jer. 22:30)? The proof is in the verse where Scripture says, The sons of Jeconiah -- the same is Asir -- Shealtiel his son, etc. (1 Chron. 3:17). R. Tanhum bar Jeremiah said: Jeconiah was called Asir, "one imprisoned," because he had been in prison ('asurim); and his sons called "Shealtiel" because he was like a sapling, newly set out (hustelah), through whom David's line would be continued. R. Tanhuma said: Jeconiah was called Asir, "imprisoned," because God imprisoned Himself by His oath in regard to him; and Jeconiah's son was called Shealtiel, "God consulted," because God consulted the heavenly court, and they released Him from His oath.
--Yale Judaica edition translated by William G. Braude and Israel J. Kapstein (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1975), pp. 376-77. Bracketed portions are Braude and Kapstein's explanations.

Leviticus Rabbah XIX:6 (5th-6th c.) - The Holy One, blessed be He, then said: 'In Jerusalem you did not observe the precept relating to issues, but now you are fulfilling it,' as it is said, As for thee also, because of the blood of thy covenant I send forth thy prisoners out of the pit (Zech. IX, 11) [which means], You have remembered the blood at Sinai, and for this do 'I send forth thy prisoners'. R. Shabbethai said: He [Jeconiah] did not move thence before the Holy One, blessed be He, pardoned him all his sins. Referring to this occasion Scripture has said: Thou art all fair, my love, and there is no blemish in thee (S.S. IV, 7). A Heavenly Voice went forth and said to them: 'Return, ye backsliding children, I will heal your backslidings' (Jer. III, 22). --Soncino Midrash Rabbah vol. 4, p. 249

Pesikta Rabbati, Piska 47 (6th-7th c.) - R. Joshua ben Levi, however, argued as follows: Repentance sets aside the entire decree, and prayer half the decree. You find that it was so with Jeconiah, king of Judah. For the Holy One, blessed be He, swore in His anger, As I live, saith the Lord, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim kind of Judah were the signet on a hand, yet by My right -- note, as R. Meir said, that it was by His right hand that G-d swore -- I would pluck thee hence (Jer. 22:24). And what was decreed against Jeconiah? That he die childless. As is said Write ye this man childless (Jer. 22:30). But as soon as he avowed penitence, the Holy One, blessed be He, set aside the decree, as is shown by Scripture's reference to The sons of Jeconiah -- the same is Assir -- Shealtiel his son, etc. (1 Chron. 3:17). And Scripture says further: In that day . . . will I take thee, O Zerubbabel . . . the son of Shealtiel . . . and will make thee as a signet (Haggai 2:23). Behold, then how penitence can set aside the entire decree!
--Yale Judaica edition translated by William G. Braude (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1968), vol. 2, p. 797.

Numbers Rabbah XX:20 (date uncertain; 9th c.?) -...no sooner had they repented, than the danger was averted, And the Lord repented of the evil (ib. XXXII, 14). And so in many places. For example, He said about Jekoniah: For no man of his seed shall prosper (Jer. XXII, 30) and it says, I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations . . . In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, My servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the Lord, and will make thee as a signet (Hag. II, 22 f.). Thus was annulled that which He had said to his forefather, viz. As I live, saith the Lord, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim King of Judah were the signet upon My right hand, yet I would pluck thee thence (Jer. XXII, 24). --Soncino Midrash Rabbah vol 6, pp. 812-13

Rabbi A. J. Rosenberg, on Jeremiah 22:30 (20th c.) - In this, too, no man of his seed shall prosper, namely that no one will occupy the throne of David nor rule in Judah. Although we find that Zerubbabel, his great grandson, did rule over Judah upon the return of the exiles, the Rabbis (Pesikta d'Rav Kahana p. 163a) state that this was because Jehoiachin repented while in prison. They state further: Repentance is great, for it nullifies a person's sentence, as it is stated: 'Inscribe this man childless.' But since he repented, his sentence was revoked and turned to the good, and he said to him, "I will take you, Zerubbabel, and I will make you a signet" (Haggai 2:23). They state further: Said Rabbi Johanan: Exile expiates all sins, as it is said: "Inscribe this man childless," and after he was exiled, it is written: '(1 Chron. 3:17) And the sons of Jeconiah, Assir, Shealtiel his son'--[Redak]. --A. J. Rosenberg, Jeremiah: A New English Translation (New York: Judaica Press, 1985), vol. 1 p. 185. "Redak" is an acronym for Rabbi David Kimchi (13th c.), whose opinion Rosenberg cites.

Encyclopedia Judaica - Even the decree that none of his descendants would ascend the throne (Jer. 22:30) was repealed when Zerubbabel was appointed leader of the returned exiles (cf. Sanh. 37b-38a). --"Jehoiachin" (9:1319).

2. Sources stating that the Messiah will descend from Jeconiah.

Tanhuma Genesis, Toledot (8th-9th c.) - Scripture alludes here to the verse Who art thou, O great mountain before Zerubbabel? Thou shalt become a plain (Zech. 4:7). This verse refers to the Messiah, the descendant of David. . . .From whom will the Messiah descend? From Zerubbabel. --Midrash Tanhuma-Yelammedenu, translated by Samuel A. Berman (Hoboken, NJ: Ktav, 1996), p. 182.

Rabbi A. J. Rosenberg on Jeremiah 22:24 (20th c.) - Malbim calls to our attention that in the prophecy of Haggai (2:23), G-d says, "On that day I will take you, Zerubbabel, and I will make you like a signet," for the King Messiah will be like a signet ring on G-d's right hand, so to speak. Just as the name of the owner of the ring is engraved on his signet ring, through which he makes himself known, so will G-d's name be known in the world through the King Messiah, through whom His miracles will be known. He says here that, though, in the future, Coniah will be the signet on My right hand, for the Messiah will spring from his seed, now I will remove him from there. --Ibid., p. 183. Malbim is an acronym for Meir Loeb ben Jehiel Michale, a 19th c. rabbi and commentator. 22:24.

Jewish Encyclopedia - Jehoiachin's sad experiences changed his nature entirely, and as he repented of the sins which he had committed as king he was pardoned by G-d, who revoked the decree to the effect that none of his descendants should ever become king (Jer. xxii.30; Pesik., ed. Buber, xxv. 163a, b): he even became the ancestor of the Messiah (Tan., Toledot, 20 [ed. Buber, i. 140]).

The Almighty G-d knows who we are and what we will do and he has already taken this into consideration so He and He alone accomplished and will continue to accomplish His perfect will and desires and what He needs to do to save and use us in spite of us - even so, dear one it is best to be in His perfect will not His permissive will. It is interesting to see who is in Jesus' ancestry including the above men and Rahab the harlot. Obviously they are there not because they were perfect but only because our G-d accepted them as they were and then used their imperfections to create a perfect only begotten Son! Paul was chief of the Apostles and chief of the sinners! In 2 Corinthians 4:7 we read: "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of G-d, and not of us." Thank G-d for His perfect will!

Shalom and Selah!