The First Born Is Not Always the Best Choice

This chapter just speaks to me again about how important it is to properly prepare when passing the torch to the next generation. The contrast between Jehoram and his father, Jehoshaphat, is striking. What a glaring disconnect! This is a man, Jehoram, who wasn't fit to be any kind of leader with measurable authority, let along king. There is nothing notable about his 8 year reign. His only contribution was to cause Israel to fall out of favor with God and hurry along God's judgement of his people.

Why would Jehoshaphat, after spending so much his life seeking God's will and encouraging Israel to do the same, be so careless as to hand over the kingdom to such a wicked man? Only one reason is given -- he was the first born.

". . . but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn." -- 2 Chronicles 21:3

Jehoram is given full control of God's kingdom that both Jehoshaphat and Jehosophat's father Asa had so carefully administered and nurtured under God's guidance. His only qualification is that he was the first born of apparently many other more noble sons. We get confirmation of this from the prophecy from Elijah when he informs jehoram that God will curse him for his actions.

"Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah . . . and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father’s house, which were better than thyself" -- 2 Chronicles 21:12-13

Clearly, being the first born is not all it's cracked up to be. Actually, if you look over the examples we have in the scriptures of men who were the first born in their families (e.g. Cain, Easu, Eliab, etc.) you quickly start to get the sense that maybe there's something here that God's trying to tell us. What really should matter in terms of succession is character, diligent preparation, and most importantly God's favor. This is a lesson that should reach to all great men and women when we take upon us the sober responsibility of passing the torch.