How often have we heard the hopeful declaration, “Someday, I will do something great for God!” Or the prophetic observation, “That person is going to really be used by God when they are older.” It seems we often place an age or time limit on being used by God. But what is that limit? It’s always just a little older or a little further away than we currently are.
Do I have news for you? Let’s look at a Hebrew boy named Josiah who, at age 8, was thrust into the leadership of Judah. His father, Amon, was killed at age 8, and Josiah was called upon to be King of Judah.
Before we go any further, I need to provide some context. The nation of Israel (God’s chosen people) was united only under three Kings: Saul, David, and Solomon. After Solomon, the nation split into Israel, the Northern Kingdom, and Judah, the Southern Kingdom. Israel had 19 Kings but was captured by the Assyrians in 722 BC. Judah had 13 kings and 1 queen before Josiah, who became the 14th king at age 8.
We read about Josiah in 2 Chronicles 34: “Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in the ways of David his father; and he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left” (2 Chronicles 34:1-2, ESV). This is an amazing statement, considering that most of Judah’s rulers were evil men. Josiah’s pedigree includes Manasseh, his grandfather, who was an evil ruler. Manasseh worshiped false gods, led Judah away from the Lord, and even practiced child sacrifice. However, Manasseh repented and turned to God when taken captive to Babylon. Despite this, the nation of Judah remained far from the Lord.
When Manasseh died, his son Amon (Josiah’s father) became King. Amon was so evil that his servants killed him, and Josiah, at age 8, became King of Judah. We already know Josiah walked with God at age 8. Scripture tells us something interesting happened when he was 16 and 20: “In the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet a boy, he began to seek the God of David his father, and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, and the carved and the metal images” (2 Chronicles 34:3, ESV).
At age 16, Josiah made a deeper commitment to God. By age 20, he began purging the land of idolatry. The discovery of God’s Word further catalyzed Josiah’s reform. While cleaning the Temple, the Book of the Law was found, and Josiah’s reaction was profound. He tore his clothes and wept, realizing how far Judah had strayed from God. Josiah read the Word of God to the people, leading a national covenant to follow the Lord.
Josiah continued his reform: “Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. And the king went up to the house of the Lord, with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and the Levites, all the people both great and small. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 34:29-30, ESV). At age 26, Josiah led a national revival by reinstating the Passover: “Josiah kept a Passover to the Lord in Jerusalem. And they slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the first month” (2 Chronicles 35:1, ESV).
Reflecting on my own life, I accepted Christ as Lord and Savior when I was 5. My parents came to the Lord when I was 15. At age 14, I committed to going deeper with God. At age 16, I went public with my faith through baptism. Then, at age 18, I began pastoral work and training others.
Just like Josiah, God does amazing work in and through the life of someone who surrenders to Him. Josiah’s numbers were 8, 16, 20, and 26. My numbers were 5, 14, 16, and 18. What are your numbers?
Remember, being used by God is not a matter of age or experience, but of surrender and obedience. Just as God’s work in Josiah’s life brought about a national revival, His work in my life changed the direction of my family. What does God want to do in and through you? I challenge you to let Him lay out numbers in your life; times of influence, change, and reform. Perhaps there is a number God wants to lay out in your life right now. This should empower you, knowing that you have the ability to surrender and obey, and in doing so, be used by God in a powerful way. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!