The Day Between

Ahab Admonitions

One of my favorite portions of the Bible is the section from 1 Samuel to 2 Kings.  The stories, history, and drama of the rise and fall of the nation of Israel are, for me, a fabulous read.  It’s not just entertainment either.  There’s quite a bit we can learn in those passages.  One of the things I love about the Word of God is that He presents people’s stories in a realistic way.  There’s no sugar-coating or avoiding of reality in the Lord’s narrative.

The Lord doesn’t seem much interested in making people look good. The truth is far more useful to our journey and education.  As Paul informs us, For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through the perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope (Romans 15:4).

Some of the most intriguing characters surround Ahab, a king of Israel.

Now Ahab the son of Omri became king over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years.  Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all who were before him.  It came about, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians and went to serve Baal and worshiped him.  So he erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal which he built in Samaria.

Ahab also made the Asherah.  Thus Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him (1 Kings 16:29-33).

            Ahab was the seventh king Israel had, but was called the worst.  In order to understand Ahab, we need to understand Jeroboam, the first king.  Jeroboam had worked for Solomon and was thought of as valorous and industrious (1 Kings 11:28).  When Solomon persisted in his sin with foreign women and their gods (1 Kings 11:1-13), God promised He would tear the kingdom away from Solomon’s son.  God sent Ahijah, the prophet, to Jeroboam and promised to give him ten tribes of Israel.  Ahijah told Jeroboam he would reign over all he saw, and that the Lord would build Jeroboam an enduring house if he would just obey and follow the Lord completely (1 Kings 11:26-38).

            An enduring house is no small thing.  God promised Samuel would have one when He was rebuking Eli (1 Samuel 2:35).  Abigail predicted one for David when she pled with him to spare her husband Nabal (1 Samuel 25:28).  An enduring house speaks of a long-lasting positive reputation, influence and blessing, but it was not enough for Jeroboam.

            Our God is a promise keeper.  I don’t think Jeroboam had a problem believing that the Lord would do what He said He would do.  Jeroboam’s problem was that he knew God was faithful and would keep His word.  Moreover, since God had made promises to David first, Jeroboam feared his kingdom wouldn't last.  He wasn't interested in promoting God's will; he valued his own will more.  Jeroboam realized he would be given a kingdom of ten tribes to punish Solomon for his unfaithfulness, but not permanently.  Thus I will afflict the descendants of David for this, but not always (1 Kings 11:39).

            Jeroboam decided God’s blessing, an enduring house, was not enough.  He had no desire and made no effort to listen to all that I command you and walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight by observing My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did.  He had nothing but contempt for God’s promise, then I will be with you and build you an enduring house as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you.

            Instead, Jeroboam would establish himself and ensure Israel remained his.  He determined to fulfill God's promise his way.  

Jeroboam said in his heart, ‘Now the kingdom will return to the house of David.  If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will return to their lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah’ (1 Kings 12:26-27).  

So the king consulted, and made two golden calves, and he said to them, ‘It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; behold your gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt.’  He set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. (1 Kings 12:28-29).

          He put these idols in both ends of the country, so the people wouldn’t trouble themselves to travel all the way to Jerusalem to worship the true God.  He copied Aaron in his sin of making golden calves and claiming they brought Israel out of Egypt.  Worst of all, he credited a false god with the provision, blessing, and salvation the Lord had provided His people and set up an alternative religion with substitute rituals.  Not only did Jeroboam disregard, dismiss and totally reject the Lord – he took an entire nation with him.

Jeroboam was disobedient, wicked and evil.  The magnitude of his sin and his responsibility in the destruction of Israel are enormous, yet the Scriptures tell us Ahab was worse.  Surely there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the Lord, because Jezebel his wife incited him (1 Kings 21:25).

Sold himself – gave himself totally to do evil - he was devoted to it – what a testimonial!  What a way to be remembered.  Who supported him in that effort?  His lovely wife, Jezebel, gets the credit for influencing her husband for evil.  What an honor!

            Influence – the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something else.  Jeroboam had an immeasurable amount of influence on those around him.  Jezebel had incredible influence on Ahab.  Ahab has the distinction of being the worst king Israel ever had and launching his country in a direction from which it would not recover. 

We all have influence to larger and lesser degrees on those around us – and it is a serious thing.

            For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.  For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls (1 Peter 2:21-25).

            To be continued…

           

***an excellent resource on the kings of Israel

https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/Dictionary/viewTopic.cfm?topic=CT0000049,IT0005320