1 Kings 20-21: We are in the part of the Bible where there will be good kings who follow after God and there will be bad kings who follow other gods. Ahab was one of the bad kings. He was married to Jezebel and she was just plain evil. 1 Kings 21 describes this couple like this, “25(There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited.” Jezebel had people killed, she hated the prophet Elijah and tried to get him killed. She worshiped Baal and was very instrumental in getting the country of Israel to follow Baal as well. God must have seen something good in Ahab. In chapter 20 God saved Israel from the king of Syria twice to reveal himself to Ahab. I wonder if the influence of Jezebel was so great that somewhere deep down Ahab had a humble heart toward God, but her influence dominated that.
Do you know people who have a heart for the Lord, but they allow other people to influence their behavior? They know the right things to do, but when they get with the crowd they act and think like the crew they are following. The Bible says “Bad company corrupts good morals.” That sure seemed to be the case for Ahab. At the end of chapter 21 Ahab is told because of Jezebel’s having Naboth killed and Ahab going along with it and taking his land, God had passed judgment on them. Then something amazing happens, read it for yourself.
21:27 And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly. 28And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29″Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son’s days I will bring the disaster upon his house.”
No matter how far away you might run, God is always waiting for you to return! Ahab may have been a bad king, but God hears the prayers of one who humbles himself before the Lord. I also believe Ahab had seen the power of God when he fought against Syria and he knew that God was real. Has God used things like that in your life to show you He is real? Were you once much closer to God. Don’t waste your life, return now and experience joy. Don’t allow friends to pull you away. Get in church, surround yourself with others pursuing Christ and live in the bounty of God’s blessing.