The spiritual conflict that raged in the time of Elijah demanded decision. At Mt. Carmel and in the war with Syria God revealed His power. Now Ahab reveals his response. Ahab is driven by a desire to possess a nearby vineyard, which the owner, Naboth, will not sell (21:1–6). Jezebel promises to get the vineyard for Ahab anyway. She arranges false witnesses who accuse Naboth of blasphemy and treason (vv. 7–14). When Naboth is dead, Ahab hurries off to take possession of the vineyard. He is met by Elijah, who announces God’s judgment on the king and his house (vv. 15–26). But when Ahab humbles himself, God promises that the predicted disasters will not fall until the king is dead (vv. 27–29). In the invisible war, each person must choose good or evil, and face the consequences. Richards, L. O. (1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). The Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (238). Wheaton: Victor Books.
I am constantly amazed how God works through evil men and continues to bless them in so many ways. It only makes sense to me in the light of Romans 2:4, "Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?" I know for me personally it was continually seeing HIS grace, HIS mercy, HIS kindness toward me, a sinner. As a young man I knew that HE was pursuing me and I continued to run from HIM...because I wanted to do what I wanted to do! I foolishly thought that giving my life to Jesus would be confining and restrictive, I thought it would cramp my style...what an idiot I was...unfortunately I still have those moments:( When Jesus saved me and made me a new creature in Christ, when the veil was torn from my heart and I could see for the first time I realized that I had been in bondage and in slavery all along to those things that I thought I had to have to be happy...and after coming to faith in Christ I realized that for the first time I was free to be what God had created me to be! I was free to be a child of the most High God, I was free to be in a right relationship with the sovereign God of the universe, I was free from the sentence of spiritual death, eternal death and separation from the author and giver of life. I was free to drink deeply of the pure, clean, ever fresh, springs of living-water! I was free to delight in HIM in ways that I had never known or dreamed possible...I WAS AND AM FREE!
Gal 5:1--It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
Gal 5:13--For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another
John 8:36--“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
Human nature is astounding to me! My own human nature is frightening to me...God has allowed me to have a sense of how far I could fall apart from HIS sustaining grace...it is horrifying! I am just as desperate for HIS saving and sustaining grace today as I was when HE saved me.
Here we have Ahab who God has blessed with victory in battle even though it appears every thought of his heart is evil. After he is confronted by Elijah for killing Naboth and stealing his vineyard, actually Jezebel did it, God pronounces judgement and Ahab repents and God withholds HIS judgement for a time. In the next few verses we learn that he continued his evil lifestyle.
1 Kings 21:25-26 Still, there was no one like Ahab, who devoted himself to do what was evil in the Lord’s sight, because his wife Jezebel incited him. 26 He committed the most detestable acts by going after idols as the Amorites had, whom the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites.
1 Ki 21:27-29 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth over his body, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around subdued. 28 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 29 “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? I will not bring the disaster during his lifetime, because he has humbled himself before Me. I will bring the disaster on his house during his son’s lifetime.”
In one sense these verses are comforting...knowing that God relents from judgement when we repent and humble ourselves before HIM. However the last words of verse 29 cause me much grief and pain...I will bring the disaster on his house during his son’s lifetime. I do not want to be the instrument of pain in the lives of my children! I long to be the instrument of blessing and joy in their lives. The sins of the father are very real.
Those of you who are close to the Lord will say "Mark your grief ought to be over sinning against a holy and righteous God, not that your children will be pained." You are right in saying that...HE has a way of working though them to get my attention and bring me back to my senses.
Oh Father in heaven,
enable us to be madly in love with YOU, pursuing YOU, DEVOTED TO YOU AND DEVOTED TO DOING YOUR WILL!
FILL US WITH YOUR HOLY SPIRIT IN JESUS NAME WE CRYOUT TO YOU OUR GREAT AND AWESOME GOD1
love
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