Ahab

I have been struggling with writing this one because I really don't like this man... but here we go...

Ahab was a king of Israel when the nations were split. His capitol was in Samaria. He was already disrespectful of the ways of God, then to make matters worse, he marries an EVIL woman named Jezebel. Yea, we have all heard something of Jezebel, but are not quite sure about her. I may do her next. Men, you have got to be more careful of who you choose to allow yourself to be influenced by.

The first thing the bible says is that he worshipped baal and set up altars to him. First mistake, first commandment, thou shalt have no other god's before Me. Bad beginning already. Then he sets out and rebuilds the walls of Jericho at the cost of his first born son being sacrificed at the laying of the foundation and the youngest son at the setting up of the gates.

Despite his evil ways, God still tried to get Ahab to know that He was the true God. He wanted Ahab to turn from his evil ways and serve the living God. I am not sure if God was so interested in Ahab himself, or the Israelite people in general. He could have just been faithful to the people and so Ahab received some of the blessing of that.

God decided to attack Ben-Haddad who was king of Aram at the time. He was to be put to death. Ahab decided to make a covenant with him after God had given Ahab the victory of battle. He did not kill Ben-Haddad as he was supposed to. A prophet tells Ahab that because he disobeyed the word of God that it would be Ahab's life for Ben-Haddad's. Ahab's people for Ben-Haddad's people. On top of this, he killed a man named Naboth and took his vineyard. God sent Elijah to confront him about his sin. Elijah tells Ahab, "The very spot where the dogs lapped up Naboth's blood, they'll lap up your blood—that's right, your blood.And because you've bought into the business of evil, defying God. I will most certainly bring doom upon you, make mincemeat of your descendants, kill off every sorry male wretch who's even remotely connected with the name Ahab. And I'll bring down on you the same fate that fell on Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah—you've made me that angry by making Israel sin." As for Jezebel, God said, "Dogs will fight over the flesh of Jezebel all over Jezreel. Anyone tainted by Ahab who dies in the city will be eaten by stray dogs; corpses in the country will be eaten by carrion crows." (pretty rough, right?)

So when Ahab hears this, he becomes quiet and repentant. He becomes submissive to God and in his graciousness, God chooses to spare the doom pending until after Ahab is dead. Ahab dies in a chariot while in battle against Aram. He had been shot with an arrow. The king was brought to Samaria and there they buried him. They washed down the chariot at the pool of Samaria where the town whores bathed, and the dogs lapped up the blood, just as God's word had said.

Isn't it amazing how faithful God is to His people, even when they are evil. Not that Ahab didn't have destruction, but he was one of the most wicked kings in the history of Israel yet God tried repeatedly to get him to turn and repent of his sin. When he does show some semblance of remorse God decides to honor it and not bring doom during his lifetime. What a merciful God we serve...