January 24, 2025, 1 Kings 21:17-24

January 24, 2025, 1 Kings 21:17-24

¹⁷ Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ¹⁸ “Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria; behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession. ¹⁹ And you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Have you killed and also taken possession?”’ And you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your own blood.”’”

²⁰ Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” He answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the Lord. ²¹ Behold, I will bring disaster upon you. I will utterly burn you up, and will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel. ²² And I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the anger to which you have provoked me, and because you have made Israel to sin. ²³ And of Jezebel the Lord also said, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel within the walls of Jezreel.’ ²⁴ Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city the dogs shall eat, and anyone of his who dies in the open country the birds of the heavens shall eat.”

This passage is very clear that God is angry with Ahab and Jezebel.  The name of Jezebel has historically been associated with extreme evil.  To call someone a Jezebel is just about the worst thing you can call a person.  God knows our hearts and for Him to be so angry with them tells how evil they truly were.  This is one of the most famous stories of evil in the Bible, but can you imagine what else they would have been capable of?  There have been times I have been angry with someone and was reminded that God tells us to allow Him to take revenge.  This passage tells us He does not tolerate wicked and evil people.  Who might you have a grudge against today that you need to turn over to God?  I know firsthand forgiveness is more for us than the person we have a grudge against.  The kind of anger that keeps us from forgiving can turn us into selfish and evil people.  When we forgive, it opens us up to share the love of Jesus with those around us.  If there is someone you feel you can’t forgive, ask God to help you forgive.  Don’t let another day go by without letting go of that anger and resentment.