Click here to read scripture ---> 1 Kings 21:17-29
The consequences for Ahab and Jezebel’s sins are dramatic. All his family will be killed, including Jezebel. The dogs will eat her flesh. That is the worse public humiliation. But more than that, they lose their own souls.
To be out of eternal fellowship with the Lord is the worst of all consequences. That is exactly what happens. As we conclude the book of 1 Kings and read more into 2 Kings, we see the drama played out: Within three years Ahab disguises himself as a common soldier and in battle an arrow flies and hits him between the folds of his armor. He suffers watching his men lose the battle. He loses his life and his body is lying in a pool blood. Surrounding his body are scavengers, not pets like we think, but more like the coyotes, lapping up the blood of Ahab.
Jezebel later is thrown from a balcony by her servants and her blood is splattered all over the wall surrounding the palace. Horses trampled over her body. The dogs came and ate away all her flesh so only the bones remained.
King Ahab had 70 sons in Samaria, the capital of Israel. All had their heads put in a basket. The commander of the armies, Jehu, killed everyone who remained in the house of Ahab, as well as all his chief advisors, close friends, and priests leaving him no survivors.
We see the truth of the warning of James. “…but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:14-15) This story is the illustration of the truth of the consequences of yielding to sinful desires.
There is however a glimmer of hope in the last three verses. It shows Ahab for the first time coming to repentance. He tears his clothes and humbled himself before the Lord. God by his mercy relents and says the disaster to Ahab’s household will happen after he dies. The Lord’s judgment was delayed.
Unfortunately, his repentance was only for a short time. If Ahab kept his promises things might have been different. We do have examples of others who repented of their sin and God used them. When King David was confronted with his sins of murder and adultery, there were consequences, but with his humility and repentance, his descendants were established by the promise of God until the coming of Jesus Christ, who will reign forever.
Peter sinned and repented and was used of God in dramatic ways to establish the church. Saul met the Lord and had a heart change. God uses Paul’s letters today as Scriptures for our teaching and obedience.
The Lord’s promises for the faithful result in blessings by His mercy, but for the one who continues in sin there is warning and then condemnation. This is a message of hope and of despair. Which shall it be? For God will right the wrongs.
I am reminded of the challenge of the words of Joshua when the nation was established in this new land in Deuteronomy 30:19 .
Application: “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings, and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”
Prayer: Lord, help me today in all my choices to “choose life,” to choose You and Your will in everything. Let me be Your hands and Your feet to all who cross my path, including those in my own household.
