15. As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, "Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you. He is no longer alive, but dead." 16. When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of Naboth's vineyard.
17. Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite: 18. "Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is now in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. 19. Say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?' Then say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth's blood, dogs will lick up your blood-- yes, yours!'" 20. Ahab said to Elijah, "So you have found me, my enemy!" "I have found you," he answered, "because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD.
The Lord sent Elijah to this vineyard and there he met the King. Ahab is thrilled that he has the land finally for his garden. “So here you are my enemy” says Ahab. Elijah’s reply, “I have found you,”
Earlier Jezebel was looking for Elijah to kill him. Notice the change of focus. “It wasn’t you who found me, but I have found you.” Who is looking for whom? Who is guilty and in hiding? Elijah is no longer afraid of the King or his wife. He had met with the Lord earlier and his faith is strong again. We see God continues to use Elijah and his abilities to carry out the work. He is strengthened and there are tasks for him to perform
Vs. 20 Notice how he puts that, “because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord.” Sold yourself to evil. Bargained away his soul so to speak.
There comes a time we are faced with our folly, our evil, our sin. There comes a time when our sinful self is uncovered. The lies are exposed. Our evil is seen for what it is. For some, that time comes early when crimes that are covered up are exposed and results in prison. For others it is not revealed until folks stand before God, but justice will prevail as God will have His way.
There is another part of the story. Naboth was innocently killed, but not forgotten by God. God is omniscient. He is all knowing. He is the one who said “Vengeance in mine”. A sparrow does not fall to the ground without the Father knowing it?
There are thousands of Christian men, women, and children killed for their faith. There were churches burned in Nigeria with believers in them this month. There were three first responders gunned down while trying to rescue children.
I wish we could understand this with the eyes of the Lord and not eyes that are so focused on this world that we are blinded to eternal truth. When God promises us protection and care, it is not necessarily protection and care from earthly powers.
The word says, “Do not fear that which can kill your body, but that which kills both body and soul”. I would much rather be Naboth falsely accused and stoned to death than Ahab standing in a garden condemned by God.
Application: How long before we heed God’s warning?
