Sometimes, a person exudes darkness. In the case of Israel, it was their king AND queen. There are evil people in this world, just as there were evil people in the Bible.
Not often are queens mentioned in the Bible, but when they are, they’re typically significant.
Famous Queens
We already met Bathsheba, not only a queen but also the mother of a king. While part of David’s most egregious sin, she was also in the line of Jesus and her story is there for a reason.
Soon after, the Queen of Sheba makes an appearance. Here is a woman who was so intrigued with the rumors she heard about Solomon that she had to meet him herself.
Coming up, the story of Queen Esther will fascinate us in the details of her learned strength and courage.
Jezebel was a notorious queen, She is the undercurrent of King Ahab’s life. The Bible never shares that she has any remorse, she has no problem murdering people for worldly gain, and she incites Ahab to wickedness and worship of idols.
Coming also from the line of Ahab, his daughter, Athaliah, is King Ahaziah’s mother. After he dies, she murders his entire family (her grandkids even!) to retain power for herself.
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Do we even notice…
As we journey through life, the busyness of our daily routines, work schedules, and daily duties can consume us. It is a simple manner to diligence that can take our mind off of Heavenly things. Sadly, it does not take much for our focus to shift. Our focus doesn’t necessarily swing to the other side of the pendulum, but rather, to a lukewarm attentiveness to mundane tasks. That’s all it can take.
Satan is adept at using the things of this world to entice us. Yet, we often fail to recognize the devices he uses.
To that end, when our thoughts are dominated with the things of this world, they take over the thoughts of Heavenward thinking. We ought never to lose sight of the purpose of our lives on earth: to give glory to God. When we do not take into account the realities of our spiritual place we can often lose sight of the evil in the world. Now, as we focus on our tasks, that is not to say, of course, that diligence/jobs/duties are not honorable to work at or for; rather, when they consume our minds to the point they push our hearts to stagnation about spiritual matters is when we need to refocus.
Slipping by unnoticed, evil people are often among us and around us. Sometimes we may not notice, or we may notice and think it doesn’t directly affect us and keep going about our own business. It is a sad reality that some people are just evil; they uncompromisingly follow Satan with a boldness and courage that often put Christians to shame.
Taunting God…
Interestingly enough, a king often sets the pace for the nation and effects those he rules over. When a nation has an evil king, God often deals with the nation as though the king represents them all.
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
Galatians 6:7
To a huge degree, this verse should spur us. Zap us into action. A king who openly mocks God is no small matter. King Ahab was known for it. His notoriety swelled around his disdain for the things of God.
And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him. And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him. He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.
1 Kings 16:30-33, emphasis added
There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited. He acted very abominably in going after idols, as the Amorites had done, whom the Lord cast out before the people of Israel.
1 Kings 22:25-26
That you shall know…
The end of 1 Kings marks the end of Ahab (although, his influence continues through his future generations as well as all throughout Israel). It is rather obvious that King Ahab had not sought the Lord before heading into battle. Yet, God sends a messenger to confirm his success.
The most evil king in Israel’s history, and God sends confirmation of pending victory. It seemed a little shocking that God would do this, until reading the end of that verse.
‘Thus says the Lord, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will give it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’
1 Kings 20:13b, emphasis added
Can you recall a time God does something surprising in your own life that gives you pause, then naturally inspires you to consider that from it, you know that He is Lord?
The victory was King Ahab’s, but the messenger forewarned him of an impending battle. As though not enough, God sends a messenger again to confirm victory.
And a man of God came near and said to the king of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The Lord is a god of the hills but he is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’”
1 Kings 20:28, emphasis added
Responsibility…
In the next chapter, King Ahab essentially throws a hissy fit because he does not get what he wants. His wife decides to take up the matter herself and deal with it as she sees fit. He lets her.
There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited. He acted very abominably in going after idols, as the Amorites had done, whom the Lord cast out before the people of Israel.
1 Kings 22:25-26
She sends a letter under the King’s name and seal to murder Naboth, the man who owned the vineyard he so desperately desired.
After the elders and leaders carried out the dirty deed, was King Ahab notified that the assignment “he” commissioned was complete?
Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned; he is dead.”
1 Kings 21:14
Jezebel was notified, not Ahab. Even they knew she was behind it. Ahab knew the depths she sunk to when conducting affairs and gets called out by Elijah; he has to endure the consequences of his wife’s malicious treatment of Naboth.
Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, “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. 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.”’”
1 Kings 21: 17-19, emphasis added
If you recall, Adam was responsible for Eve in Genesis 3. Back in 1 Samuel, Eli was held responsible for not stopping his sons from sinning. It is a pattern throughout all of the Old Testament that the family structure also represents a responsibility chart. If those under you are actively sinning and you do nothing, to a degree, you are held responsible.
From humility, to ?…
After Elijah delivers the judgment on Ahab, he shows a humility that the Bible had not referenced prior. It is almost shocking that he responds in this manner.
God often responds to humility, as He did here with Ahab. He staved off carrying out the sentence until the next generation.
This could have been a miraculous turning point for Ahab. Instead, it was a blip in his time on earth, and he defaulted back rather quickly. 1 Kings 22 shows Ahab again as a worldly man: he hates anyone who speaks against him (v.8), is enticed into action by those who only speak favorably (vv. 21-22), and manipulates Judah’s king to appear as the only king in the battle (v. 30). Lovely guy, right?
Ahab is enticed into battle, even after the warning from Micaiah that he will die if he goes into battle.
What happens? He dies, as predicted.
Evil people in the Bible…
There are evil people in the Bible, and Ahab rounds out the top of that list with Jezebel puppeteering him up the ranks. Taking note of the evilness can seem so foreign in our day and age, but it helps to look at the lessons surrounding them in the Bible. Why are these stories included?
They are relevant for shaping our viewpoint and how we look at the world around us.
Think about the people he surrounded himself with, the gall of those encouraging him to completely turn away from God, how little repentance was shown (if any) by him or those advising him, how he acted when he didn’t get his way, his emotions when someone tells him the truth (that is not favorable), or even how he emotionally overreacts when he doesn’t get his way.
These are all things to take not of in order to understand those who are in the world around us.
Is everyone evil? No. Do those around us sometimes behave in one of those ways? Yes. Does that make them evil? No. These all are from one man and are continual throughout his life with one example of temporary humility. Let us let that serve as a lesson for who to trust and emulate.
We have one life to live.
One!
Last Week
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Jezebel’s life story is a cautionary tale for.us all!
Definitely agree there!
Becca, I love this study. I can definitely recall many times when God has done surprising things in my life that makes me pause and inspires me to know that he is Lord. I’ll often say ” Okay God this is you, I get it”. Queen Ester’s story is one of my many favorites. Blessings.