“Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: ‘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. 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!”’ 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. He says, “I am going to bring disaster on you. I will wipe out your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or free. I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have aroused my anger and have caused Israel to sin.”
‘And also concerning Jezebel the Lord says: “Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.”
‘Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds will feed on those who die in the country.’
(There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife. He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the Lord drove out before Israel.)
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly. Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: ‘Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.’” (I Kings 21:17-29 NIV)
Ahab was an evil and despicable king. Just prior to this passage, the story is told of his desire for a garden owned by a man named Naboth. He wanted it so bad, that after Naboth refused to sell it to him, he allowed his wife to arrange for his murder. Over a garden! The writer of Kings says there never was anyone as evil as Ahab at the time of his writing. He could easily be compared to the despots of more recent history such as Sadaam Hussein or Muammar Gaddafi.
Yet, when Elijah confronted him with the murder of Naboth and the impending consequences, the evil and powerful Ahab humbled himself. And the Lord took notice. James says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (4:10) That’s all it took for Ahab to change his position with the Lord. And that’s all it takes for us, no matter what we’ve done or are guilty of.
When you think about it, this is amazing! Murderers, thieves, pimps, adulterers, child molesters, drug dealers, and even horrible despots can find grace from the Lord! Grace is available to anyone, no matter how evil, if they will only humble themselves before the Lord.
Today, take heart that no matter what you have done in your life, the Lord is willing to forgive if only you will humble yourself before Him.
© Jim Musser 2013
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