1 Kings 21:15-29 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 1 Kings 21:15-29. As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first. See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
1 Kings 21:15-29 (NIV)
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.
21 ‘I am going to bring disaster on you. I will consume your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel–slave or free.
22 I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked me to anger and have caused Israel to sin.’
23 “And also concerning Jezebel the LORD says: ‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’
24 “Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds of the air will feed on those who die in the country.”
25 (There was never a man like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife.
26 He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the LORD drove out before Israel.)
27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.
28 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite:
29 “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.”
On verses 15-29: Having murdered Naboth, Jezebel urges her husband Ahab to take possession of Naboth’s vineyard. God sends Elijah to speak a word of retribution against Ahab for the way he and Jezebel murdered Naboth and stole his vineyard. Elijah prophesies that as punishment for Ahab’s and Jezebel’s sins, God would cut off every male from Ahab’s line (v21-22) and cause the dogs to eat Jezebel’s flesh (v24). Having heard God’s Word, Ahab humbles himself before God, confessing and repenting of sin (v27). God notices the way Ahab humbles himself before Him. In His mercy and grace, God decides not to bring the disaster He had proclaimed against Ahab’s family during Ahab’s lifetime but reserves it for later (v28-29).
What can we learn from this?
1. It’s amazing that God would show such mercy to a man like Ahab, especially when verses 25-26 say “There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord…[and] behaved in the vilest manner”. It goes to show that as great as our sin is, God’s mercy is that much greater. If we will humble ourselves like Ahab in response to Jesus the Word of God, we can experience incredible mercy from God and can be spared the punishment we deserve for our sin.
2. Ahab would call Elijah “my enemy” (v20), when actually Elijah was one of the best friends Ahab ever had. That’s because a true friend speaks the truth that you need to hear, even when you don’t want to hear it. Elijah spoke the truth that Ahab needed to hear, and this truth led Ahab to change for the better.
3. Also, it is to see Elijah in a much better place personally. The last time we saw Elijah was in 1 Kings 19 where he was depressed, feeling desperate and wanting to die. But having found physical, spiritual, mental and emotional rest as God encouraged him to, Elijah is back and in full strength. He’s able to courageously face Ahab, the very man he had run from before. What can we learn from this? With God’s help, there is life and hope after burnout and depression if only we would listen to God and let Him restore us.
Father, thank You that, no matter what we’ve done, mercy and grace are available to the worst of sinners, including me. Thank You for friends in our lives who speak those tough truthful words we need to hear, so that we can humble ourselves before You and find You again. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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