Evildoers and their reward

There are some people who delight in causing pain and sorrow to others as long as their own needs are met. Such people can go the extra mile of hurting innocent people if that brings them the desires of their heart. ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37:1‭-‬2‬ admonishes us this: “Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.” They might seem to be enjoying their evil but the reality is that their days are numbered and judgement awaits them. One woman in the Bible who was committed to evil was Jezebel, the wife of Ahab. She was fearless and had no respect for God and man.

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.” ‭‭(1 Kings‬ ‭21:15‬)

In her quest to ensure that Ahab takes possession of a Vineyard belonging to Naboth, she went the extra mile and conspired to have Naboth killed for no reason. This evil plot was successful and “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.” ‭‭(1 Kings‬ ‭21:15‬). Jezebel’s wickedness did not go unnoticed. The Lord through the prophet Elijah declares a series of punishments for the house of Ahab and “concerning Jezebel the Lord says: ‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’‭‭” (1 Kings‬ ‭21:23‬). Let’s consider a few lessons from this story:

Do not lie to get what you want: When Jezebel realized that king Ahab is sad because Naboth will not sell his Vineyard to him, she said, “Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”‭‭ (1 Kings‬ ‭21:7‬) Jezebel wrote a letter in the name of the king and lied against Naboth that he has cursed God and the king. This wasn’t true but the nobles performed the instructions to the latter and killed Naboth. In Revelation 21:8, we are told that liars and all other sorts of sinful people are consigned to the lake of burning sulfur (Revelation 21:8).

Don’t hurt others to get what you want: There are others who don’t mind hurting others in the bid to get what they want. Jezebel’s murder of Naboth brought pain and sorrow to the Naboth family. Naboth was safeguarding his ancestral property and died for it. All the people who rely on Naboth would have been hurt because of this injustice.

Contentment: If Ahab had been content with his Vineyards, he wouldn’t have caused the untimely death of Naboth. Discontented people can do anything to get what they want. We need to understand this truth: “godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” (‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:6‭-‬7‬). Paul, writing to the Philippian churches, reminded them of the need to be content whatever the circumstances (‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:11‬).

Evildoers are destined for damnation: Jezebel and Ahab’s action led to bad consequences. This was the Lord’s verdict: “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.” (‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭21:21‭-‬24‬). Ahab’s family was wiped out in a drastic way. Don’t be in a hurry to instigate evil. You will pay before the law (imprisonment) and before the Lord (eternal punishment). Repent now!

Let love lead you in all your choices: When we love self and hate others, we make provision for a better ground of evil. Jezebel didn’t care about the harm Naboth’s death could bring. Her main goal was to satisfy Ahab’s desires. When we fail to demonstrate love to one another, we make room for evil. If whatever we do is not motivated by real love, we can do foolish things just to make us happy. Let love lead in all your ways.

Know this, “Evildoers are snared by their own sin, but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.‭‭” (Proverbs‬ ‭29:6‬). May God protect us from evildoers in Jesus name. Amen.

Athaliah: The Destroyer of Royal Family

Ahab and his wife Jezebel we considered in a previous post did lots of evil before the Lord. Although Ahab was forgiven because he humbled himself, his son still faced the consequences of Ahab’s sins. 1 Kings 21: 28-29, 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.” Ahab’s first successor was Ahaziah, his son. Ahaziah died because he fell from his lattice and injured himself. Instead of consulting God, he consulted  Baal-Zebub. 2 Kings 1:17 states that, “So he died, according to the word of the Lord that Elijah had spoken. Because Ahaziah had no son, Joram succeeded him as king. Joram was another son of Ahab. During the kingship of Joram, Jehu, the army commander rebelled. Joram (king of Israel) was with Ahaziah, the king of Judah (remember Joram’s own late brother was also known as Ahaziah!) when Jehu attacked them. When Joram discovered Jehu’s evil intentions, “Joram turned about and fled, calling out to Ahaziah, “Treachery, Ahaziah!” When Ahaziah king of Judah saw what had happened, he fled up the road to Beth Haggan. Jehu chased him, shouting, “Kill him too!” They wounded him in his chariot on the way up to Gur near Ibleam, but he escaped to Megiddo and died there. His servants took him by chariot to Jerusalem and buried him with his ancestors in his tomb in the City of David” (2 Kings 9:23‭, ‬27‭-‬28). Thus both Israel and Judah lost their kings in the hands of Jehu, the commander of Israel’s army.

When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family. (2 Kings 11:1)

This incident didn’t go down well with Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah (king of Judah). 2 Kings 11:1 states that, “When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family.” How can a single woman hold so much power? Who did she collaborate with to exterminate the royal family? However, one son was spared by the sister of Ahaziah known as Jehosheba. She took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed (see 2 Kings 11:2). Joash remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the Lord for six years while Athaliah ruled the land (2 Kings 11:3). Thus, Athaliah did not just destroy the royal family, she assumed a leadership role and reigned over the land. She destroyed the royal family so she could become the ruler of the land. Her quest for violence was not justified. Her son Ahaziah was attacked by Jehu in Israel (the Northern Kingdom) so she had no excuse to murder the people in Judah (the Southern Kingdom). Her vengeance was unjustified and barbaric. 

After six years, Jehoiada, the priest, brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him; he presented him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!” (2 Kings 11:12). Athaliah was unaware of the activities in the temple. She didn’t even know that a remnant remained after her mass murder of the royal house. The shouts from the temple got to the palace. “When Athaliah heard the noise made by the guards and the people, she went to the people at the temple of the Lord. She looked and there was the king, standing by the pillar, as the custom was. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her robes and called out, “Treason! Treason!” (2 Kings 11:13‭-‬14). Athaliah felt betrayed that the legitimate son of the late king was being crowned as the king. She wanted to rule, she wanted power and she was not ready to share the throne. However, it was too late for her. Athaliah’s evil cup was full. When she got to the temple, Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of the troops: “Bring her out between the ranks and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the temple of the Lord.” So they seized her as she reached the place where the horses enter the palace grounds, and there she was put to death (2 Kings 11:15‭-‬16).

The land was rid of an evil and wicked woman and the true son of the late king was given his rightful position. Joash was seven years old when he began to reign (2 Kings 11:21). Joash’s father (Ahaziah) had a wrong association with the wrong king (Joram). The death destined for Joram also took Ahaziah. Not happy with the death of his son, Athaliah took matters in her own hands and destroyed the royal family. The confusion in the whole palace began because of Ahaziah’s meeting with Joram. 

You should be intentional about who you mingle with. Not every good person is a God-fearing person. If you follow the crowd, you might end up a victim. 

Jezebel: The fearless evil woman

There are people who are permanently bound on doing evil and even if everyone around them changes for the better, these people still continue their evil and wicked  ways of life. They are stiff-necked, unmoved and unchanged by times and seasons. In fact, if evil was a person, such people would have been known as Evil. The Bible perfectly depicts human nature. We see the good, better, best and the bad, worse, worst. Jezebel, as we saw in our previous post, was one person who promoted, supported and sponsored idolatry in Israel. Idolatry promotes evil and vile lifestyles. Jezebel was a full-blown depiction of idolatry. She did not just serve the gods, she pushed others to serve them and she lived such a heartless and evil lifestyle. No wonder Ahab, her husband, partnered with her in idolatry. Jezebel was a bad influence and she doesn’t stop until she gets whatever she wanted. Even after the miracle the prophet Elijah did by commanding fire from heaven, Jezebel still didn’t fear God but she desired to kill the prophet. Elijah fled for his life.

Jezebel his wife said, “Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.” (1 Kings 21:7)

One more time, Ahab desired to have the vineyard of his neighbour known as Naboth. The king of Israel said to Naboth, “Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth” (1 Kings 21:2). But Naboth refused to part away his ancestral inheritance (1 Kings 21:3). Ahab went home sad and refused to eat. Ahab was coveting another’s property and yet he went home like he was the one that had been cheated. If Ahab had read the Ten Commandments, he would have known that the tenth commandment was about his unholy crave for the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite. Exodus 20:17 states that, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” In other words, Ahab broke the law by his actions. Ahab went home sullen but Jezebel was not impressed. When she heard the reason for Ahab’s sadness, she said, “Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite” (1 Kings 21:7).

Jezebel doesn’t take “No” for an answer. In the world of Jezebel,  the king must have everything he wanted. She therefore set up an evil agenda using Ahab’s name and authority. Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name, placed his seal on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city with him. In those letters she wrote: “Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them bring charges that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death” (1 Kings 21:8‭-10). The elders did exactly as Jezebel’s letter had commanded and they killed Naboth. After this, the elders sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death” (1 Kings 21:14). Without shame, fear or remorse,  Jezebel 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” and Ahab “got up and went down to take possession of Naboth’s vineyard (1 Kings 21:15‭-‬16). See how Jezebel and Ahab partnered in evil. But, their actions did not go unnoticed. 

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!” (1 Kings 21:17‭-‬19). These were God’s words to Ahab and his family:
“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” (1 Kings 21:21‭-‬24). Ahab was convicted and 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” (1 Kings 21:27‭-‬29). The just God is also merciful to the humble. 

Jezebel on the other hand did not repent. She outlived Ahab and was queen mother when Ahaziah and Joram became kings. When Jehu overthrew and killed Joram, he went to Jezreel to destroy the rest of the house of Ahab. When Jezebel heard about it, fearlessly put on eye makeup, arranged her hair and looked out of a window (2 Kings 9:30) as if she was not scared for her life. Jezebel asked Jehu, “Have you come in peace, you Zimri, you murderer of your master?” Jehu looked up at the window and called out, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked down at him.  Jehu commanded that they throw Jezebel down. So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot. But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing except her skull, her feet and her hands. They went back and told Jehu, who said, “This is the word of the Lord that he spoke through his servant Elijah the Tishbite: On the plot of ground at Jezreel dogs will devour Jezebel’s flesh. Jezebel’s body will be like dung on the ground in the plot at Jezreel, so that no one will be able to say, ‘This is Jezebel” (2 Kings 9:31‭-‬33‭, ‬35‭-‬37)

Jezebel used her influence to do evil but she died like a mere animal. There are lots of Jezebels in our world today. Men and women who have no fear for God and neither have any form of regard for humanity. If they don’t change, their end would be like Jezebel. They would face the wrath of God. If the sinner repents like Ahab, God shows mercy. But, if the sinner does not repent, God’s judgement would befall the sinner. 

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood” (Revelation 22:14‭-‬15).

Jezebel: The promoter of Idolatry

Certain women in Biblical history are seen as evil, manipulative and wicked. Their presence gave birth to more wickedness and evil and their evil ways of life led the nation astray. One of such women is Jezebel. The lifestyle of Jezebel and the influence she had over her husband and the nation cannot be overemphasized. Who is Jezebel and why is she relevant in Biblical history? Jezebel was a Sidonian Princess who later became the wife of king Ahab. Sidon was a pagan nation and they did not worship the Lord. Jezebel grew up serving Baal, Asherah and the many gods of the Sidonians. Ahab brought her to Samaria, the capital of Israel (Northern Kingdom). There, Jezebel established herself and used her authourity to promote idolatry in Israel.  No wonder God warned the Israelites against marrying foreign women so their hearts are not drawn to follow foreign gods. 

He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. (1 Kings 16:31)

Ahab was not any other king. He followed the evil ways of all the evil kings that had come before him. According to 1 Kings 16:31, Ahab not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him (1 Kings 16:31). In other words, Jezebel was not the only one who worshipped her gods, Ahab was also led astray and he promoted the worship of Baal and Asherah: “He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him” (1 Kings 16:32‭-‬33). Jezebel’s evil influence on Israel led the prophet Elijah to prophecy against Israel. Elijah said, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word” (1 Kings 17:1). The whole nation lived in famine for three years because of Jezebel’s evil influence.  When Elijah returned to Samaria after three years, he won the “Power contest” against the prophet of Baal (1 Kings 18:16-40). 

Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done in the Power Contest and how Elijah had killed all the prophets of Baal with the sword (1 Kings 19:1), Jezebel was angry and sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them” (1 Kings 19:2). The prophet fled for his life. Elijah had killed 450 prophets of Baal, but he feared one woman and took to his heels. Thus, even the prophet of God knew how influential and manipulative Jezebel was. God Himself had to send his angel to encourage Elijah and to send the prophet food to eat (1 Kings 19:5-9). Jezebel’s idolatry was so pungent that she is seen as an image of Idolatry even in the book of Revelation (Revelation 2:20). Jezebel represents the relationship with strange women that led to the turning of the hearts of the people of God to follow foreign gods. She was resolute and her corrupting influence led the whole nation away from God. Her husband became her biggest sponsor and he built altars for Baal and Asherah all across his kingdom. 

Jezebel was not repentant even when the prophet Elijah miraculously prayed for fire and destroyed the prophets of Baal. She rather became poised for more evil. She would rather kill Elijah than serve God. Even when her husband Ahab fasted and prayed and God forgave him (1 Kings 21:27-29), Jezebel refused to change. In the New Testament, Jezebel is the spirit of idolatry. In the letter to the church of Thyatira, Jesus Himself accused the church for tolerating that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet and who through her teaching misleads God’s servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols (Revelation 2:20).

Jezebel reminds us that whoever you marry can make or unmake you. An unbelieving, evil, manipulative, idolater, wicked spouse can make you a partner in evil. Ahab’s partnership with Jezebel led to all the evil he committed. He was schooled, trained, nurtured and ultimately graduated into idolatry. Before you say “I do”, say “I don’t” to any lifestyle that is contrary to the word of God. You cannot marry someone to change them. Are you God?