Wednesday 02 July 2008

Background

The fact that an innocent man, Naboth, had been murdered tofulfill the ambitions of King Ahab (in obtaining Naboth's vineyard)could not be allowed to go unpunished. Justice would need to beseen by the people. Elijah, the prophet of God, turns up to condemnAhab. Because Ahab had shed the blood of an innocent man, justicewould only be done when Ahab's own blood was shed. But here wediscover that his whole family will suffer, not just theperpetrators of the crime - Ahab and Jezebel.

At first sight this does not seem to be 'just'.

However, verses 25-26 express the attitude of the editors of thebook to the kings of Israel. They believed that the kings hadbecome an infection in the political body and must be eradicated atall costs. The name and memory of Ahab was to be removed root andbranch from Israel and all his family were to die in a way thatwould make it clear to the nation that the whole family had beenrejected by God.

This story is a reminder of how pride, greed, corruption and murderwere a part of the history of God's dealings with God's ownpeople.

To Ponder

How do you respond to evil in the world aroundyou?

Thank God today for the grace and forgiveness tobe found in Christ Jesus.