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Person Of The Week: Ahab
Five kings (Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri and Omri) ruled in Israel in the interval between Jeroboam and Ahab, all of whom contributed to the spiritual decline of the northern kingdom. But scripture focuses more on Ahab due to the acceleration of ungodliness during his reign. A sharp turn toward idolatry occurred primarily because of the influence of Ahab’s wife, Jezebel.
This union is a clear example of why God forbade intermarrying with the pagans of the region. Jezebel was the daughter of Eth-baal, king of the Sidonians (I Kings 16:31). Jezebel fostered not only the widespread worship of Baal in Israel but the corresponding murder of God’s faithful prophets (I Kings 18:4).
Ahab is portrayed as a selfish, childish man who let his wicked wife drive national policy. One story of note: Ahab coveted the vineyard of Naboth next to the palace, and when Naboth refused to sell it, Jezebel hatched a conspiracy resulting in his murder and the seizing of his vineyard (I Kings 21). Such antics defined Ahab’s legacy: “But there was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the Lord because Jezebel his wife stirred him up” (I Kings 21:25).
What an epitaph! If your life could be summarized in one sentence, how would it read?
