Ahab - Inciter of God's Anger
by Pastor Ronald Boelte
Ahab was the seventh king of Israel's Northern kingdom. He was married
to a foreigner, Jezebel. He was the first king of the Northern Kingdom to
have a strong and stable government, but his reign was marred by spiritual
compromise. His wife Jezebel openly worshiped Baal in Israel and she would
still have power for ten years in Israel after Ahab's death as queen
mother.
Ahab's marriage had both political and commercial benefits. It removed
the military threat from Phoenicia and opened the way for expanded sea
trade.
He would also enjoy peace with Judah during his reign. The two kingdoms
would often work together in trade and in war with other nations.
Ahab was successful in two different campaigns against the Syrian king,
Ben-hadad, but would be killed in his third battle against the Syrians.
The days of Ahab were days of growing wealth and of spiritual apostasy.
We see his surrender to the influences of idolatry by his construction of
a temple for Baal, the massacre of the Lord's prophet's, and the seizure
of an Israelites property. However; there seems to be times when Ahab
looked to the Lord. He often consulted with Yahweh's prophets, he used the
divine name in naming his children, and did not interfere in the execution
of the Baal priest after the contest on Mt. Carmel between them and
Elijah. The influence of Jezebel in his life, however, overshadowed any
influence the prophets of the Lord may have had on his life. He became a
prime example of what a evil ruler was like.
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