1 Kings 21:25
Ahab was a king of ancient Israel. As a Jew, he was one of God’s chosen people but instead of worshipping God, he literally chose to worship the devil and taught his people to do the same. Scripture has this to say of him:
“But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.” (1 Kings 21:25)
Because of his evil, God sent a prophet by the name of Elijah to tell him:
“Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab [every male], and him that is shut up and left in Israel…” (1 Kings 21:21)
In other words, God was going to completely wipe out Ahab’s lineage whether they were slaves or free and it was going to happen in his lifetime. Ahab had no patience for prophets who spoke the truth and he was not beyond imprisoning prophets who condemned him. But this time, the words of Elijah got to Ahab. The king came face to face with the depth of his sin and its consequences. Rather than hardening his heart, “…he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly [behaved humbly].” (1 Kings 21:27b) In Ahab’s day, these were acts of repentance and humility toward God. And the Lord noticed.
“And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
“Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son’s days will I bring the evil upon his house.” (1 Kings 21:28-29)
Because of Ahab’s humility and repentance before Him, God chose to spare Ahab. The consequences of his sin would not be entirely erased, but God forgave Ahab. Another prophet by the name of Isaiah says this:
“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7)
Ahab was one of the most wicked kings in Israel’s history, yet even he found grace in God’s sight when he humbled himself and repented. Maybe you’re reading this, and you have convinced yourself that you have been so wicked that you are beyond God’s mercy. If Ahab was not then neither are you. Jesus died for your sins while all of your sins were yet future so you could come to Him and be forgiven today!
Grace in Waves 