July 18, 2022

And it came to pass . . . . that [Ahab] took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him. Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a wooden image [of Asherah]. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. 1 Kings 16:31-33

Ahab, king of Israel, was weak in character. His lack of moral fiber in combination with a tendency toward covetousness (see 1 Kings 21:1-16) added up to a deficiency in discernment. His weaknesses attracted him to the pagan princess Jezebel, who had a strong personality with an aggressive and decisive manner centered on manipulation to get her way.

Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?” And [Elijah] answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals.” 1 Kings 18:17-18

The three characters here—Ahab, Jezebel, and Elijah—are symbolically prophetic of what is happening in the world today. The Reformers, upon gaining access to God’s Word, recognized Jezebel as symbolic of corrupting influences within the Roman Catholic church. As Roman Catholics themselves, they humbly acknowledged their own part of the general problem. In high hopes of facilitating corrections, the Reformers each shared gems from God’s word in order to expose errors in the doctrines of their beloved church. But Jezebel, and the continuing such spirit through the church age, does not accept correction of any kind. Jesus addressed the situation:

“I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent…” Revelation 2:19-22

Ahab’s rule in Israel, because of his forbidden marriage (see Deuteronomy 7:3) to Jezebel, was notoriously blighted with corruption. Her power and influence over him led nearly the entire nation of Israel—God’s people who were trained in His Word—into apostasy. Forsaking the LORD God is the real cause of trouble. There is a pattern that will again surface in the last days that had shown up when Cain refused to be corrected: anyone obedient to God will be labeled as the cause of trouble.

Things are not going to get easier. In the days ahead, God’s true people must hold fast to His truth, even though the corruption has spread worldwide, to all the nations. Jesus encourages His followers thus:

“But hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations…” Revelation 2:25-26