We read in 1 Kings 16. 30,
“And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him, and it came to pass as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians and went and served Baal and worshipped him”. Later it says, “And Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than the kings of Israel that were before him.”
This is the introduction we are given in the Bible to Jezebel, one of the most notorious women to reach print. Even in the outside world her name is synonymous with evil. She was a strong unscrupulous, barbaric woman capable of doing anything for her own greed and satisfaction. It would need many pages to account for the enormity of her misdeeds.
Needless to say, under the corrupt rule of Ahab and Jezebel it did not take long for the whole of Israel to follow suit: Baal-worship was prevalent and many other obscene and cruel practices were followed. Once more God sent one of his prophets to intervene and Elijah was sent to tell Ahab that there would be neither dew nor rain until Elijah asked God to send it. This was God’s protest and punishment and, after delivering the message, Elijah was forced to flee for his life. We all know what ensued and how at the end of that period Elijah returned and there was a trial of strength between the prophets of Baal and Elijah. Even though Elijah prevailed, once more he had to flee from Jezebel’s wrath.
To come in contact with her seemed to herald disaster. Ahab had built her a palace at Jezreel and Naboth’s vineyard adjoined it. Ahab wanted it for a herb garden but Naboth refused to sell it as the land was his inheritance from his fathers to be passed on to his children. This, of course, upset Ahab. Jezebel stepped in and soon instigated the outrage that was to end in Naboth’s murder and the gaining of the vineyard. This incurred God’s anger still further and Ahab was greeted at the vineyard by Elijah who said, “Hast thou killed and also taken possession?” He then went on to pronounce the terrible doom decreed for Ahab and his household—Jezebel’s fate was to be eaten by dogs.
Jezebel lived for quite a while after Ahab’s death at Ramoth Gilead and was still an evil influence during the reign of her sons Ahaziah and Jehoram. After Jehu came to power and was proceeding to Jezreel to take over, Jezebel—true to her reputation—painted her face and waited to receive him. She leant out of her window and taunted him and he called to his servants to cast her out of the window to the dogs, thus fulfilling the prophecy. In Revelation we read of an apt reference to her when her name is coupled with the corrupt churches in the last days.
What are we to learn from all this in these days? Here was a woman with everything, who could have been a good influence to all around her. We must be careful as sisters to see that our influence is for good and not for personal gain and satisfaction. Here was a woman in a high position—we don’t have that high position, but some do have wealth and positions of importance in the outside world. We must see that these are all used in the right direction and that the Lord’s work comes first. Money is only lent to us by the goodness of God and we will be answerable as individuals for what we do with it. We must not let our left hand know what our right hand is doing, and always remember that it is better to give than to lend. If we are repaid that is very nice, but don’t let us be like the money lenders and be always looking for it; and let us hold our tongues about our good works.
It has been said many times that very few of us are practising, practical Christadelphians … that we should be doing what has to be done at the time and when we see the need, not waiting to be asked. If we were all to decide personally that we were going to try and live and practise the Truth, what a lot less trouble we would have among ourselves! How many times do we hear it said that all strife is a sign of the times we live in? This may be so, but don’t let us become complacent and accept this. Let us all at least attempt to do what is right, instead of what suits us. Let us close with the words of our elder brother, James, as found in chapter 2. 17, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone”.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One