Joel M Bradshaw

29In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. 30Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. 31He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 32He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. 33Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him.

34In Ahab’s time, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundations at the cost of his firstborn son Abiram, and he set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, in accordance with the word of the Lord spoken by Joshua son of Nun.–1 Kings 16

At that time Joshua pronounced this solemn oath: “Cursed before the Lord is the one who undertakes to rebuild this city, Jericho: “At the cost of his firstborn son he will lay its foundations; at the cost of his youngest he will set up its gates.” (Joshua 6:26)

No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I [Paul] do not want you to be participants with demons. (1 Corinthians 10:20)

1. While Asa was being a good and godly king down south in Judah, there was political unrest and craziness up north. Remember, God split the kingdom into two following Solomon’s reign.
2. Ahab was the 7th king of Israel of a succession that started with Jeroboam.
3. It’s as if everything he did was meant to “poke God in the eye.”
4. He even married Jezebel, the demon-worshiping princess of the nearest Gentile nation. The next thing we read is that Ahab made it easier for his nation to also worship these demons. What else theologically would you consider these idols like Ba’al and his “wife” Asherah, if not demons? Paul (cited above) agreed.
5. Ahab wasn’t compromising, he seemed to be all-in regarding his rejection of God.
6. And yet, God was still at work. The prophecy from Joshua about Jericho was fulfilled. We expect God to still be sovereign even when wicked rulers abound.
7. My prayer for you is that your story will not be defined by your selfish, wickedness like Ahab, but rather by your humble repentance and faithful obedience to God.–JMB