“I have found you,” he [Elijah] answered, “because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord. 21He says, ‘I am going to bring disaster on you. I will wipe out your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or free. 22I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have aroused my anger and have caused Israel to sin.’
23“And also concerning Jezebel the Lord says: ‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’
24“Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds will feed on those who die in the country.”
25(There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife. 26He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the Lord drove out before Israel.)
27When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.
28Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 29“Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.”–1 Kings 21
- Ahab wanted a vineyard to plant a garden.
- The owner of the vineyard took his family inheritance seriously and refused to sell Ahab the vineyard.
- Ahab was depressed. Jezebel, his wife, saw her husband’s pitiful state.
- She had the vineyard owner killed and took the vineyard.
- God found out and, through the prophet, confronted Ahab.
- Punishments were going to come. Ahab’s line would end, the men of the northern country of Israel would die, and Jezebel would shamefully be eaten by dogs in the city.
- Yet Ahab humbled himself before God. And whether or not you think it was genuine, God noticed and delayed the punishment. Take advantage of the opportunity to humble yourself regarding your sins and repent before God.–JMB
Joel M Bradshaw 
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