My Thoughts on the Ministry of Elijah During Ahab's Reign This Reformation Month
Reading through the 1st Book of Kings shows the reign of Solomon down to Ahab. We can see how Solomon's backsliding led to severe division. We can also read of the wickedness of King Jeroboam of the Northern Kingdom. Did God purposely allow a wicked king to rule over the north because of its wickedness? Eventually, many generations later, we read of the most wicked king recorded in Israel in 1st Kings 16-22. It would be interesting when you compare both kingdoms - Ahab ruled during the time of Jehoshaphat of Judah. Jehoshaphat was a valiant reformer but failed to practice separation when he made an unholy alliance with Ahab's house. Even worse, Jehoshaphat had Athaliah for a daughter-in-law. We know where Athaliah lands into - she breaks the stereotype of a loving grandmother by finishing her own family to avoid any threat to her rule. This is where Elijah steps in as a reformer of the wickedness against his day.
The House of Ahab was known for its wickedness. Before Ahab, we had Omri who led the rebellion against Zimri. Omri was wicked but the son was far worse. 1st Kings 16:29-34 tells us the sad story of Ahab's wicked alliance. Not only was Ahab described as the most wicked king who walked in the ways of Jeroboam - he also married a very wicked woman named Jezebel. Jezebel was the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians. It's also recorded in history that Ethbaal was once a priest of the goddess Astarte then usurped his master Pheles. The family values were really wicked when you consider how years later - Athaliah would also usurp the throne from her heirs and how she was truly the tyrant of Judah during Jeroboam's reign. Jezebel was a devotee to the Baal of Phoenicia. I think the Baal that Jezebel worshiped was another Baal from the Canaanites. Baal seems to be a title in reference to any king of the gods of any pagan culture. So, we could say that Zeus is the Baal of Greece while Chemosh is the Baal of the Moabites. There is the term Baalim which refers to any fertility god. In some cultures, the moon is represented as male such as the Babylonian moon god Sin, Hubal the Arabic moon god who I think is the Allah of Islam, and the moon also represented fertility in some pagan cultures. It seems that the Baal that Jezebel brought over to the Northern Kingdom is a variation of the pagan moon god. This makes me want to assume that the Baal that Elijah challenged was also termed as Allah. Baal Shamen may have either been Hubal or Baal Melqart. Either way, we know God hates idolatry and would prove that god to be false. God knew something had to be done.
The House of Ahab was known for its wickedness. Before Ahab, we had Omri who led the rebellion against Zimri. Omri was wicked but the son was far worse. 1st Kings 16:29-34 tells us the sad story of Ahab's wicked alliance. Not only was Ahab described as the most wicked king who walked in the ways of Jeroboam - he also married a very wicked woman named Jezebel. Jezebel was the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians. It's also recorded in history that Ethbaal was once a priest of the goddess Astarte then usurped his master Pheles. The family values were really wicked when you consider how years later - Athaliah would also usurp the throne from her heirs and how she was truly the tyrant of Judah during Jeroboam's reign. Jezebel was a devotee to the Baal of Phoenicia. I think the Baal that Jezebel worshiped was another Baal from the Canaanites. Baal seems to be a title in reference to any king of the gods of any pagan culture. So, we could say that Zeus is the Baal of Greece while Chemosh is the Baal of the Moabites. There is the term Baalim which refers to any fertility god. In some cultures, the moon is represented as male such as the Babylonian moon god Sin, Hubal the Arabic moon god who I think is the Allah of Islam, and the moon also represented fertility in some pagan cultures. It seems that the Baal that Jezebel brought over to the Northern Kingdom is a variation of the pagan moon god. This makes me want to assume that the Baal that Elijah challenged was also termed as Allah. Baal Shamen may have either been Hubal or Baal Melqart. Either way, we know God hates idolatry and would prove that god to be false. God knew something had to be done.
The story of Elijah proves that the man of God well, needs God, to be great. It can be seen that Elijah had his courage and timidity. Elijah wasn't afraid to confront Ahab and warn that there will be no rain for three years. Three years later, Elijah returned to Ahab and dared to talk on his face that it was the latter, not him, that caused the drought. I think it was because the variation of Baal that Ahab worshiped at that time was a fertility god. Melqart the chief god of the Phoenicians was also in charge of vegetation. Ahab believed that Elijah angered the non-existent Baal Shamen. Elijah then decided that it was time to do the challenge to prove that Yahweh (the LORD or Jehovah), not Baal Shamen, is god. Elijah managed to finally make a fool out of the prophets of Baal. What's interesting is that the Hebrew word for pursuing in 1st Kings 18:27 for pursuing is seeg meaning "withdrawal into a private place or moving away". Hmmm... it seems that Elijah was taunting them with the fact that Baal was still in the toilet - a very inconvenient time for them to call upon him. Elijah even had the prophets of Baal executed for their crimes such as child sacrifice and Jezebel's crime of killing away the prophets of the LORD. However, he ended up chickening out after Jezebel ordered his death. Elijah crossed borders and went to Judah where Jehoshaphat could grant him protection. Though, I find it funny he didn't go to Jehoshaphat requesting for protection. Elijah fell into despair one chapter later and he realized that God, not him, was the source of courage to face Ahab.
The unrepentant heart of Ahab is further shown. We can read how he had faked repentance. You can see the battle with Syria was where Ahab could've chosen to renounce his wicked way but he didn't. Ahab had continued in the wrong path in 1st Kings 21 when he decided to steal Naboth's vineyard. Ahab had an entire palace yet he lusted after a vineyard of a commoner. Today, we can see how Communism is reliving the days of Naboth's vineyard. Ahab himself proved to be ruthless in allowing his wife Jezebel to carry out such a wicked scheme. Jezebel herself proved to be that wicked helpmate Ahab needed to be more wicked. Elijah, by the grace of God, ended up going to confront Ahab for his wicked deed. Ahab would feign repentance but the next chapter concerning his alliance with Jehoshaphat.
The final chapter of the wicked Ahab can be found in 1st Kings 21 and 2nd Chronicles 18. This also makes me think about Jehoshaphat's big mistake. Jehoshaphat was a king who loved the LORD yet why would he have his son Jehoram marry Athaliah? Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. I wouldn't be surprised if Athaliah was Jezebel's split image. What would be a good thing for me to reflect is, "Am I living the separated life?" I find myself attracted to unbelieving women more than once either for appearance reasons or because of certain inner qualities they possess such as intelligence or talent. Solomon probably married his other wives because they were great political assets to help him rule. Regardless, any marriage with an unbeliever for whatever reason should be shunned yet it's a mistake that's hard to avoid. Jehoshaphat may have thought of missionary dating that being in-laws with Ahab may bring the latter to the LORD. Yet, it proved to be the fatal opposite. Jehoshaphat was now in a severe compromise when Ahab had his own set of prophets. These were probably the prophets of the calf worship of Jeroboam or that the 450 prophets of Baal at Mt. Carmel was not the whole group. Regardless, Jehoshaphat in spite of his foolish decision asked for a prophet of God. Micaiah the only true prophet gave a sarcastic reply to match those of Ahab's false prophets. Sadly, Jehoshaphat decided to go to war anyway and had to be chastised in 2nd Chronicles 19 about his unequal yokes. This has me thinking that I have the tendency to enter into pagan places of worship and loiter there. Why am I even going to some pagan feasts from my past out of curiosity when I got away from all that?
The ministry of Elijah also shows that faithfulness to God results in unpopularity. Remember the false prophets were popular because they only spoke what the people wanted to hear. A true prophet of God (though there are all dead and they're in Heaven) doesn't care about your feelings but the facts. A true prophet delivers good news and bad news as it is. Micaiah himself should've been listened to when he warned about Ahab's doom. Ahab could've taken that warning and not go to Ramoth-Gilead. Instead, Ahab had Micaiah arrested. Ahab ended up dead and went to Hell after that. It just has me wondering how am I handling the inconvenient truth? Am I willing to speak it? If so, am I speaking it in love and out of concern? Do I care more about popularity or do I care more about the truth? It's a hard struggle when I've got myself desiring the applause of men while the true prophets of God never did.