God Is Merciful

There was a king of Israel, Ahab, a fleshly man. With an idol-worshipping wife, Jezebel, 1 Kings 21. He wanted the land of a man that was situated by his palace. But the landowner, Naboth, refused to sell or trade his property. The man told the king, “The Lord forbid that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you! The king was displeased by that saying. The king was so troubled that he refused to eat. But wait, this king had a wicked wife. She tells her husband, the king, you now exercise authority overall this place. Get up, eat, and drink and be cheerful. I will give you the vineyard of Naboth! Jezebel devised a scheme. She writes a letter to the elders and nobles in the kings’ name. Charging that the landowner, a high honor man among the people, blasphemed God and the king. With two false witnesses in the presence of the people and king! The man was put to death by stoning, and the king seized the property. It appeared his wife’s plan was successful.  

The eyes of the Lord are in every place.

                                                          Proverbs 15:3

After the wife heard her plan was successful and told her husband the king, the landowner died. The king goes to the vineyard, but Elijah, the prophet of the Lord, meets the king. The king seemed somewhat surprised to see Elijah there. He said, “O my enemy?” Interesting this king had no priest? And viewed them as an enemy? 1 Kings 21:20. Elijah said to the king I have found you because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the Lord. Calamity shall come on you to take away your posterity. When the king heard the prophet’s words, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his body, and fasted. He went into mourning. 

God’s mercy sent Elijah! It appears that King Ahab wasn’t a wicked man, just a weak man. God showed mercy to a man that didn’t mind wickedness being practiced in his kingdom. God could’ve destroyed, not warn him. What a good God!

The Lord later told His prophet, the king humbled himself before me. I will not bring the calamities in his days. But, in the days of his son, I will bring calamity on his house. Perhaps, had King Ahab warn or taught his son about the evils of idol worship. He, too, could have been spared. The Bible says there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the Lord because of his wife, Jezebel 1 Kings 21:25. But God still showed this king mercy.

God’s Mercy For the Believer

God’s mercy for the believer is in Jesus Christ. No matter what you’ve done, Jesus Christ paid the price. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but through me, John 14:6. Jesus is the only way to God.This story in 1 Kings 21 with King Ahab and Elijah shows God’s heart towards a man that will humble himself before Him. Was it the law that calamity would fell on his son? It doesn’t say in 1 King 21. But for us, Jesus paid the cost for all our sins. Under the New Testament, it’s all settled by the finished works of Jesus Christ at the cross. Receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and all that He is will be yours 1 John 4:17. 

Jesus loves you