Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him. And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him. Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a wooden image. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. (1 Kings 16:30-33)
When an entire nation strays from God . . .
During his 22-year reign “Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the LORD than any of those before him” (v. 30). After marrying Jezebel, a Sidonian princess, Ahab formally sanctioned Baal worship in Israel. Jezebel was a Baal worshiper and Ahab supported her to the point of constructing a shrine for Baal and an Asherah pole (vv. 32–33).
It is hard to ignore the impact of this moment on Israel’s history. The nation was teetering on a knife's edge. None of its kings had been righteous—not a single one! Its history had been characterized by violence, chaos, and increasing theological drift. Now their king was partnering with his wife to draw Israel into worship of a rival deity.
What is our role in such an ungodly Nation and world? Will we allow our Nation to receive the punishment of God or step up for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14)
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