""The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Kings 21:20,
"Ahab said to Elijah, 'So you have found me, my enemy!'"
King Ahab considered the man of God, the prophet Elijah, his enemy. Ahab was a wicked man and as such lived his life in opposition to the things of God. We are told in verses 25-26, "There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife. He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the Lord drove out before Israel."
Those who live their lives apart from the Lord inevitably find themselves living in opposition to the things of the Lord. Ahab was no exception and as he made his choices in life, he found himself not only estranged from the Lord, but also in opposition to the Lord. It is from this perspective that Ahab considered Elijah his enemy.
Where we may find this not to be surprising, it is helpful to note that this dynamic exists yet within our lives today. This is something that has always existed. In Proverbs 29:27 we read, "The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright." Those who love the Lord quite naturally detest those who oppose the Lord. You might think those who even claim the Lord doesn't even exist could care less, but their comments betray otherwise.
"Ahab said to Elijah, 'So you have found me, my enemy!'"
King Ahab considered the man of God, the prophet Elijah, his enemy. Ahab was a wicked man and as such lived his life in opposition to the things of God. We are told in verses 25-26, "There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife. He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the Lord drove out before Israel."
Those who live their lives apart from the Lord inevitably find themselves living in opposition to the things of the Lord. Ahab was no exception and as he made his choices in life, he found himself not only estranged from the Lord, but also in opposition to the Lord. It is from this perspective that Ahab considered Elijah his enemy.
Where we may find this not to be surprising, it is helpful to note that this dynamic exists yet within our lives today. This is something that has always existed. In Proverbs 29:27 we read, "The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright." Those who love the Lord quite naturally detest those who oppose the Lord. You might think those who even claim the Lord doesn't even exist could care less, but their comments betray otherwise.
All you and I need to do to be hated and reviled by most people of the world is to simply live our lives for the Lord and express our faith in him. You might think that the first amendment to the constitution of the United States might reflect and provide for the tolerance of our Christian beliefs and our love of the Lord here in our country. However, that is not the case and never will be. We might be on good legal ground, but from a cultural perspective, we believers are hated.
Never forget: those who have given themselves to the Lord will always be hated by those who have not. Our embrace of the Lord is a reminder to all who have not embraced him of their failure to do so. It matters not why someone may have not embraced the Lord, it is enough that they have not and our decision to embrace the Lord points directly to judgment day and the poor choice they have made.
Why would a king consider a man of God his enemy? When God is his enemy, God's man is as well.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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