“Life isn’t like the stories,” I have been told, “It’s not about good guys and bad guys. It’s just about people with varying inclinations.”
I love it when they say that. I nod in a way that understands where they’re coming from. Once they’re finished I reflect on what reality has taught me and wonder why folks … never mind.
There’s this bad guy who was really bad. How bad?
No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the Lord’s sight as Ahab did under the influence of his wife Jezebel. His worst outrage was worshipping idols just as the Amorites had done—the people whom the Lord had driven out from the land ahead of the Israelites. (1 Kings 21:25-26 NLT)
That bad.
Just to make matters worse, this Ahab had just gone and taken another man’s property just because he thought it would look good for a vegetable garden. To get the property the owner was killed. Not that Ahab cared. All he needed to know was that he had his lovely patch. His wife was a big influence on his pursuit of evil, but this man still knew what he was doing when he did it.
This is a bad guy.
God is not one for bad guys. So He had His man Elijah outline the consequences for Ahab. Those consequences were not pretty at all – it wasn’t looking good for him or those that would follow him. Serves him right. That’ll teach him for being a bad guy.
Then something really odd happens
When Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothing, dressed in burlap, and fasted. He even slept in burlap and went about in deep mourning. (1 Kings 21:17 NLT)
Ahhhh he’s only upset because he got busted. He doesn’t really mean it. He’s a bad guy, right God? Right, God?
Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has done this, I will not do what I promised during his lifetime. It will happen to his sons; I will destroy his dynasty. (1 Kings 21:29 NLT)
Hmmmmmmmmmm … you mean even the bad guy gets it?
(Photo by Paul Skorupskas on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 