1 KINGS 21
Covetousness. Ahab asked Naboth to break the law, but Naboth refused (Num. 36:7). The king thought that every man had his price, but Naboth was not for sale. “You shall not covet” is the last of the Ten Commandments (
Conspiracy. Evil leaders could never succeed were it not for weak people who obey their orders. Jezebel did not fear God’s name or believe in fasting, but she knew how to use both to get what she wanted. An innocent man died, but God saw it happen. Elijah found Ahab, Ahab’s sin found Ahab (Num. 32:23), and the word of judgment was pronounced.
Clemency. Ahab humbled himself before God, not because he felt the burden of his sins but because he faced the terror of death. God delayed the execution of the sentence, but it came just the same. Ahab had sold himself to do evil, and his master—sin—finally paid the wages (Rom. 6:23).