Defining Moment

Defining Moment

Jezebel

Read: 1 Kings 21:17-29

Jezebel arranged for false witnesses to accuse Naboth of blasphemy so that he and his sons could legally be stoned to death, according to the Israelites’ own laws. The queen then smugly told her husband that she had obtained the vineyard he had set his heart on. When Ahab strolled out to inspect his new property, however, he brought back the report of a chilling encounter. Perhaps Jezebel listened as Ahab told of Elijah’s prophecy of horrible deaths for Ahab, his descendants, and Jezebel. She saw Ahab humble himself before God in repentance, and she heard how God softened his judgment. This brought Jezebel to a defining moment in her life. Would she also take the prophet’s words seriously and turn away from her false gods? Would she seek mercy and forgiveness from the true God?

We are surrounded by warnings every day, displayed on practically every building we enter and every product we handle. When we are very familiar with certain words or phrases, we find it easy to ignore them. Some warnings are especially dangerous to ignore, such as a caution that a bridge may be icy or a weather alert that a tornado is passing through our neighborhood. Although a warning is designed to ensure our safety and well-being, we choose whether or not we will respond in an appropriate way.

It’s extremely dangerous to become complacent about God’s warnings to us. The Bible is filled with instructions on godly living. It tells us of the blessings that accompany obedience and warns about the consequences of rejecting God’s ways. The lives of many people in the Old Testament illustrate the cost of disobedience. Each time we read a Scripture passage that warns us of God’s judgment on sin, we have a choice to make. Will we take God’s Word seriously and turn away from habits, attitudes, and behaviors that displease him? Or will we ignore his warnings and continue to live the way we please?

What warning from God have you been ignoring?