Williamsburg Christadelphian Foundation

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Keep Turning

In my daily readings, I’ve just finished 1 Kings and the account of King Ahab. Today my plan shifts to James, and it seemed to me as I read that there’s a connection.

I’m tempted to say that Ahab was a failure on every level, however that’s not actually true. As a head of government he seems to have done fairly well. Under his rule the country was stable and prosperous. A lot of folks would say that’s the best you can expect.  But for a king of God’s people, much more was expected.

From the first part of James chapter 1, here’s what faithful people are counseled:

  • “Count it all joy when you meet trials.”  Ahab sulked whenever he didn’t get his way.

  • “If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask God.”  Ahab didn’t consult God until Jehoshaphat insisted, and even then didn’t take the wisdom he was given.

  • “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways, and must not suppose he will receive anything from the Lord.”  Ahab was most certainly double minded. He nominally acknowledges the Lord God, but his nation is also filled with Baal worship, led by his wife. He adjures Micaiah to speak the truth, but then jails him when he does. His whole life seems to be waffling.

Spiritually, Ahab was awful, by the Lord’s own assessment: “Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him.”  And that’s saying something, considering what had gone before!  Late in Ahab’s reign, Elijah is sent to him with a message of utter condemnation. And again the Lord’s assessment: “There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab… He acted very abominably in going after idols…”

And yet. 

After hearing the condemnation pronounced by Elijah, “When Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and went about dejectedly.”  Another instance of Ahab pouting over something he doesn’t like. And yet.  “The word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days.’ “  He gets off the hook!  Maybe. No promise is made about his eternal fate, and the prophecy of the dogs licking Ahab’s blood still stands. But the immediate disaster is postponed till after he has died.

What do we make of this?  I don’t believe anyone would argue that Ahab had a real turnaround, true repentance. (Just look at the next chapter, the closing chapter in Ahab’s life.)  What can we take away from this man’s life, particularly in light of the teaching in James?

First off, there’s no revocation of God’s assessment of Ahab.  We learn from the example of Manasseh that someone utterly evil can in fact undergo a real repentance—but that’s not what we see in Ahab.  It’s a mistake to think Ahab is off the hook. What we do see is that, when someone turns even partly to God, He is ready to bless that slight turn. He does so, I believe, to encourage a further turn. A further turn that Ahab never makes; he reverts right back to his old ways. The end of his life is the perfect example of the double minded man.

The counsel of James remains true and right. We might, though, want to rethink if we have thought of Ahab as essentially a comic book villain. He is in fact three dimensional. He was a capable ruler. There were times he did what was right. I believe we’re given examples like Ahab to prompt us to look within ourselves. Do I think of myself as OK because I’m capable, perhaps in ecclesial matters or relationships with fellow believers?  Am I OK because I occasionally admit to having done wrong?  How do I react to trials—rejoice or sulk?  Do I really, sincerely ask for God’s wisdom, or do I just go through the motions with my mind already made up?  Am I fundamentally double minded—on one hand acknowledging the Lord, but on the other hand self-seeking?
 

If we are made uncomfortable considering these questions, that’s arguably a good thing. A first step toward doing better, a slight turn in the right direction.  Every one of us is afflicted with double-mindedness to some degree, and with a tendency to not rejoice over trials. I believe that if we make a small turn we will be blessed. But the real lesson of Ahab is that we have to keep turning, little by little coming into closer alignment with the will of God.

Love, still trying to keep turning, Paul

If you have any feedback, please contact me at: paul.zilmer@gmail.com