Enough is Enough

“Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ’Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria; behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession. And you shall say to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Have you killed and also taken possession?'” And you shall say to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your own blood.’”’”—1 Kings 21:17-19

Throughout Scripture we read, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness”—Exodus 34:6 (cf. Numbers 14:18, Nehemiah 9:17, Psalm 86:15, Psalm 103:8, Psalm 145:8).  Our God is the forgiving God, longsuffering, patient, and does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 18:23, 33:11); rather He delights in those who “turn from their wicked way and live” (Ezekiel 33:11).  However, there are times when God says, “Enough is enough.”  For those who have habitually continued down a path of sin, unwilling to repent, God will finally execute judgment.  Yet even then there is a glimmer of hope.  God, in the midst of pronouncing judgment, will respond to those whose hearts are repentant.

Ahab had been given plenty of time to repent of his awful idolatry.  He had seen the drought, the defeat of the 450 priests of Baal at Mount Carmel, and then saw it rain—all at Elijah’s word (1 Kings 17:1, 1 Kings 18:44).  Nevertheless, he persisted in his idolatry and continued to operate outside of the will of God.

There was a man by the name of Naboth from Jezreel who had a vineyard next door to Ahab’s palace in Samaria. Ahab wanted the vineyard because he felt it was a convenient location for a vegetable garden.  He offered to give Naboth another piece of property in exchange for the vineyard, but Naboth refused, citing proprietary inheritance rights.  When the Jews conquered the Promised Land, Joshua allocated its various parts to tribes as their perpetual inheritance (cf. Genesis 17:8, Leviticus 25:23, Joshua 13:1-7).  Each parcel of land was meant to pass from one generation to the next, with Jewish law enabling land to be kept in the family in perpetuity, while preventing it from being acquired by the hands of a select few (Deuteronomy 25:5-10).   Ahab’s request is therefore evidence of his complete disregard for Jewish law.

Once Naboth refused Ahab’s request, Ahab headed home dejected and depressed.  Such a change in behavior doesn’t go unnoticed even by the worst of wives, and Jezebel was no exception.  Wondering why he was so down, she prodded him and Ahab explained everything to her.  Incredulous that the king would so easily give up on a common vineyard, she promised to get it for him herself.

A.W. Tozer once wrote,

“What comes to our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man’s spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God. Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God”—A.W. Tozer, Knowledge of the Holy, p. 1.

If Tozer is right that “no people has ever risen above its religion,” and that “no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God” then as far as Baalism and its adherents were concerned, it and they were completely debased.  Historical records are littered with references to the deplorable practices of Baalism.  Not only was sexual promiscuity and perversion part and parcel of the faith, but so was child sacrifice and murder.  With your god practicing such things, it would presumably be entirely acceptable for you to do the same.  With her husband’s approval, Jezebel set forth a plot filled with lies, deceit, murder and theft.  Jezebel had already had the prophets of the LORD killed (1 Kings 18:13) and issued a death warrant for Elijah (1 Kings 19:2).  And her devising of a plan to kill a man for his property apparently did not generate any trouble for her conscience.

She penned some letters in her husband’s name, attaching his seal with an outline of her plan.  It was simple—proclaim a fast, and gather many men of the city together at a feast with Naboth at the head of the table.  Then have some of the men accuse him of blasphemy and treason.  And from there, it would simply be the power of the crowd.

Everything went according to plan—the fast was decreed, the people gathered, and Naboth was put at the head of the table.  Two men accused him of blasphemy and treason and he was taken out of the city and stoned to death.  Upon learning of his death, Ahab went to take possession of the vineyard.  But there was one thing that Jezebel’s plan didn’t cover—dealing with a holy God.

The Scripture tells us “the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite” and God commanded him to go to the vineyard and confront Ahab and decree God’s judgment against him, which Elijah did.   He decreed death for both Ahab and Jezebel, but what happened next was unexpected.  Ahab repented—yes, the wicked king Ahab, who “sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the LORD” unlike any before him (1 Kings 21:25).  It was this same Ahab who humbled himself and repented before the Lord.

Even after declaring judgment, God was ready to relent.  On seeing Ahab’s response, the word of the LORD came to Elijah again, “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; but in his son’s days I will bring the disaster upon his house" (1 Kings 21:29).

God stayed his judgment on Ahab, even after everything he had done.  And He did so because He is the forgiving God who doesn’t delight in the death of the wicked, but desires us to come to repentance.  God wants us to know that no matter what we’ve done and no matter how wicked we might have been, He is ready and willing to forgive.  Although Ahab did enjoy a reprieve from God’s judgment for a while, he didn’t ultimately avoid it altogether.  God would judge Ahab for other evil acts, which eventually did result in his death (1 Kings 22:23).  In this instance, however, God forgave his iniquity, and withheld judgment for a time.

The story of Ahab is one of warning and hope for those who have done evil.  If you are doing something sinful in your life right now, know this: God is not mocked.  What a man sows, he will also reap (cf. Galatians 6:7).  Don’t think that you can continue on in your sin with impunity.  We can’t presume upon God’s mercy.   When God calls us to Himself, He expects us to obey immediately, which is why He says, “’In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).  God wants us to know that if it’s not instant obedience, it's disobedience.

You may feel that you are experiencing God’s judgment right now, and that may well be.  If so, I would plead with you to repent.  God is ready and willing to forgive all who come to Him in repentance and faith, and although there still may be consequences for your sin, God will give you the grace to bear up under it.  Amen.