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Throughout 1 Kings 21, Ahab is the central character. He is referenced in the opening and the final verses of the chapter. While other prominent characters such as Naboth, Jezebel, and Elisha are important to the plotline, Ahab is the main character on which to focus. Over the chapter he receives three messages that tell us a lot about him. When he receives a godly message from Naboth, Ahab shows that he is a covetous king. When he receives a deceiving message from Jezebel, Ahab shows that he is a weak king. Finally, when he receives a message of judgment from Elijah, we see that Ahab is a wicked king.
Ahab sees a wonderful plot of land next door, and he makes a very generous offer to Naboth to purchase it (v. 2). But Naboth would rather pay tribute to the Lord and his family than receive more land or money (v. 3). Ahab is quite perplexed. Here we see how much worldly wealth and status matter to Ahab. He cannot understand how someone would have higher values. Therefore, this covetous king is willing to listen to a message of lies.
In verse 7, Jezebel comes to her husband with a deceiving message. Her words sound like a mafioso statement: “Don’t worry; I’ll take care of it.” Yet rather than questioning his wife’s claim, Ahab shows his weakness. He turns his eyes away and is willing to trust in the ways of wickedness. Here we are given a warning against being willingly blind. Turning blind eyes to the wicked ways of family and friends can have consequences for us all. After receiving the report of Naboth’s death in verse 15, we may think that Ahab would be able to claim complete ignorance and innocence. The guilt of this sinful act is primarily put on Ahab, however. In verses 17–29, a final message of judgment is given to the wicked king Ahab.
When Elijah comes to give the Lord’s message to a murderous king, Ahab immediately responds to the prophet’s appearance with disdain (v. 20). Yet after Elijah gives a gruesome sentence of judgment against Ahab and all his line, the king’s tone changes. In verse 27, Ahab tears his clothes and puts on sackcloth, showing some signs of sorrow. Even though a parenthetical epilogue already shows the wicked legacy of Ahab and Jezebel (vv. 25–26), we are still given a taste of God’s grace at the end of the chapter. Though Ahab’s actions show no signs of true saving faith or repentance, still the Lord is gracious by suspending the judgment on all of Ahab’s line until Ahab is gone.
The Lord graciously delayed judgment on Ahab, but it was only a postponement. Saving grace is different. Let us give thanks to God that saving grace is not just a brief pause on full judgment, as Ahab received. Rather, God’s righteous wrath has been taken in full by His own Son. The penalty has been paid. Therefore, we who repent and believe in Christ our Savior will not perish but have everlasting life.