The Hand of God

 1 Kings 16: 31-33

“31 And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he took as his wife Jezebel daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshiped him. 32 He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made a sacred pole. Ahab did more to provoke the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than had all the kings of Israel who were before him. “

Ahab was a bad king.  The writer of 1 Kings regards him as Israel’s worst king.  His offenses included marrying Jezebel,  a Sidonian princess, worshiping Baal, and making a sacred pole. Sacred poles stood upright and were made of wood.  They represented Asherah, a Canaanite goddess of fertility, whose worship involved ceremonial prostitution.

How is it that any leader of the Israelites could worship any god but the one true God?  How is it that he did not know or care about Moses and the experiences of the Hebrews in the wilderness; the conquest of the promised land; or the glory of King Daivd.  All these things could not have been accomplished without the guidance and the power of the one true God.

Can you look back over your life and see the hand of God?  Can you see instances of God’s love and forgiveness during the course of your lifetime?  Have there been times when you know God intervened?

Would we ever forsake such a God?  

Or would we serve Him forever with gladness?

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)