In contrast to fairly juvenile behavior exhibited earlier in this chapter (see 1 Kings 21:4), King Ahab of Israel appears to have made more mature decisions when confronted about news of his punishment (i.e., punishment for allowing a man to be executed on false charges so that Ahab could take his property – see 1 Kings 21:20-24).
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.
Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite: “Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.”
1 Kings 21:27-29 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/1ki.21.27-29.NIV
I find it interesting that verses 25-26 told us about how evil Ahab was, between Elijah’s pronouncement of a curse upon Ahab and this passage about Ahab’s penitence. Even Ahab seems to have appreciated that the true God was powerful, and when God said that something would happen, He had the power to make good on it.
So, Ahab humbled himself (which is not a small thing for a king like himself). The Bible doesn’t say that he tore down all of the pagan altars in Israel, or anything like that, but he appears to have at least taken a step in the right direction, acknowledging God’s sovereignty.
And, despite all that Ahab had done – leading God’s people down a path of idolatry, taking the vineyard of a guy that his wife had had killed, and everything else that he did – God was still merciful. God’s promise would still be fulfilled, but Ahab’s repentance allowed God to show that He can be compassionate to even the evilest of evil kings.
And, the good news for us is that God can be compassionate even upon the evilest people today. That means that God’s grace is available to both you and me, no matter what we have done with our lives in the past. So, if we sin, our call is to repent, not to abandon our faith. For those who have drifted – or run – away from God, I think that the question we should ask is not whether we’ve gotten too far away from God (since God is still at work in this world, near to us), but rather whether we will choose to repent and return to Him.
So, let’s remember – let’s remember – that God is still merciful to those who repent, even to those whose behavior is especially evil. God can show compassion even upon the evilest people today. That means that you and I are redeemable (but only through divine intervention, although God provided that in Jesus Christ), and that God’s offer of grace extends to those who practice evil around us. That person on TV who just did something terrible, that co-worker who takes God’s name in vain, or that neighbor who has bad habits: these are people who we can pray for, show God’s love to, and share the good news about Jesus with.
Let’s head into the next week asking for God’s help to make good choices: both in obeying Him and in deciding who we will surround ourselves with. Then, let’s listen to His direction, not ruling out any acts of extreme compassion that He would like for us to show others on His behalf: even those who (like us) don’t deserve it.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for May 25, 2025
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – 1 & 2 Kings, by Jesse C. Long, Jr. © 2002 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 