1 Kings 16:1-34
Q.1. How did God use an evil army chief to bring His judgment against wicked King Baasha? Why? – (1 Kgs.16:1-14)
The prophet Jehu first spoke to King Baasha, to warn him that God would destroy him and all his family, in the same way as He had wiped out the family of Jeroboam. This was because Baasha followed Jeroboam’s evil ways (1 Kgs.16:1-7). Baasha’s son Elah only reigned two years. He was cut down by his commander Zimri, while in a drunken stupor (1 Kgs.16:8-10). The warnings of God’s prophet had been ignored, and in due time Zimri, was raised up to exterminate Baasha’s whole family line, according to the word of the Lord through Jehu the prophet (1 Kgs.16:12). This was the punishment – for all the sins of Baasha and the sins of Elah his son, which they made Israel sin, provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger with their idols (1 Kgs.16:13).
Q.2. What was the reign of Zimri’s successor like? Where did he lead the nation? – (1 Kgs.16:15-28)
Zimri only lasted seven days before he was deposed by Omri. Zimri committed suicide by burning down the palace citadel upon himself (1 Kgs.16:15-20). Omri was another ambitious army chief who reigned for twelve years – Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord and acted more wickedly than all who were before him (1 Kgs.16:25). He built the city of Samaria, and continued the idolatry of Jeroboam, in order to keep the tribes of Israel from the temple and worship in Jerusalem. He provoked God with his evil ways (1 Kgs.16:24-28).
Q.3. What influences on Ahab led him to provoke God’s wrath? What does this teach us about the impact of family ties? – (1 Kgs.16:29-33)
King Ahab was the son of Omri, and he – did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all who were before him (1 Kgs.16:30 & 33). He led the nation in a downward spiral as did his father, for a period of twenty-two years. This came about through his marriage to the wicked – Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians who went to serve Baal and worshiped him (1 Kgs.16:31). We learn how much damage can be done by ungodly family ties and marriage (c.f. 2 Cor.6:14-18). In fact, Ahab erected a temple for Baal in Samaria, plus an Asherah, a female wooden idol, to be worshiped. Yet the Lord would appeal to Ahab’s heart through the prophet Elijah (1 Kgs.17:1). Joshua had placed a curse on the rebuilding of the city of Jericho he had destroyed … and it was so (1 Kgs.16:34 c.f. Josh.6:26).