Posted by Chester Morton / Monday 15 February 2016 / No comments
The religious tension during the reign of Ahab
RELIGIOUS TENSION DURING AHAB’S REIGN
When King Omri died, his son, Ahab reigned in his stead and
he reigned for twenty-two years in Samaria. Ahab did more evil than all the
kings before him.
He married Jezebel, the Phoenician who introduced the worship
of Baal into Israel. Ahab himself worshiped Baal, the god of his wife and even
served that god. Ahab built a house for Baal and also built an altar in the
house of Baal. Ahab allowed Hiel to rebuild Jericho.
As a result of all that he had done, Elijah pronounced a
drought on Israel. After the pronouncement, God told Elijah to go and hide near
the brook Cherith. Elijah went to hide near the brook and the Lord commanded
ravens to feed him in the morning and in the evening. Since there was no rain,
the brook dried up.
After three years, God told Elijah to go back and show
himself to Ahab. When Ahab met Elijah, he addressed him as the trouble maker
for Israel. Elijah denied the accusation and said Ahab was the trouble maker
for Israel because he had encouraged the worship of Baal in Israel.
Elijah instructed the king to assemble all Israel on Mount
Camel together with the 450 worshipers of Baal and 400 worshipers of Asherah.
The aim was to prove which god was more powerful, Yahweh or Baal.
