Is there a “Jezebel” in me?

The story of Jezebel is found in the Bible in the book of I Kings. Here are some insights from her life which I found as lessons of warning:

Firstly, Jezebel was DOMINANT in plotting evil

There was never a man like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife (1 Kings 21:25). She promoted Baal worship (1 Kings 18:19) and practiced spiritual harlotry and witchcraft ( 2Kings 9:22). She actively sought to exterminate the prophets of God (1Kings 18:4, 1Kings 18:13) while supporting 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the goddess Asherah at her royal table (1Kings 18:19). 

She was the one who plotted the death of Naboth, a righteous man. She coveted the vineyard of a simple citizen in her kingdom. To get that vineyard, she plotted a murder scheme against Naboth. For this to happen, she wrote letters in her husband, King Ahab’s name (1 Kings 21). Jezebel resembles some more women in the Bible, like Zeresh, wife of Haman, Delilah, wife of Samson, and the unnamed wife of Job.

Dominance in any relationship is bad. Plotting evil in a dominant manner is worse. Being both was one worst behavior found in Jezebel. The Bible is against both qualities. “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21) is what the Bible teaches about relating to each other. The Bible also exhorts us not to get tired of doing good (2 Thessalonians 3:13). But Jezebel tirelessly did evil in a dominant style.

 Secondly, Jezebel was DEAF to God’s dealings

She had opportunities to witness Yahweh’s power in her life (1 kings 18:16-46). She witnessed Baal as a powerless God to give rain during drought! At Mount Carmel, she found that the prophets of Baal were unable to call down fire to their altar! Jezebel also saw that Elijah, the prophet of God could bring fire  and rain through a simple prayer! Yet she remained reckless to God’s dealings in her life. The Bible warns us that if we remain stiff-necked after many rebukes, we will suddenly be destroyed without any remedy. (Proverbs 29:1)

  

Thirdly, Jezebel became a DEMONSTRATION of the sowing principle

Galatians 6:7-8 says: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. As per the prophecy of God through his servant Elijah, not only Jezebel, but her generation reaped evil. All these death-scenes were gory and ghastly: of King Ahab (1 Kings 22:37-38), of wicked Jezebel (2 Kings 9:30-37), of Joram, her son (2 Kings 9:25-26), of all of her family (2 Kings 10:1-17),  of Athaliah, her daughter (2 Kings 11:15-16).

A QUESTION: Is there a “Jezebel-nature” in us that need to be confessed to God and renounced thereafter?

"No one who conceals transgressions will prosper, but one who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." (Proverbs 28:13)