Marriage-Spoilage or Salvage?

The Bible says that the institution of marriage is honourable in all. Marriage has been defined as a covenant of faith, and not a legal contract (Malachi 2:14). It was God who initiated the marriage between Adam and Eve. Jesus performed his first miracle in a wedding house. There is a wedding feast waiting for us in heaven where and when we will dine with our bridegroom Jesus. On the other hand, the first attack came upon the first family to usurp them from their heavenly bliss of marriage. From then on marriage was not always a bed of roses. There are more marriages that get spoilt even today. Can marriages be saved and be a “Heaven on Earth” experience?

Simultaneous Spoilers

Temptation to go wrong has come upon couples from the beginning like in the case of Adam and Eve. The first one and only commandment on obedience was given to Adam. We do not know at what level the communication went wrong between Adam and Eve. It could have been with the source-Adam or the receiver-Eve. Even while Eve was about to disobey, Adam was in her close vicinity only. However be the case, both disobeyed! Both failed to instruct one another! Disaster followed! (Genesis 2 & 3)

Ahab, an Israelite king has been credited with the following comment in history: 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). Neither of the two was good enough to instruct the other spouse to stop injustice which  they together caused to an innocent citizen of their kingdom. Both Ahab and Jezebel faced gruesome deaths there after!

Ananias and Sapphira was a couple belonging to the early church. Their bond was so strong that they both said the same lie of keeping a part of the money which otherwise had to be given for the needs of the church.  They both had agreed together to test the Lord on this aspect. This led them to the tragic consequences of a death for both on the same day (Acts 5:1-11).

Saviour Spouses

There were occasions when one of the spouses was wise enough to stop an impending danger. Like in the case of Abigail, whose husband Nabal was surly and mean in his dealings with king David who was a fugitive then.  David became so furious of Nabal to the extent that he said, “Be it ever so severely if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!" But Abigail was an intelligent woman who could discern that her husband’s dealing with David was wrong. She acted smart by providing the mundane needs of the king! She later updated the developments to Nabal when he was in a sober mood. However Nabal died of a heart failure. But Abigail could save the lives of the rest of her male belongings. She was saved from her widowhood too, for David married her! (1 Samuel 25)

In the case of Job, he and his wife suffered one disaster after the other. Losing children and property all together was not an easy situation for this couple to handle! Job had an added agony unlike his wife. He He Hwas inflicted with sore boils from head to toe! Job’s wife lost patience and finally yelled, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!” Job was wise enough in not doing that. After a short period of adversity in their lives, the couple was blessed with prosperity again. What would have happened if Job would have succumbed to the pressures of his wife to curse God and die?

Hosea in the Bible had the most troublesome marriage with his wife Gomer! After knowing about Gomer’s adulterous relationship, Hosea still married her! Hosea found that the third child she bore was not his. Still he provided the needs of Gomer which her lovers also availed! (Hosea 2:8) The climax was: Gomer was sold as a slave by one of her lovers! Hosea still went to the extent of redeeming her by buying her! (Hosea 3:2) The world may term a person like Hosea a “fool,” but in a marriage with God’s help one can be as forgiving and loving like Hosea! If Hosea had not reflected God’s love with his wife Gomer, their marriage would have been ruined! The message of the real story of the book of Hosea in the Bible is that God loves the unfaithful ones like Gomer, provides their needs and redeems them from the bondage of sin! To redeem us, Jesus bought us with a costly price by giving His life on the cross! There is hope for a hopeless marriage because the resurrected Jesus gives hope of every kind to those who believe in Him!

There is always hope for all, even for couples who simultaneously spoil their marriages. At the most there can be “one” saviour among the two who can work through the grace of God to save their marriage. All one has to do for this to happen is to be a child of God to showforth His characters! John 1:12 says “All who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” No wonder, children of the living God imbibe wisdom, love, and forgiveness from their heavenly father to save their marriages! Yes, marriages can be a Heaven on Earth experience! Why Not?

Two Shall be One

“Two shall be One” is what God says about marriage in the Bible. The smallest team, yet the strongest team could be a husband and a wife-team when they are united. Again this team can be united in either constructive or destructive jobs! The Bible tells about different types of husband-wife-teams who were involved in either of these! I would high light on a few constructively united couples.

Tasting God Together

There was Andronicus and Junias who has been certified as an outstanding couple among the missionaries in the early church (Romans 17:6). Historical reconstruction of this couple suggests that they are the same couple as was mentioned by Luke with a different set of names in Luke 8:3. Luke calls them as Joanna and her husband Cuza, the manager of Herod’s household. He mentions them as supporters of the ministry of Jesus out of their means. As was usual with Jews living at that time, Cuza had an alternate Greek name, Andronicus. Joanna had a Latin name, Junias. They had accepted Jesus as their Lord even before Paul, the well-known missionary did. They were relatives of him too. They were in prison with Paul for the cause of Jesus Christ. A couple who have tasted their salvation experience in Jesus would for sure reciprocate their love to God by serving him together!

God wants families to realise the need of His goodness. The Bible tells: “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). A jailer in the city of Philippi once asked Paul, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” More than the individual’s joy of salvation, God’s expectation to that jailer was: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” (Acts 16:30-31). Blessed are couples who have tasted the joy of the Lord in their lives. They will not mind serving the Lord together after tasting the goodness of Him!

Tied with God Together

Luke 10:1 has a mention of the seventy-two disciples of Jesus sent two by two. The two’s team could have very well included husband-wife-teams such as Clopas and Mary. The Mary about whom we read about in John 19:25 is the wife of Clopas. It is said that Clopas was the brother of Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. Some biblical scholars believe that this Clopas was the same one mentioned as Cleopas in Luke 24:18. The other unnamed disciple in that passage could be his wife Mary! The resurrected Jesus led Clopas and Mary to a deeper spiritual experience as they were walking on the road to Emmaus.  Jesus went to their house thereafter and had dinner with them!

Ecclesiastes 4:12 says that, “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” The analogy of the unity of three cords can be well applied to a husband and wife who have God as the head of the home they make! Couples need to give space to God in their daily schedule! Reading and meditating the Word of God together and praying together and going to church together, obeying the word of God are some means whereby a couple tie themselves to God!  This would help a couple to have deeper spiritual experiences and lead them to grow spiritually! They will serve the Lord united, as His representatives!

Serving God Together

There was another couple named Aquila and Priscilla in the early church who are my all-time favourite! They have been mentioned six times in the Bible with their names glued to each other always!  Aquila’s names precedes thrice (Acts 18:2, 26, 1 Corinthians 16:19) and Priscilla’s thrice! (Acts 18:18, Romans 16:3, 2 Timothy 4:19) They jointly had theological training from Paul while they were doing their tent-making business in a joint venture with him. They were well-versed in interpreting scriptures to the extent that they were able to teach Apollos, a learned man of that time. A Scriptural search about this couple shows that they had shifted their dwelling places frequently. They started their lives in Rome and then moved to Corinth and then to Ephesus and then to Rome and Ephesus again. It looks like this couple did not have a child too.  But this couple used the seemingly adverse situations to the glory of God. They opened their houses as “house churches” in the cities of their dwelling! (1 Corinthians 16:19, Romans 16:4-6). Paul appreciates them as fellow workers in the spread of the good news about Jesus Christ. He says that they had risked their lives for Paul. They served the gentile churches all over in that period (Romans 16:3-4). A couple who have tasted the love of God, tied themselves with Him would represent that God wherever they are, although their lives!

Joshua who served the Lord when he was a young lad could say this at the end of his life. “As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."(Joshua 24:15).  It is a joy to serve the Lord all through our life span. There is no retirement for families who are in the service of God! No amount of adversity can stop a family from serving Him! Because the husband and the wife are in flesh and spirit the possession of God! It is God who bonds the Two as One!  (Malachi 2:15) 

What does Frustration Lead Me to?

Frustration is normal in a good human being. But what does frustration lead you to? When can frustration be abnormal?

Frustration should not lead me to long for a death! (1 Kings 19:1-18)

Elijah was a man who powerfully demonstrated the power of Yahweh, the God of the Bible. A man who proved himself to be a “hero” the previous day felt that he was a “zero” the next day. He could not trust that, the same God who empowered him in the previous incidents in his life would protect him from the hands of Jezebel, the wicked queen. Sadly, he prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors."

The reason for his frustration was a misconception of a reality! Elijah felt that he was the “only one” available for the job of a prophet! Because he was a true follower of Yahweh until then, God graciously manifested his presence and guided him and dispelled him from his cranky idea! God told him not to wish for a death because he had a long way to go after that encounter! He gave him the providence of food to strengthen his body and a spiritual encounter to strengthen his soul!

How often we pray against the will of God, after tasting the goodness of God in our lives!  Is the frustration in my life due to some misconception thinking that I am the “only” one available for the job! I need the wisdom of God to dispel myself of that. In the plan of God none of us are indispensable! In Elijah’s case there were 7000 other prophets available for his job!  I also should know that I have a long way to go! A prayer to end my life curtails me of the very purpose of my life on earth! In times of frustration, turn to God for He will strengthen you physically and spiritually!

Frustration should not lead me to a harsh talk! (Malachi 3: 13-18)

A remnant of the post-exilic community of Israel after their hardships at Babylon was graciously brought back to their land by the intervention of God. A group of people who had served God and carried out his requirements were hasty enough to see an imminent judgement for the evil doers. Their frustration led to a harsh talk against God! To them God said, “You have said harsh things against me,"  "Yet you ask, 'What have we said against you?' "You have said, 'It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.” 

Another group who equally was affected by the evil doers in the same time, instead of turning hostile, continued to fear God. They found joy in fellowshipping with like-minded people and talked matters that honoured God! The LORD listened and heard their conversation. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning this faithful group! The faithful ones are a group who wait for the justice of God! Those who cannot wait for God to do justice end up in a harsh talk! We have a God who hears us and looks for our faithfulness in waiting for Him to act! In times of frustration, turn to fellowshipping with people who fear God in their lives for an attitudinal change to happen in your life!

Frustration should not rule my life! (Psalm 73)

 Asaph, a Levite and a singer served in Jerusalem for all of David's reign. He gave music to many of the songs that David wrote. He lived through David’s son Solomon’s reign too. After a promising beginning, Solomon turned his back on God and pursued power, wealth, luxury, and human wisdom, as well as worship of other gods. To finance these pursuits the people were oppressed with slavery and taxes. Asaph saw Solomon become a wicked man. It is also believed that Asaph's brother Zechariah was assassinated in the temple by Solomon's agents.  After Solomon's death, Asaph, then a very old man saw David's kingdom torn into two. The northern kingdom rejected the Levites and the temple. Many of Asaph's relatives who served in the temple as musicians perished in a kingdom where there was no reverence for God.

(Read more about Asaph at: http://www.hfbcbiblestudy.org/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=482 )

Who would not be frustrated in a situation where one finds leaders failing from their commitments, ruthless killing of their own blood related brothers and relatives? With pain in his heart Asaph penned the psalm. He progressively pours out verses of frustration of all kinds.  It gets to its peak in the following verses: “Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.  All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning.” (V.13-14)

Venting out feelings in a poem can only give a partial healing from frustration. As a faithful follower of God, Asaph, however did not conclude his song with a wrong note. He says that he would have betrayed his children if he had propagated this message around. He found that the systems of the world were oppressive “until” he went to the sanctuary of the Lord. He got to understand the eternal destiny of people of different kinds. He got confident of the fact that those who were away from God will perish eternally. But Asaph in spite of the oppressive factors in his life chose to remain close to God for it is He who would guide him with His counsel and take him to eternal glory! In times of frustration, turn to the Bible or go to a church and get to know the Word of God which will help widen your thinking to see things beyond your present level of frustration!

REMAINING IN FRUSTRATION RUINS LIFE! IT IS GOD WHO HEALS US FROM FRUSTRATION RULING OUR LIVES!

Who am I like? A Dove or an Eagle?

A sudden serious sickness, an unexpected turn in career, betrayals, tragic death of dear ones. There are many ways people handle such painful realities in life. Job, in the Bible asks us to allow the animals to teach us, or the birds of the air to tell us (Job 12:7) What does a “Dove” and an “Eagle” have to tell us for a crisis situation? 

Like a Dove? (Psalm 55)

This Psalm is a typical lamenting song of King David. Absalom, his son became a furious enemy of David due to various circumstances.  In his attempt to capture the throne, the reigning monarch David had to walk away from his palace barefoot into the wilderness! (2 Samuel 15:30) Not only that there were so many other reasons behind the lamenting situation of David. His companion and his close friend Ahithophel bullied and mocked at him. Thoughts of those long hours of leisure they walked arm in arm to the house of God troubled David to the core. David has a similar mention of Ahithopel in Psalm 41:9. “Even my close friend, whom I trusted, ​he who shared my bread, ​has lifted up his heel against me.” His low mood in Psalm 55 was also due to the voices of the enemies, the stares of the wicked, their plans to bring suffering to him, and the anger and the vengeance spirit surrounding him! We also find David in turn speaking words of revenge against his opponents.

When messengers brought the news about Ahithopel’s conspiracy to kill him, David’s heart was in anguish. Running to a refuge, he felt the terrors of death assail him, fear and trembling surrounding him, horror overwhelming him. Probably in such a situation, he cried, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm” (v.6-7)   Perhaps he did not realize the fact that there was no place in this earth not even the wilderness, where there is “no sorrow.’” 

But the good thing about David was that he concluded his lament in a right note. He said, “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” (Psalm 55:22)  David did cast his cares on the Lord. The Lord sustained him and brought him back to his royal throne. His hypocrite friend Ahithophel committed suicide! The son who vehemently rose against David also had a gruesome end!

When adversity hits hard on us, we need not run away from that situation like a “dove.” Some try to escape by attempting suicide (s), which is not the right solution. The Bible exhorts us to cast our cares to the Lord! Jesus said:"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  (Matthew 11:28) It is Jesus who gives rest to our weary souls not any place of escape or hide-out on the earth!

Like an Eagle (Isaiah 40)

The history of Israel in the Bible would tell us how often her people went astray from worshipping Yahweh and the many times they were defeated by enemies in wars! One nearly final blow to these people was when they were subdued by the Babylonians! Every single Israelite soul complained that their ways were hidden from the LORD and their cause was disregarded by their God (Isaiah 40:27). The bonded Israelites during their captivity in Babylon became weak, tired and weary in their body and souls. It was then God responded through his prophet Isaiah to the weary people, “…Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”(Isaiah 40:28-31)

There were people who hoped in the Lord during the difficult times of their exile in Babylon. To name a few other than the prophets of the day were Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They were found to be healthier, better nourished, wise by eating a mere vegetarian food compared to the young men who ate the royal food at the palace of the king of Babylon! They walked through the lions’ den and the fiery furnace unhurt. They became rulers and governors in their captive land! They soared on wings like the eagles in their enemy territory!

An eagle’s strength is renewed only after her painful experience of moulting! In this process, it goes to a solitary place and loses or pulls out all its feathers. During this time, the eagle looks ugly, exposed, and vulnerable. But soon new feathers grow back strong and shiny and renews an old eagle like a young eagle. Sin brings pain in our lives. But nothing is said to be hopeless in this world. Jesus gives hope even in such a situation for there is hope in Him! David confessed his sin (Psalm 51). Daniel's confession of sins for him and his people is found in Daniel 9. God forgave them. So, when we put our hope in him, he is gracious enough to forgive us too and renew our strength like an eagle with a youthful vigour. (Psalm 103: 3-5)

In adverse situations in life, do you flee and hide like a “Dove” or soar like an “Eagle?” The choice is yours!

A Mere Prayer can be a Sure Failure

 When I first read the prayer of Balaam,”Let me die the death of a righteous” (Numbers 23:10) it sounded divine in my ears. I wanted to say this prayer every day of my life! I vouch that all who believes in life after death would like to do this wonderful prayer!

Balaam was a diviner living in Pethor, a city in Mesopotamia (Deuteronomy 23:4). He possessed knowledge of Yahweh, the true God. He was the only Old Testament prophet who predicted the first and second coming of Jesus Christ (Numbers 24:14-19). He said "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of the sons of Sheth” (Numbers 24:17). This prophecy about the Messiah, as a king would have even led the wise men to come and see Jesus! He spoke great truths about God such as the one we find in Numbers 23:19, where he said, “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” and in Numbers 23:23 he has also said, “There is no sorcery against Jacob, no divination against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel, 'See what God has done!'”

 Balaam prayed, prophesied, and did ministry of the Word-yet he was not a true worshipper of Yahweh. For the sake of money and status offered by the Moabite king he made the Israelites to sin (Numbers 22:7, 17). His wish to die the death of a righteous did not happen.  He died as one who practiced divination (Joshua 13:22).

The New Testament affirms in many places the unrighteous nature of Balaam. Peter describes him as one who loved the wages of wickedness and as a person who led the Israelites to wander away from God (2 Peter 2:15). Jude describes Balaam as a false teacher(Jude 1:11). In Revelation 2:14, Jesus himself says to the Pergamum church that he hates the teaching of Balaam. The teaching of Balaam in the words of Jesus was that he enticed the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.

Balaam will join the company of prophets over the generations until today who prophesy in the name of Jesus, drive out demons, and perform miracles, yet live an unrighteous life! All that can be expected of such prophets would be, Jesus calling them as evil doers and giving them a plain talk that he never knew them (Matthew 7:22-23). The life of Balaam is an indicator of people who pray wonderfully, yet could be the ones who miserably fail on the judgment day! Such of these people love to pray and to do ministry in the name of God, but fail to live a righteous life.

In contrast to Balaam, Abel mentioned in the scriptures lived a righteous life. He has been acknowledged as righteous by Jesus himself (Matthew 23:35). Other New Testament writers like the anonymous author of Hebrews and Apostle John too assure Abel’s offering as a righteous deed. Abel still speaks long time after his gruesome death (his death was the first in the history of the world) because his brief life on earth was coloured with righteousness! (Hebrews 11:4, 1 John 3:12). Abel, to die righteous, lived righteous.

A tax-collector has been acclaimed by Jesus as a righteous person too after Jesus heard his one-line prayer. The Pharisee all through his prayer looked down upon the tax collector. But the latter looked down on his own self and prayed this simple prayer: 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' He realized his unworthiness and pleaded mercy to Jesus! Jesus was merciful in deed to forgive the tax collector and to declare him justified (Luke 18:9-14).

The Bible says that we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (Romans 3:23-24).

I would still like to pray the “Balaam” prayer,”Let me die the death of a righteous”. But, I would do this only after I do the tax collector’s prayer, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' I will watch out for my life henceforth to live a righteous life like Abel with the grace of God. Because to die righteous, I also need to live righteous! Only then my prayer would be powerful and effective! (James 5:16) Otherwise my mere prayer would be a sure failure! 

"Fragrant" or "Foul?"

Lessons from the Life of Dinah
In a time when parents are perplexed as to how to raise their boys and girls, here is a story of a girl child, whose life throws light as to how Christian culture counters the surrounding ones. The Bible tells us about Dinah in Genesis 34. She was a young girl who went for sight-seeing "women" in a foreign city called Shechem on a lonesome trip. A city cannot be with a "women" population only. Shechem was also a culturally and religiously foreign place to this girl, who belonged to a Yahweh worshiping family. She was the great-grand daughter of Abraham, a man of supreme obedience to God. As a reward to the obedient act of Abraham, his descendants were blessed of God which has been recorded in Genesis 12:1-3. It says that the Abrahamic generation would be a blessing to all peoples on earth and also the people who bless them would be blessed.

The Abrahamic descendants were nomadic. Their moving around was also the plan of God! He wanted this nomadic group to be “Yahweh-carriers.” They were supposed to bless people whom they came in contact with, with the fragrance of their one God-Yahweh. Dinah brought up in such a Yahweh-centered background chose to go around a city of non-Yahweh culture. A young man, Shechem of that city saw her and violated her. Dinah never expected that because she thought that she could take care of herself!

Choices and Struggles
How often we have thought that we can take care of ourselves and have miserably failed! We need to know that foolish choices in life can lead to gigantic spiritual struggles. For sure, we cannot take care of ourselves in our acquaintance with a Yahweh-minus individual or a community! The Scripture rightly admonishes us in this regard: Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? ( 2 Cor 6:14) To choose right, we need wisdom and discernment in us which can be given to us by God only. For God says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8).

After violating Dinah, the young man opted to marry her! It would have sounded fair to Dinah’s ears. But poor Dinah! Genesis 34:23 says that Shechem had a malicious intention for the marriage proposal. He thought that through this marriage, he could grab the livestock and all of the property of Dinah’s father, Jacob for him and his family!

Dinah’s brothers got wild with the way their sister was violated by Shechem. In turn they devised a hidden plan which also was not right! They agreed to the marriage contract with a condition that the male members of the city had to undergo circumcision. This they said was as an identification rite for the family of Shechem to identify with the Yahweh worshipers. When the men of Shechem did that, the brothers of Dinah went ahead with their plan. When the men were all still in pain incurred from their circumcision rite, the brothers of Leah massacred all of them. Violence and abuse caused to a woman and malicious intentions led Shechem and his family to be wiped off!

Behaviours and Attitudes
Have I been abusive to women? Have I had violent behaviours and evil intentions in my life? We need to be non-violent in our behaviours and honest in our contacts and contracts. For this we need an attitudinal change. “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.’ (Ephesians 4:22-24). Only Jesus can make us truly righteous and just, in places where we would otherwise need to be violent! He helps men not to abuse women.

Fragrance or Foul
Dinah had to lead the rest of her life as a victim of lust and violence. Looking at Dinah and the stench of blood-shed in the city, Jacob, father of Dinah lamented to his children: “You have brought trouble on me by making me a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people living in this land.” (Genesis 34:30) A family which ought to have blessed others and be a fragrance became a stench to the people!

How can we lead a life of fragrance? The Bible gives some hints here: Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5:2). But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through usspreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing (2 Corinthians 2:14-15).

I take this opportunity to warn our young generation through the life of Dinah. Following the Biblical norms helps a young person to be fragrant. The psalmist says, “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.” (Psalm 119:9) Christian parents and communities also need to live a life of love and have to spread the knowledge of Christ to children and others. This way we smell fragrant to people and to God. As a spiritual descendant of Abraham and as a recipient of the Abrahamic blessing, do we smell fragrant? “May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants. May our daughters be like graceful pillars, carved to beautify a palace” (Psalm 144:12) be our prayer for children in our families and communities.

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)