Satan had increasing freedom in the 30 years the house of Omri ruled ten-tribe Israel. He began the spiritual decline in his 12 year reign. His son Ahab made two malevolent decisions early in his 22 year reign that plunged decline into catastrophic depravity. First: he considered Jeroboam’s twin calves the new religious norm in Israel, not a wicked divergence. Second: he considered marriage to a rabidly heathen wife his right, however violently opposed to God and fanatically devoted to Baal he knew her to be.
Point of fact, then. Both decisions reflected Ahab’s depraved state. Jezebel didn’t have to lead him into Baal worship; he willingly followed her into it. While momentarily nodding at Jehovah he obsessed with viewing Baal. He wanted, not a Hebrew mate to challenge his desire for a religion that allowed sexual freedom to excess, but one who not only encouraged, but lived it herself. While a trace of Hebrew decency remained in Ahab, no redeeming quality characterized Jezebel. Naming his sons after the LORD indicates a desire for syncretism between Jehovah and Baal. She had no use for any religion that weakened her heathen faith. Daughter of a king who served also as priest of Baal over Tyre/Sidon, she represented the uncompromising fanaticism only women bring to a cause. Their always toxic marriage teaches spiritual lessons. One, in any relationship, marriage especially, ounces of reverence for God will never outweigh tons of contempt. Unless the partner loving God dominates, disrespect for God will grow and Christian piety will diminish. Because Ahab had so little of the Hebrew in him, and Jezebel so much of the Tyrian/Sidonian, with his connivance she assumed control of his beliefs. That’s a sobering reminder for Christians. Choose those at least equal to us in faith and, better still, beyond us in faith. Otherwise, those we choose may weaken our faith while their lack of it strengthens. A then-young man new in faith asked God to find him a girl strong in faith so she could strengthen him without weakening herself. God did. While new in faith, he had wisdom to know how to improve his Christian walk. Had he not possessed such a desire, he would have looked for someone weak as himself. Always include that principle in the equation when trying to understand why people gravitate to those who can only do them spiritual harm, not good. Two, if our mindset is Christ-focused, neither sex should choose mates from groups where ANY OTHER FOCUS dominates. The contest determining dominance will waste energy that could otherwise be applied to productive Christian values. Choosing partners whose goal is equally Christ-centered guarantees spiritual reinforcement for both. Three, be careful of friendships between Christians and non-Christians. If the relationship strengthens one’s convictions in Christ, continue it; the unsaved need a witness. If it weakens one’s convictions about Christ, discontinue it; there’s no need to lose the soul Christ has saved to gain a relationship with a soul content to be lost. Four, beware always against attraction to those without Christian convictions, lest it reveal something unhealthy in our own walk with God. Lest it reveal that we ourselves are suffering a spiritual decline that needs to be reversed before we follow it into depravity. End Part VI
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