IMITATE THEIR FAITH - "HAVE YOU SEEN HOW AHAB HAS HUMBLED HIMSELF?"

 Perhaps Elijah was surprised at Ahab's reaction the divine judgment. The account reads: "As soon as Ahab heard these words, he ripped his garments apart and ripped his garments apart and put sackcloth on and walking despondently." (1 Kings 21:27) Was Ahab repentant of his ways? 

We can at least say that it was a move in the right direction. Ahab was humbling himself-surely a difficult thing for a proud, arrogant man to do. But was it true repentance3? Consider, by comparison, a later king who may have exceeded Ahab in wickedness-Manasseh. When Jehovah punished Manasseh, the man humbled himself, calling out to Jehovah for help. But he went further. He then turned his life course around by getting rid of the idolatrous images that he had set up, making efforts to serve Jehovah, and encouraging his people to do the same. (2 Chronicles 33:1-17) So we see such actions on Ahab's part? Sadly, no.

Did Jehovah notice that Ahab made that public display of his sadness? Jehovah said to Elijah: "Have you how Ahab has humbled himself on my account? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the calamity during his lifetime. I will the calamity upon his house in the days of his son." (1 Kings 1:29) Was Jehovah forgiving Ahab? No, only true repentance would have elicited such divine mercy.  (Ezekiel 33:14-16) But Ahab showed a measure of regret, Jehovah responded with a corresponding measure of mercy. Ahab would be spared the horrific experience of seeing his entire family destroyed. 

Next time: IMTATE THEIR FAITH - "HAVE YOU SEEN HOW AHAB HAS HUMBLED HIMSELF?" - Conclusion 

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