How To Weaken The Wrath Of God

Text: 1 Kings 21:1-29; Joel 2:13; 1 Timothy 1:15

One of the passages in the Bible that tell of the true nature of God and how to weaken His wrath is found in 1 Kings 21. It recounts the familiar story of how King Ahab, ill advised by his wife, gave in to greed and illicitly possessed a vineyard belonging to Naboth.

“And it came to pass…that Naboth the Jezreelite has a vineyard which was in Jezreel by the palace of Ahab…and Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, give me thy vineyard that I may have it for a garden of herbs…” (Verse 1-2).

The story went on with Naboth refusing to offer Ahab his father’s inheritance even when he was offered a reasonable sum of money for it. Ahab, a typical human that he was, couldn’t handle the disappointment and went to his house displeased which got the attention of his ungodly wife, Jezebel.

The vicious Jezebel devised a means to get rid of Naboth to please her husband. “So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name…and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth…saying, proclaim a fast and set Naboth on high among the people: And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out and stone him that he may die” (Verse 8-10).

Eventually, Naboth was killed and Ahab had the vineyard that didn’t belong to him. But God wasn’t blind to this atrocity as He isn’t to all the ills in our society today – rape, terrorism, murder, abortion, adultery, theft, corruption, etc. God sees and knows everything. He saw the murder of Naboth and was bitterly angry that greed, stirred by Jezebel, could push Ahab to such length.

“And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel…and thou shalt speak unto him, saying, thus saith the Lord, in the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine…Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy prosperity…for the provocation wherewith thou has provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin” (Verse 17-24).

Ahab’s reign was so notorious that the Bible says “there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. And he did very abominably in following idols…” (Verse 25-26)

Truly, Ahab deserved the wrath of God upon his household and even more. But what amazed me in this story was what followed. Unlike some who commit one crime and proceed to another, multiplying evil upon evil and thinking no one sees them and that God can’t do anything, Ahab suddenly listened to his conscience that couldn’t allow him live with the guilt of knowing that the same fate as Naboth awaited him.

He humbled himself, put on sackcloth, observed a fast and was truly sober before the Lord. What happened? Grace happened.

Ahab’s action of remorse and repentance moved God’s heart towards mercy. God always shows mercy and grants grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5; James 4:6). He takes pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy (Psalm 147:11).

“He is slow to anger and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will He keep His anger forever…” (Psalm 103:8-9) because He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live…” (Ezekiel 33:11).

As much as God cannot behold iniquity nor could withstand the prevalence of wickedness, when we turn to Him in penitence and humility, He never casts us away. Remember the prodigal son? (Luke 15:11-32). God is love and that is His very nature. He is ever gracious and His mercy endures forever.

I tell you today that no matter how terrible your crime may be, God is willing and able to forgive you. He has promised to be merciful to your unrighteousness and your sin and iniquity will He remember no more (Hebrew 8:12). All you need is to do as Ahab did. Humble yourself before the Lord, confess and repent of your sins, surrender your life to Jesus Christ and accept Him as your Lord and Saviour today.

If Ahab had postponed his repentance till the next day, it could have been possible for God’s wrath to catch up with him during the night and that would be the end. There is really so much to learn from 1 Kings 21 with thorough meditation and the leading of the Holy Spirit. But this is the plain secret to weakening the wrath of God – humility and genuine repentance.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life…” “Call upon the Lord and be saved. There is salvation in no one else” (John 3:16-18; Romans 10:13; Acts 4:12).

*** Written by Jacobs Adewale (Admin) ***

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