Read 1 KINGS 21:1–19

Recent research tells us that 38 percent, about two out of every five Americans, worry every day. Women worry more than men. Younger people worry more than older people. Top worries include relationships, housing, and finances.

King Ahab wasn’t worried about making ends meet. But even people who have enough can worry about money. Ahab allowed his greed to make him irritated, anxious, and discontent. This illustrates what Ecclesiastes said yesterday—one can work and acquire but remain unsatisfied—as well as the fact that the sin of worry is related to the sin of envy or covetousness.

King Ahab wanted to purchase land to add to his summer estate at Jezreel (vv. 1–3). The owner, Naboth, refused the offer, however, because the land was a family inheritance from the Lord. To sell it would be tantamount to betraying God for money. In other ancient Near Eastern nations, a king could just seize what he wanted; but Israel’s laws, given by God, were different. Ahab didn’t take the news well, pouting and sulking like a small child (vv. 4–6).

Queen Jezebel solved his problem (vv. 7–16). Through bullying and false accusations, she arranged for Naboth to be stoned to death. She even used the Law to accomplish her plan, adding blasphemy to murder, lies, and injustice. Given the charges, Naboth’s sons were probably stoned along with him, so there was no one to stand in the way when Ahab took possession of the vineyard.

Probably no one was fooled by Jeze- bel’s deceptions, but no one had the courage to oppose her until Elijah did so (vv. 17–19). The prophecies against her and Ahab were fulfilled in 2 Kings 9 and 10, executed by Jehu, who had heard them spoken (see 9:25–26)—a perfect example of poetic justice.

APPLY THE WORD

One sin tends to breed others. Ahab’s greed, envy, or covetousness led to discontent, a form of worry. The discontent led to anger, which led to his complicity in his wife’s abuse of power, lies, murder, and blasphemy. Worry might not seem like much, but when we see how it produces a tangle of other sins, we understand better how serious it is.

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