Topic: All hidden wickedness will be exposed
Bible Reading: 1 Kings 21-22; Luke 22:1-30
Memory Verse: “Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel,” 1 Kings 21:21 (KJV)
A lot of people do wicked things in secret hoping that nobody knows and then come to the open to enjoy the reward of their evil act. In our Bible passage, Ahab was worried that Naboth refused to sell his land to him and he told his wife, Jezebel who used the instrumentality of King Ahab’s authroty to gather a few people to kill Naboth under the guise that he blasphemed God and the king when he never did anything as such. After Naboth’s death, the queen told her husband the king that the man was dead and he could take the land and use it.
Though it appeared Ahab did not know how Naboth died, but he was pleased that he could possess his land and for this, God, who knew everything sent Prophet Elijah to him. In 1 Kings 21:19 (KJV), “And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? 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.” Ahab was surprised that Elijah had found him and Elijah delivered the full consequence of Ahab’s action on his family, as sent by God, to him. Ahab felt bad and the Bible says that he rented his clothes and fasted and mourned the death of Naboth. Though this remorse made God to defer his judgment on Ahab saying the elimination of his dynasty in the land would not happen in his days but in the days of his son. Three years later, King Ahab died and the dogs licked his blood as prophesied by the prophet. (1 Kings 22: 1-3; 38)
You will recall that King David used his position also to kill Uriah and took over his wife and God punished him as he had said. What wickedness are you perpetrating using your authority? David used his authority to kill a subordinate to cover his sin of sleeping with his wife. Ahab, through his wife used his authority to kill Naboth so as to take over his land. In both cases, the victims had no power against the two powerful kings but God avenged their death! Similarly God will avenge your intentional sins committed against your victims using your authority. The Bible says in Romans 12:19 (KJV), “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” It is important that you recognise that no wickedness is hidden from God. He knows all things and it is important you consider this before allowing your fleshly lust to lead you to atrocities that may affect your generations yet unborn! Prevention is better than cure!
Action point:
Before undertaking any offence against others, remember that God knows all you do even in secrets and will reward you accordingly.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero