Tolerating Jezebel?
When I receive feedback regarding a sermon or teaching, I am always thankful and appreciative. One beloved sister emailed me, pointing out a few important things left unsaid regarding the story of Elijah and Ahab. Perhaps you noticed this as well.
It might help to know that my goal in Sunday’s message was to give just enough context (because of limited time) for people to observe the great influence Jezebel had upon the Prophet Elijah and King Ahab. That being said, I appreciated the perspective given by this sister. In her email she states, “God does provide for us, (often) without us even knowing about it”. Elijah’s challenge to King Ahab and the 450 prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18) testify to God’s all-powerful hand and faithful provision! Elijah not only knew this to be true, but more than anyone else, he had experienced it time and time again. However, even the best of us can get derailed and rattled at times in our lives. For Elijah, this happened from a single comment made from a woman named Jezebel.
Jezebel was the wife of King Ahab, and had control over the kingdom of Israel. Jezebel tirelessly sought to introduce her false gods causing Israel to commit spiritual idolatry (adultery) by compromising. As you hear in the sermon, a “Jezebel” is anyone who would seek to threaten, encourage, or entice someone to compromise full surrender and total allegiance to the One True and Living God. Instead of helping others to fear, love, and obey the King of kings, Jezebel appeals to fleshly desires, unstable emotions, and selfish ambition.
When addressing the church in Thyatira, notice the one thing Jesus is against, “You tolerate the woman Jezebel!” (Rev. 2:20, 24). The word tolerate means; to dismiss, to permit, to allow happen. Instead, Jesus wants us to do the opposite; to rebuke, to retain, bring to justice, and to bind! Instead of tolerating Jezebel, Jesus would say, “Be intolerant of anyone who would entice you away from the living God! Instead, refuse, rebuke, and retain a “Jezebel’s” words and influence in your life. Hold a Jezebel accountable to what God has revealed to be righteous, true, and godly.”
As the Bride of Christ we need to be on the alert while waiting for our coming King. I doubt Elijah ever expected that he would one day be derailed from the threat of a single lady (1 Kings 19:2-3, 9-14), and if we are not careful, we could find ourselves stumbling from even much less. A Jezebel always brings forth confusion, division, and bondage, but the Truth of God’s word always brings forth understanding, unity, and freedom! As God’s people, may we have the discernment, wisdom, passion and desire to take whatever is communicated to us, and hold it up to the word of God…and once we have before us what is truth and what is error, may we never compromise or hesitate between these two opinions (1 Kings 18:21).
(1 Kings 18:21) 21 Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word.