"The Pouting King"

Scripture Passage

1 Kings 20:23-22:9; 2 Chronicles 18:1-8

Scripture Focus

“So Ahab went home angry and sullen because of Naboth’s answer. The king went to bed with his face to the wall and refused to eat!” (1 Kings 21:4 NLT)

Observation

This is a fascinating scene, isn’t it? Ahab is Israel’s king but when he doesn’t get his way, he goes home, sits on his bed, and pouts! Seems to be something of a habit for Ahab, as that had been his response to a different situation in the previous chapter—“So the king of Israel went home to Samaria angry and sullen” (1 Kings 20:43 NLT).

This guy’s a piece of work, isn’t he?

Of course, so am I. I’ve been known to pout a time or two when I couldn’t get my way. So the truth is, I don’t have much of a complaint to lodge against Ahab. But I do have at least one good lesson to learn from him:

Staking my claim on what God has already said isn’t mine is a losing proposition every time.

That is the case here, you know. The vineyard Ahab wanted was Naboth’s by right—land given to his family when God gave Israel the land of Canaan. But Ahab wasn’t happy with what God had provided, and decided to take what he wanted regardless of what God had said. (Really, that’s been humanity’s behavior since the beginning, ala Adam and Eve.)

The thing is, that’s been my behavior more than once. I’m not beyond taking what God hasn’t provided, either—whether it’s a purchase of some item I know I can’t afford, or the presumption of authority that’s not mine by right. I can be just as guilty as Ahab of pouting over what I want when God’s already said “no”—and then taking it anyway. How foolish—especially when God has plainly promised to supply all I really need as I put my trust in Him.

“Lord, I’m not as different from wicked Ahab as I’d like to think I am. Prod me when I pout, rebuke me when I’m tempted to take what isn’t mine, and challenge me by your Spirit to trust your full and generous supply of exactly what I need!”