JEZEBEL
Jezebel was a very evil woman, probably the most evil woman in Bible history.
Jezebel married Ahab, the king of Israel. She was the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Zidonians and high priest of Baal. Under her influence, Ahab built a house for Baal in Samaria and they both worshipped idols. Eventually the people of Israel also turned away from God and became idol worshippers. “Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table.” 1 Kings 18:19
Can you imagine this? There were so many false prophets in Israel at that time and only because of the wickedness of one woman. Her evil influence had reached so many that Sis. White writes in Prophets and Kings, p. 116 that “never before had the chosen people of God fallen so low in apostasy.’’
Elijah lived during this time and he went to see Ahab once and foretold of a drought that would fall upon the country because of the apostasy that prevailed. Jezebel refused to recognize the drought as a judgment from God. She urged Ahab to search for Elijah and convinced many that he was the cause of all this misery. When Elijah couldn’t be found, Jezebel decided to avenge herself by killing all the prophets of God in Israel. But God never abandons His people completely. Obadiah, the governor of Ahab’s house, took one hundred prophets and hid them by 50 in a cave and fed them with bread and water.
When the time came that God would put an end to the drought, Elijah commanded fire to come down from heaven and consume the offering on the altar on Mount Carmel. All of Jezebel’s false prophets also perished that day on Carmel. Ahab returned to the palace that night and told her all that had happened but she hardened her heart and disbelieved. She became so angry at the news of her prophets that she sent Elijah a message, threatening him with death.
Jezebel’s wickedness and apostasy continued throughout her life. One time, Ahab looked out his window and saw a vineyard next to his palace which he greatly desired. The owner, Naboth, refused to sell it to him, but Jezebel planned to get it one way or another. She boldly wrote letters in the name of the king and sent them to the elders and nobles of Naboth’s city, telling them to place Naboth before the people and get two false witnesses to accuse him of blasphemy. They were then to take him and stone him to death. God did not overlook this evil deed. He sent His prophet Elijah to pronounce upon Ahab a terrible judgment. The house of Ahab was to be utterly destroyed and of Jezebel God said, “And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.” 1 Kings 21:23
And it came to pass as Elijah had foretold years earlier. “And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window. And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master? And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs. And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot. And when he was come in, he did eat and drink, and said, Go, see now, this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a king’s daughter. And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands. Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD, which He spake by His servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel: And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.” 2 Kings 9:30–37
Jezebel was one woman, one person in the entire country, but her influence affected so many people, her husband, her children, and the people of Israel. Her daughter, Athaliah following her example, also killed all the descendants of David, except one, Joash.
In this story, we see the power of influence. God has given us this talent but it is up to us to put it to good use. Every person we meet is affected by our words, our acts, our dress, even by the expression on our faces.
“It is only through the grace of God that we can make a right use of this endowment. There is nothing in us of ourselves by which we can influence others for good. Never should we begin the day without committing our ways to our heavenly Father. When unconsciously we are in danger of exerting a wrong influence, the angels will be by our side, prompting us to a better course, choosing our words for us and influencing our actions.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 147
It is my wish and prayer that we may let God guide our lives so that we may be a good influence upon everyone we may come in contact with.
Stephen Newby
MANNA
“And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat. This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded. Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents.” Exodus 16:14–16. Manna is often described as bread from heaven. When God first sent manna to the Israelites they did not know what it was so they called it manna. The word “Manna” in Hebrew literally means “what is it?” Manna is described as small as a coriander seed, round, white and tasted like wafers or cookies made with honey. Manna could be baked, grinded, made into cakes or beaten into mortar.
Moses told the Israelites not to leave the manna overnight. Despite his warnings, many of the Israelites left it until morning to find that it had bred worms and was starting to rot. On the 6th day God told Moses to tell the children of Israel to gather twice as much manna as any other day as He also rested. Nevertheless, some Israelites went to collect it on the 7th day of the week and were greatly disappointed. What was God’s command? “Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, in it there shall be none.” Exodus 16:26
After the Israelites broke God’s command, God rebuked them, telling Aaron to take a pot and fill it with an omer full of manna, and put it in the sanctuary to be kept for the generations of Israel as a remembrance of God’s blessing to those who will obey Him.
When Elijah was being chased by Queen Jezebel, an angel gave him a baked cake and a cruse of water that gave him a 40 day and 40 night supply of strength. No other food but heavenly food could give him that much strength. Perhaps it was manna? Manna could be made into cakes. “When all means of sustenance failed, God sent His people manna from heaven; and a sufficient and constant supply was given. This provision was to teach them that while they trusted in God and walked in His ways He would not forsake them.” The Desire of Ages, p. 121. When Elijah went to Mt. Horeb and all means of sustenance had disappeared, God provided him with food and drink to provide him strength and to encourage Elijah to trust more in Him. The manna that God gave the Israelites could sustain only this earthly existence; it did not prevent the approach of death, nor insure immortality, but the bread of heaven will nourish the soul unto everlasting life.
“The life giving spirit, flowing from the infinite fullness of God, it is the true manna.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 386
“To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone , and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that recieveth it.” Revelation 2:17. It is my wish and prayer that we may trust and rely upon God, knowing we too shall receive an endless supply of this heavenly manna. Amen.
Cyrus Newby