Jezebel...The world today still uses her name to describe a woman who is selfish and will do whatever it takes to get her own way! In fact, I have witnessed a few Reunion shows of the Housewives where Jezebel's spirit is still alive and well.
The story behind the name of Jezebel is fascinating. Jezebel was a Queen of Israel, God's chosen people. She was married to King Ahab. King Ahab's notoriety is that he was more wicked and worse than any other king of Israel (1 Kings 16:30). King Ahab had converted to the god of Queen Jezebel's people, Baal. Her devotion to Baal was relentless and unwavering, including hunting down and killing as many prophets of Israel's God as she could in an attempt to convert Israel to her god. It was her way or no way.
What is it in your own life that you are relentless and unwavering about? Is it your weight? Is it your saving or spending money? Is it how you fight with your husband? Is it how you raise your children? Is it your reputation? Or, is it surrender to the one true God and becoming who He created you to be? Imagine if Jezebel had used her tenacity for serving God, rather than herself and Baal? Her story and legacy would be so very different. God uniquely makes each of us. Jezebel was made with strength, drive, passion, conviction, and leadership. But, it was all directed toward her own purpose.
Queen Jezebel also believe her and King Ahab should have whatever they desired no matter what the cost was to others. 1 King 21 tells of a day when King Ahab was told no and he was so angry that he refused to eat. Queen Jezebel asked him why. King Ahab explained that he had tried to by a vineyard from a man named Naboth and the man had told him no. Queen Jezebel's response was to have the man stoned to death. Self-absorption leads to us believing that we are entitled to have what we want. It leads to using methods that harm and destroy others.
What is in your life that you feel entitled too? What is it in your own life that you feel you deserve to have because of your position? This is a hard one, because there are so many things in our American way of doing life that we have grown accustom to that we don't even realize our entitlement. For instance, when someone buds the line, are you gracious and forgiving, or do you demand your own way? When your spouse doesn't like what you made for dinner, do you tell him to make his/her own or do you humble yourself? 1st Corinthians 13 tells us that love doesn't demand its own way. Do we? Queen Jezebel always demanded her own way!
Here was Queen Jezebel's fatal flaw, she didn't understand that God always, always has the last say! It may have looked like she got what she wanted, when she wanted it. People were terrified of her. She would kill you in an instance if you didn't succumb to her wishes. But, God revealed that her death would be gruesome. Her flesh would be eaten by dogs and that her body would be scattered like manure. And, it was (2 Kings 9:30-36)!
Her only life was the one she lived on earth where she satisfied her every whim. But, her death was one of dishonor. Rather than a legacy of unselfish conviction and generosity, it was all dedicated to herself.
What do you want your legacy to be? How do you want to be know? How do you want to be thought of? When people use your name, do you want it to be in vain or do you want it to be known as a name that honors and serves God? It is up to you!
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