Tag Archives: Elijah

God’s grace to the wicked: the case of Ahab

Grace and Judgment Posted on by

God is good -- God's grace to AhabWhen people lack thorough knowledge of the Bible, they’ll make some sweeping generalizations that are completely wrong. For example, they’ll say that the Old Testament is all about law and judgment, and that grace comes only in the New Testament. In fact, every book of the Bible proclaims both grace and judgment. Often, both occur in the same passage.

Some people also get the idea that God gives grace to “good” people and judgment to “bad” people. In fact God offers grace to the worst of people: King Ahab of Israel for example.

“Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those who came before him” (1 Kings 16:30).… Read the rest

Elijah meets a prosperous widow

Grace and Judgment Posted on by

Elijah prophesied that it would not rain in Israel until he said so. That got the king upset with him, so he went into hiding. God sent him directly to Queen Jezebel’s homeland, perhaps the last place anyone would look for him.  Eventually, he stayed with a widow in Zarephath. To herself and everyone around her, she looked destitute. Actually, she more nearly represents the biblical model of divine prosperity than anyone else I can think of. And certainly more that anything so-called prosperity preachers talk about.

… Read the rest