“Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel…’” (1 Kings 21:17-18)
1 Kings 21 records how king Ahab and queen Jezebel plot to kill an innocent man called Naboth, because they want to take possession of his vineyard. Their plan succeeds, but God sends the prophet Elijah to tell the king: “In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your own blood” (1 Kings 21:19).
And so, Elijah goes, as a faithful servant of the Lord. He undoubtedly remembers queen Jezebel’s frightening threats, and so does the king.
He greets the prophet in a spiteful tone: “Have you found me, O my enemy?”. But Elijah does not mince his words, he boldly tells the king how his whole family will be killed because he has provoked God and made the people of Israel sin. King Ahab has received so many warnings by Elijah and other prophets, he has seen God’s powerful testimony at Mount Carmel and experienced God’s miraculous help in battles, but “there was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited” (1 Kings 21:25). God’s patience is at an end.
Would you dare to confront king Ahab, if you were in Elijah’s shoes?