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I Kings 16:29-34,  In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him.  He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him.  In Ahab’s time, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundations at the cost of his firstborn son Abiram, and he set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, in accordance with the word of the Lord spoken by Joshua son of Nun.

The Northern Kingdom is one, hot sinful mess!  King after king, there is disobedience, idolatry, and violence.  By the time we get to King Ahab at the end of chapter 16, we think it can’t get any worse.  And yet, it really does.  Ahab was the worst of the worst.  He went above and beyond when it came to deliberately thumbing his nose at God and he took pagan worship to a new level. 

Then, there was child sacrifice.  To be honest, I wasn’t really clear about what verse 34 meant – what does it mean to build the foundations of a city or the gates at the cost of a child?  Apparently, infants (alive or dead) would be placed in a container and then literally placed in the masonry of the foundation.  The idea was to ward off evil and please the gods.  I have a hard time even typing the words.  How absolutely horrific and blatantly against the law of the one true God. 

One more aspect of Ahab’s total disregard for the Lord – the rebuilding of Jericho.  Most of you probably remember the great story of Joshua and the people of God conquering Jericho after circling for seven days.  At the time, God warned of death to the person (and their family) who attempted to rebuild the city.  And Ahab rebuilt it.  The author is reminding us that while it might not appear to be so, God’s Word still stands.  God is still in control.  Ahab will not have the final word.  Evil does not win.

Let’s pray…Lord, We trust in YOUR Word and YOUR Word alone.  In the midst of evil, we cling to you.  Remind us of your presence today.  We need you, Lord, oh how we need you!  More of you and less of me.  In Your Name, Amen.