The Blame Game

1Kings 18:18

18"I have not made trouble for Israel," Elijah replied. "But you and your father's family have. You have abandoned the Lord's commands and have followed the Baals

Elijah came out of hiding to meet Ahab. When Ahab saw him, he immediately accused Elijah as being the troublemaker for Israel and causing the drought. But Ahab's anger was misplaced. He needed to be angry with himself for allowing his wife Jezebel to take over and terrorize the men of God and for his own inability to stay true to God. The three year drought over Israel was the judgement pronounced for Ahab's unfaithfulness to God. Elijah carried it out. God placed Ahab on the thrown and yet he decided he wanted to serve the pagan gods of his wife. The root of the problem was Ahab was unequally yoked with an unbeliever who not only had no regard for his God, but for him either. And his lack of taking the household back as the rightful leader and turning his back on God led to everyone's suffering.

What can you learn from this scenario? Be careful about misplacing blame. What role did you play in where you are? What choices/decisions did you make or what did you not do? Be willing to confess to how you contributed to the problem. Second, when you know God is the source of your blessings, turning your back on Him is turning your back on your own blessings. Third, none of us exist in this world alone. You are connected to others. Your disobedience will have a ripple effect somewhere. Fourth, when the Lord gives you an opportunity to get back on the right path, take it. Fifth, as the apostle Paul mentioned in the New Testament to believers who were planning to marry, do not be unequally yoked with an unbeliever. The reason, there will always be discord. Ahab and Jezebel are proof. She did not care to worship the one who put Ahab where he was which was also an indication of her level of respect for Ahab. There was none.