Mothers of the Bibleಮಾದರಿ

Jezebel: Moms Have Influence

There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife. —1 Kings 21:25, NIV

We don’t usually look to Jezebel as a mother to emulate. But that doesn’t mean we can’t learn something from her. There are lessons to be learned from all women in Scripture.

As we read through what the Bible tells us about Jezebel in 1 Kings 16-21, we see a powerful woman. Often as a mom, I feel powerless. I can’t make my kids make the right choices. I’m sure, like me, you want the world to be a better place for our children and grandchildren, but it feels like an impossible task.

In 1 Kings, we learn that King Ahab was not following God, and he married Jezebel who was not an Israelite and worshipped the god Baal. Throughout the story, we see Jezebel’s influence over King Ahab and how he ruled and the decisions he made. She wielded her power and influence to accomplish what she wanted. While her intentions and passions were not aligned with God, she shows us just how much power we, as women, have.

I don’t know who said it, but I once heard a speaker say that if we had a few friends on social media, we had influence. I would add, if you are a mother, you have influence. Often, we don’t realize who all is watching us.

Jezebel’s story comes as a warning to me. She was not walking with God. She didn’t have a relationship with him. Her influence caused chaos. We have the power to use our influence for good or for bad. But how do we know what is good and what is bad?

One way is by staying in a close relationship with God. That doesn’t mean we will do things perfectly. We will make mistakes. But our kids need to see us make mistakes because they need to see how we respond. They need to know how to apologize, how to show remorse and how to make amends. Our kids need to see humility. Those watching need to see kindness, respect and honor.

Let’s pay attention to the stories of the moms that didn’t get things right. Let’s learn how to use our influence well. Let’s stay close to God.

Challenge: Reflect on how your words and actions influence those around you.