Men of BoldnessSample

The Elbow-Grease of Obedience

Every so often, we have to grapple with the reality that although the story of the Bible is one of hope and the faithfulness of our good God, it is not always G-rated.

Not even close.

There are shocking stories in Scripture, and we do a disservice to them and the story God is telling if we do not see them as the graphic depictions they are.

The account of the slaughter of Ahab’s house is just such a story.

We need to understand a bit more about Ahab to understand the necessity of today’s verses.

In today’s reading, we are in 2 Kings 9, but Ahab became king of Israel back in 1 Kings 16. The opening verses of his part of the story tell the tale that led to God’s demand for him, Jezebel, and Ahab’s whole house to be ended:

In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him. And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him. He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. (1 Kings 16:29-33)

Ahab led Israel away from God. More so than anyone before him.

That’s quite a feat of religious adultery. This led to God’s judgment, which was assigned to and carried out by Jehu.

It’s Jehu’s boldness and obedience that calls for our attention. God gave him a task that was not enjoyable. But he understood his place in God’s plan and carried it out.

Men, sometimes obedience is not pleasant. It may be costly and gritty. God isn’t asking you to exact His judgment on anyone, but perhaps God is asking you to make a difficult move, have a difficult conversation, or make a difficult confession.

Are you willing to put in the elbow grease of obedience?

Prayer: Father God, I know that sometimes Your story calls me to do things I would rather not. Things that draw me out of my comfort zone. Help me be ready to hear Your voice and apply myself to the gritty task of obedience, no matter the cost. Amen.

Reflection: What is God calling you to do that requires the hard work of obedience?