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by Precarious Yates
Narrated by Artificial Intelligence – Michelle.
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“The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.” ~ Daniel 9:9
God is merciful. We all know that. But there are times when His mercy astounds me.
One of the most astounding acts of mercy, in my opinion, is when God extended mercy to Ahab. You know the Ahab I’m talking about? The guy who married Jezebel. The king who encouraged idol worship. They guy about whom God said, “Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him” (1 Kings 16:30). And also, “Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him” (1 Kings 16:33, NIV).
Yeah, that Ahab. The one who killed prophets. The one who tantrumed like a baby when he couldn’t get a pretty vineyard. Then he who approved the murder of that vineyard owner so that he could get the land he really wanted. This was the man who called Elijah his enemy. When Elijah called Ahab on this sin regarding the vineyard, he said of Ahab, “you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord” (1 Kings 21:20, NIV). This does not look like someone deserving mercy. Not by any stretch of the imagination.
Yet something strange that happened. When Elijah delivered the harsh rebuke from the Lord, Ahab tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. In response, God did this:
Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 29 “Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day…” (1 Kings 21:28-29 NIV)
What?! That’s quite nearly scandalous. That’s the kind of mercy that can be interpreted by some as permission to do wrong as long as we repent later. This is the kind of mercy that makes some people uncomfortable.
God still shows mercy. He’s not worried about whether people will misinterpret Him. He’s quite clear about who He is. “I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy” (Romans 9:15; Exodus 33:19).
When God says that He will judge Israel because of Jezreel (see Hosea 1:4), it’s in the valley of Jezreel where Jehu killed all the descendants of Ahab. Jehu had been called by God to execute judgement on the wicked Ahab. Yet, in the end, God will “have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy” (Hosea 2:23 NKJV).
Even in wrath, God remembers mercy. Why does He show mercy? The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 ESV).
God pours out all mercy to everyone who receives Jesus as Lord. God will also pour out wrath on those who refuse the mercy extended to them through Jesus Christ.
We will probably all be astounded when we get to heaven and realize, “even this person gets mercy?!” Because, for all of us, there is that one person we would never excuse. There is always that one person of whom we’ll think, “I know God’s mercy is huge, but I never thought that it would extend that far.”
“Thy mercy, O Lord, reaches unto the heavens” (Psalm 36:8, Jubilee Bible).
And maybe, that person you think doesn’t deserve mercy is you. If God extended mercy to someone like Ahab, God extends it to you too.
Who gets mercy? Just because God’s mercy is hard to understand doesn’t mean that it’s hard to get. Just open your hands and receive.
May you encounter the mercy of the Lord today!
About the Author:
Precarious Yates has lived in 8 different states of the Union and 3 different countries, but currently lives in Texas with her husband, her daughter and their big dogs. When she’s not writing, she enjoys music, teaching, playing on jungle gyms, praying and reading. She holds a Masters in the art of making tea and coffee and a PhD in Slinky® disentangling.
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