Through spiritual enlightenment of God’s Word, united with recorded history, we understand there is knowledge available to God’s children, which the Holy Spirit longs to teach us today! But we must be willing to humble ourselves and look within our own hearts for His Wisdom to be revealed.

King Ahab and Queen Jezebel served as leaders of the northern kingdom of Israel during a time of much evil in the land.  Many studies have been written on the character and spirit that controlled this co-dependent couple.  When Ahab married Jezebel the unhealthy relationship began, and now Satan had his couple on the throne because Jezebel worshiped Baal, not the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Spiritually, Ahab sat on the fence, so he became involved in worshiping Baal, and built a house to Baal in the capital city of Samaria and made an Asherah pole as a tool of pagan worship.  Baal worship is not limited to, but includes: Love of money and materialism, sexual perversion, narcissist behaviors, and sacrificing the lives of innocent children.

King Ahab was double-minded! He sought the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel when he was desperate and afraid, but he quickly turned away when negative consequences were delayed or circumstances lightened up. Ahab did not take responsibility for his actions or feelings, but he manipulated others, especially Jezebel, to be responsible for his happiness and heart.    On the other end of this relationship, Jezebel was more than happy to take on the responsibility and control he was giving her. This was an evil co-dependent relationship; Jezebel felt fulfillment and powerful by fixing the circumstances, while Ahab did not have to make decisions, fear failure and rejection, or face the responsibility of his actions.

For example, a man named Naboth had a vineyard which was close beside the palace of Ahab and Jezebel. Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near my house. I will give you a better vineyard for it or, if you prefer, I will give you its worth in money. Naboth said to Ahab, “The Lord forbid that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you.” Naboth’s inherited vineyard represented, the Godly inheritance and covenant he was in with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and it was not for sale. Notice, Ahab knows what he wants and he makes a polite offer, but the man of God says no!

To get what He wants, Ahab returns home to Jezebel, in order to manipulate her into action. He will take on the resentful, self-pitying, victim, and martyr role. But underneath it all Ahab knows Jezebel will pick up the responsibility of getting what he wants, fixing his feelings, and procuring the vineyard. “And Ahab already depressed by the Lord’s message to him came into his house more resentful and sullen because of what Naboth had said to him. And he lay down on his bed, turned away his face, and would eat no food. But Jezebel came and said to him, “Why is your spirit so troubled that you eat no food”? And he said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth and he will not let me buy his vineyard”. Jezebel his wife had replaced his god!  She said, “Arise, eat food, and let your heart be happy. I will give you the vineyard of Naboth”

Now the evil queen Jezebel goes into action! She wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal and sent them to the elders and nobles. She also used a religious tone, and she told the elders to proclaim and hire two base men, to lie and say that Naboth cursed and renounced God and the king. She was using money, lies, evil religion and politics to destroy an innocent man! Then they stoned Naboth!  

Then Jezebel said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth which he refused to sell you, for Naboth is not alive, but dead”. When Ahab heard this, he arose to go down to the vineyard to take possession of it, no questions ask! But God had the last word, and sent Elijah to prophesy the truth, and proclaim Ahab had sold himself to do evil in the sight of the Lord, and there was no one who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the Lord as did Ahab incited by his wife Jezebel. Ahab had gone after many idols, including Jezebel! Both King and queen would ultimately reap what they had sowed. God longed for the double-minded King of Israel to repent and return to Him, but he would not! (1Kings 21)

There is much to learn from the life and relationship of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. Let us humbly examine ourselves to see what is in our hearts, so we can receive help in our time of need. Do you make others responsible for your well-being, while ignoring the need to work out your own soul in prayer, while seeking God for help and inner-strength? Or do you get your significance from attempting to be a god to someone else by trying to care-take, please, or fix them? Whichever sides of the co-dependent scale you tend to live in, both are bondage, and from the pit. Being co-dependent with someone  is slavery, and Christ has made us free and completely liberated us, so stand fast and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery!(Galatians 5:1).