Bad Girls of the Bible- Chapter 8 Bible Study

Welcome back!

If you are new, thanks for stopping by!

Last week we talked about Rahab.

Today I am going to focus on the worst of them all- Jezebel.

Chapter 8: Friends in Low Places

A whiny husband.

A controlling wife.

This is a recipe for disaster!

'Jezebel filled her palace and surrounding worship centers with 450 priests and 400 priestesses of foreign gods.  Sexual immorality, temple prostitution, even the sacrifice of children were the order of the day'(pg 186)

Sexual immorality...bad.

Temple prostitution....really bad.

SACRIFICE OF CHILDREN....Uh hello...SERIOUSLY demented here.

This is just a glimpse of the bad that was Jezebel.

Later in the story we hear that her husband throws a temper tantrum because he wants some land that is NOT rightfully his or rightfully his to have.

A grown man, throwing a temper tantrum.

I can only imagine how I would have responded.

Probably in the same condescending tone she did.

But as we know, that is not the way we as wives are to go.

It's also not a good practice for our husband to act in such a manner, but we are ignoring that right now.

In order to stop his incessant whining she devises a plan in which the land owner, an innocent man as far as we know is killed, thus allowing them to have the land free and clear.   

Later Ahab has an experience that leads him to repent his ways....

unfortunately Jezebel doesn't get the message and in the end is killed in a grizzly manner.

Take a look at your relationship (past and present, marriage or dating).

Take a look at your personality.

Jezebel is strong-willed, domineering, quick to criticize, eager to take charge, slow to give up control, sharp-tongued, stubborn, impatient, and unwilling to be defeated.

Do any of those traits sound like ones you have or have experienced before?

I'm so guilty.  

Strong-willed...guilty...I always chocked it up to being the first born and being a natural born take charge leader kinda girl.

Eager to take charge...see above!

Impatient....see above again!

How did that play out in my relationships and marriage?

Well I recall dating a few Ahabs.

Whiny boys who never seemed to grow up and thankfully God helped me see that those were not the relationships I was meant to be in.

As far as my marriage, there were times early on when Bud had to point out that I was not allowing him to be the head of the household.

8 years in and I'd say I still feel my strong-willed urges kick in from time to time, but I have a better grasp on them.

Don't get me wrong, Bud & I feel that decisions should be talked about and equally agreed upon, but if there is ever a time when we reach an impasse, I know that in my heart it is his job to make the end decision.

It doesn't mean I won't feel the desire to slip into old habits and try to take charge.

That being said, I know what my strengths and weaknesses are and I know that I need God to help me keep them in check.

I need God to help me honor my husband.

I need to honor my husband so that he can be the husband God wants him to be.

See that circle....

....it never ends.

Honor God, Honor Husband, Husband Honors God, Husband Honors You....etc.

Jezebel never learned that.

But we can!

Read these verses and see what the Bible says about how the Lord evaluates our spoken words:

Proverbs 8:13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech

Matthew 12:34-37  You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good?  For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.  A good man brings good things out of the good that is stored up in him.  But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgement for every empty word they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.

1 Peter 3:10-11 Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.  They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.

Our book tells us that we can  be a strong woman and not a Jezebel.

1 Corinthians 16:13  Be on your guard; stand firm in your faith; be courageous; be strong.

Even if you have been inclined to be a Jezebel at times, it's not to late to repent and ask God's forgiveness. 

Read and see...

Ezekiel 18:30 I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord.  REPENT!  Turn away from all your offenses and sin will not be your downfall.

Ezekiel 18:32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone.  Repent and Live!

Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

With all this said.....

WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM JEZEBEL?

- 1 - Like father, (not necessarily) like daughter.
"A father to the fatherless...is God in his holy dwelling".  Psalm 68:5

- 2 - Ruling your country is one thing; ruling your husband is another.
"Wives, submit to your husbands as the Lord...Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her".  Ephesians 5:22,25

- 3 - No one wants to work for a witch.
"Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven". Colossians 4:1

- 4 - The only person who saw Ahab as weak was Jezebel
"Your beauty should not come from outward adronment....Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight". 1 Peter 3:3-4

So know this.
We can all have Jezebel tendencies.
It is how we act upon them that matters.
We all know a Jezebel.
It is how we respond to her and treat her that matters.
Repent for your sins.
Pray for the Jezebel in your life.
God's forgiveness is greater than we know.

I hope you have enjoyed this time of study.

Please let me know if you would like to see something in particular in our discussions or if you have any questions.

I hope you have a Blessed Friday!