The Green - Eyed Monster Envy

Scripture includes a vivid account of envy which resulted in murder, destruction and death. I once heard that, everything we have loses it's value to us when we desire something we cannot have. Men, it is a gray matter when we set our affections on something we shouldn't have because those around us will often do what they can to get it for us.

In this story a king had great riches but was unable to enjoy them because he wanted something he could not have. The king's wife implemented a wicked scheme that gave him his wish, but neither the king nor the Queen counted on the final price of what they had done. The callous eyes of a evil queen stared at her moody husband . It was in her interest to keep everyone around her happy, but the king was exceedingly displeased and dejected. She played the part of a doting wife. "Why aren't you eating? What has made you so upset?" The king answered as though he was a little boy telling his mother who hurt him. Then he replied I asked the man next door if he would trade me his vineyard for a better one or accept money for it, but he refused." "Why would he refuse?" She probed." "because he claims that the law of God prohibits such a sale." With irritation she demanded, "Are you king or aren't you?" Then with a ingenious gleam in her eye, she assured her husband, "Don't worry about it. I'll see that you get that vineyard." The queen was very evil and she despised God's prophets and delighted in destroying them. Why should she allow a neighbor who kept God's laws to interfere with her husband's happiness? So she went about her deadly scheme against the vineyard owner. Now the plot thickens... Letters were drafted and sent out in the king's name to the leaders of the city. "Call the citizens together, proclaim a time of fasting and prayer. Then put the vineyard owner on trial. Hire two men to falsely accuse him of cursing God and the king. then execute him." The leaders of the city followed her instructions. When the report of the man's demise reached the queen, she proudly announced to her husband, "Do you remember the vineyard your neighbor wouldn't sell you." You can have it now. He is no longer living." The king grinned like a spoiled child used to having his own way, but when he left the palace to claim the vineyard he was met by a Prophet of God (Elijah the Tishbite). The king was startled and deeply convicted by the Prophet's words.

"God has a message for you, O King. Isn't it bad enough to kill your neighbor and his family? Must you steal his vineyard, too? Because you have done this, dogs will lick your blood outside the city just like they licked the blood of your neighbor's. None of your sons will survive and the dead body of your wife will be ripped apart by the dogs."

Men it's so important that we received wise counsel, and the best counsel comes from the Word of God. Then Ahab refused to admit his guilt / sin against God. He accused Elijah, God's prophet, of being his enemy. When we are blinded by envy and hatred, it is almost impossible to see our own sin. Surely there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the Lord, because Jezebel his wife incited him" (1 King 21:25). Jezebel's story is told in 1 Kings 16:31- 2Kings 9:37. Her name is used as a synonym for great evil in Revelation 2:20. Now Ahab was very evil and he holds the title of being the most wicked king in Israel's history.

Several years later that king was killed in battle. As men washed his blood out of the chariot dogs came and licked it. Later still, the General of the army entered the Royal city. The wicked queen was waiting for him. She had painted her eyelids fixed her hair and was sitting in an upper window of her place. Little did she know that this would be her last attitudinizing regal like portrayal.

The general shouted, "throw her down". The servants who surrounded her obeyed and threw her out the window. Her blood splattered against the wall. The general trampled her body beneath his horses. Later, soldiers were sent to bury her, but they found only the skull, feet and hands of that wicked Queen Jezebel. The dogs had eaten her just as the prophet said they would. But even the dogs refused her bloodstained hands, her feet that were swift in running to mischief, and her corrupted mind that found joy at the expense of others when they stood in the way of her evil plans. From (1Kings 21 and II Kings 9:30-37)

Although Jezebel outlined her husband by ten years, she did not escape a violent and humiliating death (II Kings 9:33). In Revelation 2:20, the name Jezebel is used for a false prophetess within the church of thyatira who encouraged idolatry and immorality. Her name is synonymous today with wickedness and treachery. Jezebel's tragic epithet is given in conjunction with her husband's, "but there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel, his wife, stirred up". (I Kings 21:25). An innocent death to satisfy a selfish whim. Naboth refused to sell his inherited land on the basis of the Mosaic Law which was higher than Ahab's desires ( Leviticus 25:23).

"Until next time keep your spiritual wit's about ya"

Humbly Yours in Christ,

Jim