1 Kings 16:25-34 “Evil that Baffles the Mind”
After Jeroboam introduced a religion of compromise and convenience, a persistent decline in Israel’s spiritual and moral condition occurred. Someone once said, ‘What we do in moderation, our children will do in excess.’ God provided prophetic words of correction that were ignored by these kings. Violence and division began to be the norm in Israel. Idolatry and false worship progressed while morality and spiritual vitality declined. “Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, and acted more wickedly than all who were before him.” (25) He not only reinforced Jeroboam’s sins but added to them. His son Ahab reigned 22 years. “Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD more than all who were before him.” (30) Ahab married Jezebel [a Sidonian] and erected an altar and a house for Baal worship in the capitol of Samaria. Under his reign Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho in violation of God’s word incurring the loss of two sons. We might say, ‘How did we get here, so far away from God?’ Without repentance and attention to God’s word, we will see an increase of evil that baffles the mind. We must not underestimate the danger of evil from which we fail to repent!
