1 Kings 16:1-26 “Transition Without Change”
During Baasha’s reign, God raised up Jehu a prophet who reminded Baasha why he is in this place as king. God used him to punish the house of Jeroboam, but he has followed Jeroboam’s bad example and will be subject to the same punishment – annihilation. When Baasha’s son Elah became king, Elah’s own servant [Zimri] turned on him while he was in a drunken stupor. Zimri destroyed the entire household of Baasha as the prophet Jehu had spoken. “In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned seven days at Tirzah…” (15a) When the people heard what Zimri had done they made Omri, the commander of the army, king and attacked the city where Zimri resided. When Zimri was aware of Omri’s success in taking the city, he burned his own house down with himself inside. Omri reigned for six years building Samaria. However, Omri did more evil then those before him: “For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat and in his sins which he made Israel sin, provoking the LORD God of Israel with their idols.” (26). Without repentance, political transitions do not bring about change!
