Day 317 – Provision

1 Kings 21:1 It happened after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in Jezreel, next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.

 2 Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near, next to my house; and for it I will give you a vineyard better than it. Or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money.”

 3 However, Naboth said to Ahab, “JEHOVAH forbid that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!”

 4 Then Ahab went into his house sullen and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” He lay on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no food.

 5 However, Jezebel his wife came to him, and said to him, “Why is your spirit so sullen that you eat no food?”

 6 He said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite, and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it pleases you, I will give you another vineyard for it.’ He answered, ‘I will not give you, my vineyard.’”

 7 Then Jezebel his wife said to him, “You now exercise authority over Israel! Arise, eat food, and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

 8 She wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who were dwelling in the city with Naboth.

 9 She wrote in the letters, saying, proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth with high honor among the people; 10 and seat two men, scoundrels, before him to bear witness against him, saying, “You blasphemed Elohiym and the king.” Then take him out, and stone him, that he may die.

 11 Then the men of his city, the elders and nobles who were inhabitants of his city, did as Jezebel had sent to them, as it was written in the letters which she had sent to them.

 12 They proclaimed a fast, and seated Naboth with high honor among the people.

 13 Two men, scoundrels, came in and sat before him; and the scoundrels witnessed against him, against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth has blasphemed Elohiym and the king!” Then they took him outside the city and stoned him with stones, so that he died.

 14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned and is dead.”

 15 It happened, when Jezebel heard Naboth had been stoned and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead.”

 16 Then it happened, when Ahab heard Naboth was dead, that Ahab got up and went to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.

 17 Then the word of the JEHOVAH came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 18 “Arise, go to meet Ahab king of Israel, who lives in Samaria. There he is, in the vineyard of Naboth, where he went to take possession of it. 19 You will speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says JEHOVAH, “Have you murdered and also taken possession?”’ You will speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the JEHOVAH, “In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs will lick your blood, even yours.”’”

 20 Then Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?”

 He answered, “I found you, because you sold yourself to do evil in the sight of JEHOVAH. 21 ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on you. I will take away your posterity and will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both bond and free. 22 I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger, and made Israel sin.’ 23 Concerning Jezebel JEHOVAH also spoke, saying, ‘The dogs will eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’ 24 The dogs will eat whoever belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, and the birds of the air will eat whoever dies in the field.”

 25 However, there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of JEHOVAH, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up.

 26 He behaved abominably in following idols, according to everything the Amorites did, whom JEHOVAH had cast out before the children of Israel.

 27 Then it happened, when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his body, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about mourning.

 28 The word of JEHOVAH came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 “See how Ahab humbled himself before Me? Because he humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days. In the days of his son, I will bring the calamity to his house.”

God’s names:

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Elohiym – Supreme God

Yeshuwa – Jesus

Theos – Supreme Divinity

Iesous – Jesus

Christos – Anointed One, Messiah

God’s character:

Judge

Provider

Many people covet what their friends and neighbors have and do what they can to have the same things. This attitude is exploited in the many television commercials you see. You want to keep up with the Joneses. For some, if they can’t afford to buy the same things, they steal them.

Ahab wanted Naboth’s vineyard. When Naboth refused to sell it to him, Jezebel wrote letters to the elders of Jezreel where Naboth lived and had him killed during a feast. JEHOVAH sent Elijah to Ahab to tell him what would happen to him because he had Naboth killed to take over his vineyard.

When you accepted Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord, you agreed to live according to His Word. JEHOVAH gave Israel the Ten Commandments which state you will not covet anything your neighbor has. Yet many Christians not only covet, but they also go into debt to have the same things as other Christians. When you act like the world, you destroy your testimony as a Christian.

Exodus 20:17 “You will not covet your neighbor’s house; you will not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Yeshuwa wants your obedience. When you destroy your testimony, He will do whatever it takes to bring you back into fellowship with Him. You will find your life chaotic. You will have what you want, but the price costs your relationship with Yeshuwa. Instead of destroying your testimony, trust Elohiym for everything you need. Don’t go into debt over things that bring momentary satisfaction.

This time of year, is a good example of covetousness. The stores are filled with shoppers looking for the perfect gift. Elohiym already gave you the perfect gift, His Son, and your salvation. When you trust Him for everything you need, He will throw in the desires of your heart, and it won’t cost you a relationship with Him.

Psalm 37:3 Trust in JEHOVAH, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

 4 Delight yourself also in JEHOVAH, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

 5 Commit your way to JEHOVAH, trust also in Him, and He will bring it to pass.

 6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

Matthew 6:25 “Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is life not more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you, by worrying, can add one cubit to his stature? 28 Why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if Theos so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore, do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For after these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows you need these things. 33 However, seek first the kingdom of Theos and His righteousness, and these things will be added to you. 34 Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Wanting what everyone else has is a sin. Trust Elohiym to provide you with everything you need, and you will find yourself in a good relationship with Yeshuwa.

Philippians 4:19 My Theos will supply everything you need according to His riches in glory by Christos Iesous.

Let’s pray: Father, help me not to destroy my testimony by wanting what my friends and neighbors have. Help me trust You to provide everything I need according to Your riches in Christ Jesus. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 1 December 2024 by Valerie Routhieaux