1 Kings 21

Ahab wanted something that he could not get his hands on. Who stood in his way? Naboth, but not just Naboth, God. Naboth would not sell his vineyard to Ahab because it was the inheritance of his fathers that was to be passed down according to family lines as a matter of religious duty.

God was the owner of Israel, and He had called upon the tribes, families, and clans of His people to be good stewards of the land in His Name. That meant that the land did not go to the highest bidder. It was kept in the family according to the Lord's command.

Leviticus 25:23 taught this: “The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me.” (They were strangers and sojourners because Canaan would not be the final land for the Lord's people.)

Deuteronomy 25:5-10 further instructed the Israelites what they were to do in order to keep family land in the family. The closest relative was to be the redeemer of both the land and family of a deceased relative. God was very serious about the inheritance that He had for His people.

But Ahab wanted a vegetable garden near some of his property in Jezreel. He thought that money would win the day, and was “vexed and sullen” when Naboth would not be bought. Jezebel, Ahab's wife understood that murder would be required for the king to accomplish his desire. She set about the task of achieving a goal that she associated with the dignity of being king in Israel.

Jezebel was a daughter of a king. She understood how authority worked in other nations. She was not a follower of the God of Israel or His laws. Her attitude was well expressed in her question to her husband: “Do you now govern Israel?” Her self-sufficiency and determination were clear: “I will give you the vineyard.”

After Naboth had been slandered and murdered, Elijah brought the word of God to Ahab. The king was taking possession of stolen property, and a sentence of death was on his entire household.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the chapter comes in Ahab's remorse. God says to Elijah, “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me?” The Lord would still execute justice against Ahab, but because of the king's true sorrow, the final disaster for the house of Ahab would not come in Ahab's lifetime.

God is still very serious about His land and His people. He has secured for us a better property than Canaan through the blood of Jesus Christ. That land will never be sold to the highest bidder. It will be kept in the family forever.

To inherit the land of heaven, you must be born into the family of God. That cannot come from the family line of your natural birth. The land is now above, where Christ sits at the right hand of the Father, and you must be born from above.

When we are confronted with the ugly details of our sins, the very best thing that we can do is to repent toward God and have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. All who trust in Jesus have become sons of God in Him, and are now heirs of the very best salvation.