The New Oxford American Dictionary defines the term, wuss, as “a weak or ineffectual person”. I thought it important to define that term before I apply it to a Bible character. Ahab, former King of Israel, can be tagged accurately as a wuss. His term as king stretched for twenty-two years, and his major accomplishment can be summed up in these snippets:
But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the LORD’s sight, even more than any of the kings before him.
1 Kings 16:30 NLT
…He did more to provoke the anger of the LORD, the God of Israel, than any of the other kings of Israel before him.
1 Kings 16:33 NLT Selected
Admittedly Ahab’s childhood home life left much to be desired as Scripture offers this description of his father, Omri.
But Omri did what was evil in the LORD’s sight, even more than any of the kings before him.
1 Kings 16:25 NLT
Blaming our adult life view and actions on our childhood home life is a sure sign of refusing to take responsibility, a key trait toward becoming a wuss. Each of us stands accountable to God for our individual choices.
As he surpassed his dad’s evil accomplishments, Ahab pushed a wicked influence to a level unsurpassed by any other king of Israel. In terms of positive spiritual influence on his kingdom, Ahab truly earned the tag of wuss.
He ignored available guidance.
The Law of Moses defined God’s expectation for Israel’s king long before they had one.
“When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the LORD his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees. This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. And it will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel.
Deuteronomy 17:18-20 NLT
Samuel, the revered prophet of God who installed Saul as God’s choice for first king of Israel, reminded the nation of the king’s responsibilities.
Then Samuel told the people what the rights and duties of a king were. He wrote them down on a scroll and placed it before the LORD. Then Samuel sent the people home again.
1 Samuel 10:25 NLT
How important was the written Word of God in governing the affairs of the nation? As Moses passed from the scene and Joshua took the reins of command God met with him and shared the secret to leading rightly.
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
Joshua 1:7-8 NLT
Ahab’s biography in 1 Kings is intertwined with the words and deeds of Elijah, God’s prophet. Had the king sought input from God Elijah was at hand to deliver the message. Instead of a cooperative relationship built on respect, Ahab blamed Elijah for the adversity God sent upon the land and saw the prophet as his arch enemy.
When Ahab saw him, he exclaimed, “So, is it really you, you troublemaker of Israel?” “I have made no trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “You and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the LORD and have worshiped the images of Baal instead.
1 Kings 18:17-18 NLT
Ahab snubbed the resources God had provided to facilitate his reign and relied on his own ability to maneuver in the political arena. His focus on spiritual matters, if it ever existed, snuffed out and the nation slid into sin and decay.
He chose an evil influence as his closest companion.
As bad as Ahab was on his own, he was overshadowed by another, the real impetus behind his moral plummet. Jezebel. I’ve counseled more than one young person contemplating marriage and shared God’s expectation about not being unequally yoked (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) by marrying a person who does not share in the faith. Our spouses influence our thinking and our actions perhaps more than we care to admit.
Jezebel’s father, a former priest, no doubt raised her in the tenets of Baal worship. Jezebel did all in her power to propagate her religion, and an alliance with Ahab opened new horizons for her mission work.
And as though it were not enough to follow the sinful example of Jeroboam, he married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians, and he began to bow down in worship of Baal. First Ahab built a temple and an altar for Baal in Samaria. Then he set up an Asherah pole. He did more to provoke the anger of the LORD, the God of Israel, than any of the other kings of Israel before him.
1 Kings 16:31-33 NLT
How completely did Jezebel dominate Ahab? Here are some expert opinions.
Unger’s Bible Dictionary (page 30) – “Jezebel was a decided and energetic character, and soon acquired complete control over her husband…”
David Dictionary of the Bible (page 19) – “She worshiped Baal. And her husband being weal and irresolute, she ruled over him, and made him also a Baal-worshipper.”
Sound comments from reputable and accepted sources, but what does Scripture tell us?
(No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the LORD’s sight as Ahab did under the influence of his wife Jezebel. His worst outrage was worshiping idols just as the Amorites had done—the people whom the LORD had driven out from the land ahead of the Israelites.)
1 Kings 21:25-26 NLT
That little word, influence, is also rendered as incited (ESV and NASB) or stirred up (KJV). It has a host of meanings including stimulate, seduce, entice, persuade, provoke, allure, and instigate. Jezebel determined to have her way in the kingdom, and Ahab did not question her actions. Using Ahab’s throne as a launching point she purged the land of the prophets devoted to the one true God (I Kings 18:4). Jezebel, a wicked schemer, had no problems killing those innocents.
Allowing our wives to influence us does not automatically move us from he-men to wuss-men. On the contrary marriage is a partnership requiring cooperation and joint decision making. God created Eve and established marriage for the simple reason that “It is not good for the man to be alone.” I’m thankful for the wise and godly input my wife brings to our decisions.
Jezebel pampered and babied Ahab, and he loved it. Men, when we marry we ought not to be looking for a replacement for mom. Our brides are women in their own right with different ways of thinking and doing. We better accept that.
Take a few minutes and review the story of innocent Naboth, a man who desired to honor his ancestors by stewarding the family vineyard (1 Kings 21:5-15). Ahab wanted that vineyard. He threw a tantrum when Naboth refused to sell. Jezebel determined to resolve the issue in her own way and framed Naboth who was executed by the leaders for blasphemy against God. The irony of her actions as a profound idol worshiper and unbeliever in Jehovah leaps off page as we read the account.
He attempted to scheme his way around God’s judgment.
God did not overlook the atrocities done to Naboth. He dispatched Elijah with a message of coming judgment for Ahab and his wicked wife, Jezebel.
But the LORD said to Elijah, “Go down to meet King Ahab of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He will be at Naboth’s vineyard in Jezreel, claiming it for himself. Give him this message: ‘This is what the LORD says: Wasn’t it enough that you killed Naboth? Must you rob him, too? Because you have done this, dogs will lick your blood at the very place where they licked the blood of Naboth!’”
1 Kings 21:17-19 NLT
“And regarding Jezebel, the LORD says, ‘Dogs will eat Jezebel’s body at the plot of land in Jezreel.’
1 Kings 21:23 NLT
Reading Ahab’s story closely (1 Kings) we learn that he surrounded himself with toady prophets who rubber-stamped the king’s plans with false assurances of God’s favor. Elijah and one other prophet, Micaiah, stood in opposition. Here’s Ahab’s opinion of Micaiah.
The king of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat, “There is one more man who could consult the LORD for us, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me! His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.”…
1 Kings 22:8 NLT Selected
Like Elijah, Micaiah prophesied of the kings’ impending demise. Ahab, enraged over that message which contradicted the false hope given by the other prophets gave this command regarding Micaiah.
“Arrest him!” the king of Israel ordered. “Take him back to Amon, the governor of the city, and to my son Joash. Give them this order from the king: ‘Put this man in prison, and feed him nothing but bread and water until I return safely from the battle!’”
1 Kings 22:26-27 NLT
Ahab joined King Jehoshaphat of Judah in battle but not before taking cowardly action to protect his own hide.
So King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah led their armies against Ramoth-gilead. The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “As we go into battle, I will disguise myself so no one will recognize me, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.
1 Kings 22:29-30 NLT
The plan seemed to work as the enemy focused their attack on Jehoshaphat. Ahab no doubt felt a sense of satisfaction that his deception worked. But his joy was short lived for:
An Aramean soldier, however, randomly shot an arrow at the Israelite troops and hit the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. “Turn the horses and get me out of here!” Ahab groaned to the driver of his chariot. “I’m badly wounded!”
1 Kings 22:34 NLT
Ahab died that evening exactly as God predicted.
Ahab left a dismal legacy.
Grandson Ahaziah continued the debauched lifestyle begun by grandpa Omri and perfected by dad Ahab. The apple truly did not fall far from the tree.
Ahaziah son of Ahab began to rule over Israel in the seventeenth year of King Jehoshaphat’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria two years. But he did what was evil in the LORD’s sight, following the example of his father and mother and the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had led Israel to sin. He served Baal and worshiped him, provoking the anger of the LORD, the God of Israel, just as his father had done.
1 Kings 22:51-53 NLT
What do we learn about the characteristics of wusses from Ahab’s story? Their ever-growing tribe is well-represented among us. Look for men (and women) who:
- Ignore established wisdom and righteous guidance.
- Refuse to stand up for right.
- Go along to get along.
- Often shirk leadership and family responsibilities.
- Present measurable selfishness in actions triggered by selfishness in thoughts.
- Devalue others.
- Cannot admit wrong in either words or deeds.
- Have little tolerance for those who point out errors in behavior.
Ahab was the model of a weak and ineffectual person indeed! Wuss is the correct term to describe him.