We
hear the story of Ahab and Naboth; we listen to how Jezebel coerced leaders to
lie about Naboth. We hear how the corrupt leaders and noblemen of Samaria were
so quick to do the bidding of Jezebel. And we think that couldn’t or wouldn’t ever
happen to me…or happen here!
Ahab
wasn’t guilty of the actual lies or the stoning of Naboth but he didn’t say
anything when Jezebel told him, “Naboth is dead. You can have his garden now.”
He didn’t ask how Naboth died. He didn’t ask anything about Naboth, because he knew
that his wife had done something underhanded so he could have his garden. He just
didn’t care!
So
he went to the garden and began to make it his own, planting and cultivating it
as if he were the rightful, legal owner.
God
spoke to Elijah, we don’t know exactly how the communication happened, about
where to find Ahab and what he, and Jezebel, had done. God gave Elijah some
pretty harsh words to relay to Ahab. God said, “In
the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your
blood—yes, yours!” There was no doubt that Ahab wasn’t going to enjoy the
fruits of this garden, and it sounds fair to us because it wasn’t really his.
How does this story apply to us, today? We haven’t taken
anyone’s land. We haven’t had someone killed so we could waltz in and take it
over. We’re good guys.
But wait, what about all that happened to the Native
Americans? What about what happened to the Japanese Americans during World War
II? What about the land foreclosures during the Great Depression? Sure the
banks loaned the money but was it ethical to take the farm, sell it, and keep
enough from the proceeds to pay what was owed? What about what’s happening in
our Senate and House in Washington right now? Who’s paying the price for the
mismanagement of finances in our federal government? You know who it is. It’s
those who have no voice, no leverage, no super pacs to lobby for them. They’re
the ones who are paying. The Food Stamp program is one those programs that may
be cut or reduced. Who will feed these folks if they no longer can get food
stamps?
Injustices are still happening today, people taking
advantage of someone else in order to accumulate more wealth; not caring what
happens to the other guy as long as they get what they want, more land, more
money, more prestige.
It’s not just individuals, corporations and countries are
doing it too. Leveraging the competitor until they cave in and their
business…and customers…become part of the conglomerate.
Wars, most times are about one country trying to get more
land, more people, more natural resources. In the process, children and families
pay the price…and most of us turn and look the other way. It’s not in our back
yard. It’s on the other side of the world, it’s easy to ignore…and forget
about.
Friends, we’re all guilty. We’re guilty when we don’t speak
out over injustices we see happening all around us. We’re guilty when we pass
along rumors when we haven’t even asked if there’s any truth to them. You know
what I’m talking about.
We’re guilty when we don’t try to do something to right the
wrongs done to those who have very little to start with. We’re just guilty.
So, what are we to do?
How do we stop the process? I think
first we have to admit that some of the blame does indeed belong on our
shoulders. And then we need to ask God to forgive us, and show us, allow us, to
begin to right some of the wrongs.
