Please read 1 Kings 16.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1ki/16/1/s_307001
Meditate on verse 34.
In his (Ahab’s) days, Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho;
he laid its foundations with the loss of Abiram, his firstborn,
and set up its gates with the loss of his youngest son, Segub,
according to the Word of the LORD, which
He spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.
This chapter records interesting facts about some of Israel’s evil kings. A chariot commander became king after killing a drunk king; he reigned only seven days before killing himself (vs. 8-10, 15-18). An army commander then became king and fathered Ahab, one of the evilest kings in Israel’s history (vs. 16, 25-30).
As if these wicked kings were not tragic enough, the chapter ends with Jericho being rebuilt in defiance to God’s Word and at the expense of children losing their lives.
Then Joshua made them take an oath
at that time, saying, “Cursed before the LORD is the
man who rises up and builds this city Jericho;
with the loss of his firstborn, he shall lay its foundation,
and with the loss of his youngest son, he shall set up its gates.”
—Joshua 6:26
The Bible does not say if the children were sacrificed as part of pagan dedicatory rituals or died due to cruel child labor practices; what you do know is Abiram and Segub died because their father, Hiel, disobeyed God.
Examine your life. Are you obeying God’s Word? Are others being sacrificed by your behaviors? Learn well from these stories and determine not to repeat sins from the past.
Pray the opposite of 1 Kings 16:30-31 over yourself and those you love as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).
“LORD, do not let ________ and me do evil in Your sight.
Make us even holier than those who were before us.
Let us not treat any sin as a trivial thing.
Let us serve and worship only You.
In Your name, Jesus~”
The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell
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