Jezebel is the epitome of an evil woman and is a term still used today. She was so very evil and had someone killed just because her husband wanted his family land. She was ruthless and evil. Elisha prophesied for her a terrible death.
Seductive and Beautiful Jezebel
What is interesting about Jezebel is that one she was more than likely a gorgeous woman who used her beauty to get her way. It seems like men just could not resist her.
When Jehu became King though, he was set on his mission to do what was right and not be abducted by her adulteries. But not for lack of effort on her part.
“When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard about it, so she painted her eyes, adorned her head and looked down from the window” (2 Kgs 9:30).
Knowing that Jehu was coming to perhaps usurp the throne and give her justice, she put on thick her seductive charm and sultry voice. But this time it didn’t work.
Jehu didn’t even tempt himself to go talk with her in person. Instead he called to those who were in the room to look out the window. Then he asked them to take care of business and toss her out which they promptly did. This most hated of evil of a woman met her end, fulfilling the word of the prophet Elisha.
The Motivation for the Rise of Evil
One wonders how sometimes evil becomes so rampant in the world. And how fast and big it comes. It’s mind-boggling. But typically behind it all is something of a crime scene.
J Warner Wallace is a cold case detective and says that all crimes only have 3 motivations–sex, money or power. “These three motives lie at the heart of every conceivable crime or misdeed,” he is quote as saying. This is confirmation of the Scripture which details sin as coming from the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life (1 Jn 2:16).
For Jezebel she used sex to get what she wanted and swayed the men in her life with her seductions. For others the temptation is money or power. I might actually had a fourth one and that’s the issue of belonging. But regardless, even to this very day the explosion of evil continues to be rooted in these.
The Call to Courage
Last night I watched the movie Beneath Hill 60 that tells of the massive tunneling and explosives set off in WW1. It was an event I’ve only heard a little bit about, although I’m sure the Europeans know it well.
But as I was watching the movie, it was a reminder to me yet again how much in terrible and evil times there must be people willing to act courageously, risk their lives, and even sometimes be the sacrifice. It takes masses amount of courage to stand up to evil. Mainly because one first has to see it as it is.
Evil is exploding in the world. Who knows how it will look and how we are to respond. We will all have to be led of the Lord in that. But I think Jehu gives us a good model of dealing with it.
He didn’t engage. I’m sure Jehu was tempted to go up to Jezebel and just “talk” with her. But her seductive power made have caused him to stumble. So he stayed distant from the realm of temptation and just dealt with it as the situation called for.
Also he wasn’t swayed by personal gain in this moment. He endeavored to do what was right. That was no easy task. But he stayed the course, not giving in to her seductions.
When the day of evil comes, we may be tempted by sex, money or power to compromise the gospel. We may even have to do as the Scripture says and just “stand” (Eph 6″13). It may even cost our lives. But a compromised life will never build the nation or world that God wants humanity to live in.
