1 Kings 16:8 In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah, and he reigned two years. But his servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against him. When he was at Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah, Zimri came in and struck him down and killed him, in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place.
When he began to reign, as soon as he had seated himself on his throne, he struck down all the house of Baasha. He did not leave him a single male of his relatives or his friends. Thus Zimri destroyed all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet, for all the sins of Baasha and the sins of Elah his son, which they sinned and which they made Israel to sin, provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger with their idols.
1 Kings 16:1-4 And the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, “Since I exalted you out of the dust and made you leader over my people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam and have made my people Israel to sin, provoking me to anger with their sins, behold, I will utterly sweep away Baasha and his house
Do we take sin serious? Do we see God as this generous, benevolent, free giving, ever wanting to do whatever it is we want, blessing us no matter what we endeavor to do, absent from judgment, and our personal good luck charm? When we have a limited view and understanding of sin our knowledge and understanding of who God is will also be limited. Scripture is full of history and works of God, promises of God, and the wisdom of God. They speak of His unfailing love and jealous anger, His unlimited power, might, strength, His plan and purpose for mankind, His plan of redemption/salvation through Jesus Christ, His call to us for confession, repentance, and belief in His redemption plan through Christ alone, Heaven, hell and eternity, Coming judgement.
We will do well to spend time in His word with intentional purpose to know Him, to serve Him, to honor Him, to follow Him, to obey Him, to trust Him. When His anger is unleashed against those who choose to lead others astray and those who do not heed warnings blindly following with deaf ears and blind eyes. We see this time and time again in scripture. We should learn from it and be different because of it. What is the difference in your life compared to someone who gives little to no thought about God? You see there ought to be a difference if God is first and Jesus is real in your life.
