4 biblical marriages that show us what NOT to do

These two are the epitome of what to not do in a wedding. King Ahab followed in his father’s footsteps by doing “evil within the sight of the Lord.” (1 Kings 4:30 p.m)

Ahab marries Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of Sidon.

Ahab and Jezebel worship Baal and construct an altar to him. “Ahab has provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger greater than all of the kings of Israel that were before him.” (1 Kings 16:33)

Their idol worship confused the Israelites as to whom to worship, God or idols.

Jezebel adds murder to her list of sins by persecuting the Lord’s followers and murdering His prophets. Fortunately, Obadiah saved the hundred prophets.

Elijah confronts Ahab, urging him to forsake the commandments of the Lord and tells him to satisfy on Mount Carmel to see whose God is real. Baal’s followers construct a bonfire, chop the bull, and wait for Baal to bring the flames. Of course there isn’t a fire.

Elijah mocks them, builds an altar of twelve stones, puts a bull on it, adds water, and calls on the Lord. The Lord responds by sending fire and consuming the burnt offering, wood, stones, dust, and water. Elijah has the prophets of Baal killed, which doesn’t bode well for Jezebel when he finds out. He threatens to kill Elijah.

Then you have got the situation in Naboth’s vineyard. Ahab covets (never a very good habit) Naboth’s vineyard and tries to purchase the land, but Naboth is unwilling to sell his father’s land. Ahab comes home sulking because he didn’t get his way. Jezebel doesn’t wish to see her husband sulk and forge letters in Ahab’s name, arranging for Naboth’s murder.

Ahab and Jezebel break a lot of the Ten Commandments. They spend most of their lives not worshiping the Lord. Ahab is spared when he humbles himself before the Lord, but calamity continues to befall his house.

Aside from the plain greater sins, the lesson for us today is to support our spouses and take a look at to maintain them from sinning. We need to encourage them to walk within the ways of the Lord. Jezebel has sneaky, manipulative ways of doing things. We need to be honest and work with our spouses to stop one another from sinning.

Image credit: ©Getty Images/Peter Dennis