The Jezebel Infection, part A

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During this study it has become clear that our husband’s needs should be our priority. We were created too be their helpers. Our mission is to help our husband live the dream and destiny that God created for them.

Unfortunately, there is a little Jezebel infection in all of us. To understand this, we must first go back to the beginning. Eve was the first to be infected by the spirit of Jezebel.

Genesis 3:16-17

To the woman He said, I will greatly multiply your grief and your suffering in pregnancy and the pangs of childbearing; with spasms of distress you will bring forth children. Yet your desire and craving will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.

And to Adam He said, Because you have listened and given heed to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it, the ground is under a curse because of you; in sorrow and toil shall you eat [of the fruits] of it all the days of your life.

You see, we have a very strong influence over our husbands…even to the point of them disobeying God to make us happy. This is a very serious matter. We must not take this lightly. We must take our role as wife and helper VERY seriously.

There is a line in a recent movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, where the Mother explains that “the man is the head…BUT…the woman is the neck, and she can move it any way she wants to.” This is VERY true. We really can manipulate our husbands…in good ways and bad. We have the power to lead them towards God’s will and away from it.

Eve was the weak link. Yes, Adam joined her and he had a choice. However, this clearly shows the strong influence a woman has over her husband.

1 Kings 16:30-33

And Ahab son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all before him.

As if it had been a light thing for Ahab to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he took for a wife Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and served Baal and worshiped him.

He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal which he built in Samaria.

And Ahab made an Asherah [idolatrous symbol of the goddess Asherah]. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel before him.

Ahab married a women who did not honor God. He allowed her to influence him away from God.

1 Kings 18:4

For when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.

Ahab allowed Jezebel to have power. He allowed her to do things that he knew were evil. Yet, he did nothing to stop her.

1 Kings 21:1-10

NOW NABOTH the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, close beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria; and after these things,

Ahab said to Naboth, Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near my house. I will give you a better vineyard for it or, if you prefer, I will give you its worth in money.

Naboth said to Ahab, The Lord forbid that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you.

And Ahab [already depressed by the Lord's message to him] came into his house [more] resentful and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him; for he had said, I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers. And he lay down on his bed, turned away his face, and would eat no food.

But Jezebel his wife came and said to him, Why is your spirit so troubled that you eat no food?

And he said to her, Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, Give me your vineyard for money; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard for it. And he answered, I will not give you my vineyard.

Jezebel his wife said to him, Do you not govern Israel? Arise, eat food, and let your heart be happy. I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.

So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal and sent them to the elders and nobles who dwelt with Naboth in his city.

And in the letters she said, Proclaim a fast and set Naboth up high among the people.

And set two men, base fellows, before him, and let them bear witness against him, saying, You cursed and renounced God and the king. Then carry him out and stone him to death.

Here we see Jezebel consoling Ahab. He is feeling sorry for himself and she is again using methods of evil to influence her husband. She is giving him what he wants, yes. However, she is doing it in a wicked way.

She had complete control over him and used it for her own selfish desires.

We all have been guilty of this. Do not think you are above a little bit of Jezebel in your flesh. I thought I was. LOL. Then the Lord showed me how I can revert to my flesh and show symptoms of the Jezebel infection.

What are some of the symptoms?

• controlling
• uses whatever methods work to get what she wants
• disobeys God
• manipulative
• selfish and fleshly
• bitter and angry

Have you ever done the pouty face to get what you want? Deep down you knew that you should not try and change your husband’s mind…but…you really wanted something. So, you used your special look or technique to influence him.

This may sound simple. Whether you think it is or not, it is still manipulation!

Have you ever woke up with a dark cloud over your head and then saw how your…yes, YOUR mood changed the whole day? I have. Every now and then, I am just grumpy. Sometimes I let it get the best of me and allow it to take over. When I do this, I watch my husband go from a good mood to a bad mood. The sad part is, once I realize what I have done and try to change the mood back, it is not so simple.

I am going to end this week with that. Next week, we will dig deeper into the Jezebel infection and find the cure.

Let’s Pray;

Daddy God, forgive me for the times that I have manipulated, controlled, and steered my husband away from Your path. Help me to be the help meet that you specially created me to be for my husband. Help me to lay down my desires. Help me to lay down my flesh. Help me to help my husband shine. Thank You, Lord. Thank You for Your love, mercy, and guidance. Thank You that You never leave me or forsake me. Thank You for sending Your Word to help me. Show me through Your Word how I can be a better wife and reveal to me the areas that I need to submit to You. I love You, Lord. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

Your Homework:

I want you to study the Scriptures about Jezebel and Ahab in 1 Kings 16:30 -21:29. Pray. Ask God to reveal to you where there might be some Jezebel in your thoughts, heart, and life.

Also, look up and study the following Scriptures:

• Proverbs 2:2
• Proverbs 7:4
• Isaiah 55:7-9
• 1 Corinthians 11:8-9
• 2 Corinthians 10:5
• 2 Corinthians 11:3
• James 1:5

We CAN overcome the Jezebel infection. All it requires is a willing heart, a submitted spirit, and prayer! Take the time this week to really look at your action. Pay attention to how you influence your husband. Ask God to show you. Then get the Word in you. Pray some more. Submit your desires to Daddy.

I am looking forward to part B!

Copyright © Lara Velez, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved