Daily Devotional

“Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him” (1 Kings 16:30). 

The opossum is not the most ferocious animal in the forest. While quite adaptable to different environments, it lives only two to four years. It is the only marsupial in North America. This solitary nocturnal scavenger is a slow-moving creature that may hiss or growl when frightened but will “play possum,” that is, pretend to be dead, if it cannot escape a potential predator. 

If an opossum is threatened by a dog, fox, or bobcat, it will flop over onto its side, curl back its lips, stick out its tongue, and stare fixedly into space. Involuntarily entering a coma-like state, it looks dead. Saliva foams around the mouth, and the anal glands secrete a fluid that smells like a very sick or dead animal. After a couple of hours, it will “wake up” from its unconscious state and lumber away. 

When wicked King Ahab tried to purchase a vineyard he coveted from his neighbour, Naboth refused to give up his land. So, the selfish and immature king went home and pouted. He was so self-focused and depressed, he wouldn’t even eat. Like the opossum, he acted helpless until his wife unjustly had Naboth murdered and then urged her husband to take the vineyard for himself. 

Ahab had great potential to be a good king, but he allowed his heathen wife to sway his loyalty away from God and toward idol worship. He could bare his teeth when roused, but inside he was a weak man. Behind the scenes his wife ruled the roost. She prompted him to destroy God’s prophets and seek the life of Elijah. In the end, the entire household of Ahab perished. 

O God, may I be quick to turn away from evil and stand strongly against all unrighteousness.