The Perceptions of God, Part 1

Scripture: 1 Kings 21:17-26

Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, “Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria; behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth where he has gone down to take possession of it.  “You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Have you murdered and also taken possession?” ’ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth the dogs will lick up your blood, even yours.”’”  Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” And he answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the Lord.  “Behold, I will bring evil upon you, and will utterly sweep you away, and will cut off from Ahab every male, both bond and free in Israel; and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger, and because you have made Israel sin.  “Of Jezebel also has the Lord spoken, saying, ‘The dogs will eat Jezebel in the district of Jezreel.’  “The one belonging to Ahab, who dies in the city, the dogs will eat, and the one who dies in the field the birds of heaven will eat.”  Surely there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the Lord, because Jezebel his wife incited him.  He acted very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites had done, whom the Lord cast out before the sons of Israel.

Insights:  The past two days we have observed the path of greed.  Today and tomorrow we are going to look at the perceptions of God.  The first thing I want you to notice in our verses today is God sees geographically.  He knew exactly where Ahab was.  He was able to give Elijah the exact location in which he would find this evil king to confront him with his sin.  The second thing I want you to know is God sees our motives.  Notice Elijah charges him with the murder of Naboth for the explicit purpose of obtaining his land.  This indictment goes to the very motive of Ahab’s heart.  God, therefore, not only sees geographically, but He sees our motives as well.  Beloved, let us be certain we are asking the Lord to check our motives and to have them remain pure before Him.  Let our motives honor the Lord.

Questions:

1.  Are you aware God sees everywhere?

2.  Do you understand God sees even the motivations of your heart?

Prayer: Father, there is nothing that escapes Your attention.  Help me to not think I can fool You with my evil intentions because I know You know all.  Amen.