Killing to Be King Arise and Abide

Reading 1 Kings 15:32-16:34. God gave people free will in the garden and humanity has continued to choose their own way. As people continue in this pattern we move farther and farther away for the righteous standards of God. Omri did more evil than any king before him, until his son Ahab becomes king and outdoes his father’s sins. I see this picture that God is the one who places the king in their position. But it's followed by this story of the kings just trying to fight and take over the throne on their own power. And when they do that, it never turns out well for them. The mentality of ‘I'm going to make myself king’ isn't really that uncommon, considering all the people who want to make themselves kings of their own lives. Luke 14:35. We must give up everything to God. God was angry because the leaders were leading Israel to sin by building these calves like Jeroboam. We see with Ahab that he marries Jezebel and sets up places of worship to Baal. It was reminding me of when Jesus talked about leaders in Matthew chapter 18, verse six, he says, “if anyone causes one of these little ones, those who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large mill stone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”God is true to his word even when we don't see it fulfilled in our own lifetime.