UNPOPULAR OPINION ABOUT JEZEBEL

Back in the days on campus, one of the sisters in my fellowship was fond of praying against Jezebel spirit because of the high level of immorality on campus. That name is synonymous with the evil of sexual immorality, idolatry and murder. Today, it is insultive to call a lady Jezebel let alone give a girl child that name because of the evil associated with it. In fact, in the book of Revelation, Jesus referenced Jezebel negatively when he rebuked the church in Thyatira for their sexual immorality and idolatry. Revelation 2:20 says, "But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman—that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet—to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols". Jezebel was the daughter of Ethbaal, a priest of false god, Baal. Ethbaal, the priest-king of Tyre who murdered his own brother to take over the throne, was hardly a good father figure. But Jezebel followed in her father’s footsteps and was herself a power-hungry murderess who stopped at nothing to get what she wanted. Unfortunately, Ahab, an Israelite fell in love with Jezebel, a non Jew whom God forbade marriage with. She imported Baalism and its prophets into Israel. This marriage led Ahab into big trouble with God. Prophet Elijah became their sworn enemy. However, I have an unpopular opinion about Jezebel which is worth thinking about and worth emulating If you agree with me. Though she was evil in intent and actions yet she was very supportive of Ahab. Both of them were partners in wickedness because it takes a wicked man to marry a wicked woman. We did not read in any account that Jezebel stood against the unholy desires of her husband. She gave his wickedness full support. When Ahab desired Naboth's vineyard and couldn't get it because of his refusal to sell off his patrimony, Jezebel stepped into the matter, enlivened her husband's spirit and arranged for a forceful takeover( 1 Kings 21). While her support is evil yet It would have been counted as a virtue worth emulating If it was channeled in the right direction. Dear christian wives, you are not Jezebel neither does her spirit reside in you, why are you not supportive of your husband's good vision and aspirations? Don't be quick to castigate Jezebel for being evil, at least she supported her husband's cause. There are pastors and church men today whose complaint is about the unsupportive nature of their wives. Some preachers are running solo in ministry because their wife is absent though physically alive. Some men would have gone far in life but their wife's unsupportive attitude keeps them stagnated. The bible says in Ecclesiastes 4:9 "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour"( KJV). Some men have a good vision for their families, to have a roof over their head and raise their children in a godly way with very sound education given but some wives prefer to spend on expensive shoes, clothes, wigs, bags and luxury instead of joining forces with their husbands to achieve something remarkable in life. Some women will connive with their children's school to inflate school fees so they can get their own cut just because they want to buy the latest wig and clothes. Unfortunately, some Christian wives are doing this. It was not recorded that Jezebel cheated on her husband ( financially/sexually) as bad as she was. Before you castigate Jezebel, be sure you are more supportive of your husband's just cause than she was. This counsel also applies to men, context is the reason emphasis is laid on wives.