Chapter 9: The Tears of the Worst King

Elijah left the vineyard. Ahab stood alone with the words of God still hanging in the air.

And something broke.

Ahab tore his royal robes. He stripped them off and put on sackcloth, the rough garment of mourning and repentance. He refused to eat.

The weight of everything he had done and everything he had allowed to be done in his name pressed him to the ground, and he did not get up.

Then God spoke to Elijah.

GOD“Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day. I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.”

God did not cancel the judgment. But He delayed them. For the worst king Israel had ever known, God saw his broken heart and responded with mercy.