JEZEBEL SPIRIT

     I have seen so many women ministers, prophetesses, and so forth post on Facebook their severe admonishments for women in the church with the Jezebel spirit. I was floored by how these posts said these women sat in the congregation to seduce and entice the men of the church. They have even set their sights on the highest and holiest of men, the pastor. They go on to rebuke this spirit that has infiltrated the church and has caused it to be a place of temptation and lust. Many other women would post their agreement and thankfulness that someone was courageous enough to bring this cancerous sin to the light. 

    I read today the usual Jezebel spirit exorcism updated to not allowing just anyone to lay hands on you to pray and the fact that God created man first and woman second and God’s order will not be torn down by these Jezebels. I told my husband when I run across such posts that I am fearful to say anything because the language being used is already what I consider hostile, and I know what would happen if I said anything then utter agreement. 

    I began to think, what must be occurring in these particular churches for the outcry to pray Jezebel from amongst the congregation. How many women does it take lusting after men in a congregation for a SPIRIT of Jezebel to be detected? Are the men crying out for help from this evil lustful attack? Is the SPIRIT of Jezebel finding fertile ground or is it just TAKING victims? There must be something happening on a sexual nature ???? I guess, that has launched these women on this crusade against the Jezebel spirit. I myself started to believe I did not understand Jezebel and maybe before I question something I should try to understand it. So, join me to look at Jezebel. 

    The name Jezebel actually means unmarried, chaste. If I were to do a quick outline this is what it would be: Daughter of Ethbaal , Ahab’s wife 1 Kings 16:31, follows idolatry 1 Kings 16:32-33, destroyed Jehovah’s prophets 1 Kings 18:4-13, plans Elijah’s death 1 Kings 19:1-2, secures Naboth’s death 1 Kings 21:1-15, and her death 2 Kings 9:7-10 and 2 Kings 9:30-37. 

    The story of Jezebel begins with her husband Ahab in 1 Kings 16:30-33 “Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him…and began to serve Baal and worship him” We later learn that Jezebel killed the Lord’s prophets in 18:4. In 19:1 Ahab tells Jezebel about how Elijah had killed her prophets. Jezebel plots to kill the prophet Elijah because in a match between God’s prophets and the false prophets, God is victorious and kills the false prophets, which infuriates Jezebel.

     The prophet Elijah escapes death through God’s protection. As the chapters unfold, we see Ahab go into a battle in which God wanted him to kill Ben-Hadad, but after his victory, Ahab makes a treaty with Ben-Hadad leading a prophet of God to condemn Ahab “…This is what the Lord says: “You have set free a man I had determined should die. Therefore, it is your life for his life, your people for his people’” Sullen and angry, the king of Israel went to his palace in Samaria.”1 Kings 20:42-43. Again, Jezebel enters the picture after her husband is sad at not being able to obtain a vineyard in 1 Kings 21: ff. Whether you consider Jezebel a good wife or bad wife, it is at her husband’s distress and refusal to eat that she takes matters into her own hands to make her husband happy. 

    Many wives take up their husband’s cause even when he is in the wrong. Even with two agreeing and working towards the same goal, it can still be wrong and a sin. At Ahab’s death in 22:38 God’s word is fulfilled. It will not be until 2 Kings 9:7-10 and 2 Kings 9:30-37 do we see God’s word surrounding the death of Jezebel fulfilled. Verse 37 states” Jezebel’s body will be like a refuse on the ground in the plot at Jezreel, so that no one will be able to say, ‘this is Jezebel.’” Horses had trampled her body after the eunuchs had pushed her out of a window and when they went to bury her; only her skull, feet, and hands were left; nothing to bury. 

    After Ahab died his son Ahaziah took the throne 1 Kings 22:52 states: “He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, because he walked in the ways of his father and mother and in the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat; who caused Israel to sin.” There you have it; the story of Jezebel. All eyes seem to be on her even when her husband, the head of the household was the one God held accountable as the leader of the Israelite nation. God leveled curse upon curse on Ahab for his actions, yet Jezebel is the mastermind of all the evils that befell the king in everyone’s eyes. Even their son was judged evil because of BOTH of his parents.

     If there is a Jezebel spirit, there must be an Ahab spirit. Where and how is a Jezebel spirit linked to lust? Where did Jezebel rule over her husband? Even in killing for a desire, in which King David did the same (killing Bathsheba’s husband 2 Sam. 11), Jezebel was doing it for her husband; to see him happy and in the posture of his occupation – king. Ahab disobeyed God’s direct orders and Jezebel killed prophets. It seems they both worshipped pagan gods, but nowhere does it say Jezebel influenced Ahab to worship idols. He knew not to marry outside of his Jewish faith, but he did so like King Solomon (1 Kings 11).

     The one true thing that Jezebel was guilty of was pagan beliefs/worship and the murder of God’s prophets. This does not seem to be what those that are saying women in the church today are doing with their spirit of Jezebel. Women owe it to our history in Christianity to study the women of the Bible to give an accurate portrayal of these women. Name calling and labeling women of today without just cause is not helpful. If there is a problem with lust, promiscuity, and adultery in the church it needs to be addressed, but calling everyone a Jezebel does not solve the problem, it is just another derogatory label on womanhood. More than women worship idols and persecute God’s people and it would be a disservice to lead people to believe otherwise.