Ahab and Manasseh: biblical leaders compared and contrasted

Religion

Both Ahab and Manasseh reigned as kings of Israel and impacted the course of their people's history. Manasseh ruled Israel for several decades longer than Ahab did because he was crowned as a child. According to 2 Kings: 21, Manasseh became king of Israel at the age of 12. He ruled for over fifty years. Ahab, on the other hand, ruled Israel for just over twenty-two years. Ahab and Manasseh both strayed from the will of God as they ruled and both kings committed evil deeds. First, Ahab and Manasseh used their power to sway the people of Israel away from the one true God and back towards pagan traditions. For example, both Ahab and Manasseh built altars to Baal. The kings did so in spite of the efforts of their predecessors to eliminate paganism. Furthermore, both Ahab and Manasseh heard the word of God spoken directly and through prophets and chose not to listen.

In particular, Ahab's story reveals a gross abuse of power. In an act of direct defiance of God's will and the ten commandments, King Ahab coveted the vineyards of Naboth. Naboth refused to sell Ahab his vineyards saying, "The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers," (1 Kings 21:3). After his wife Jezebel's goading, "Is this how you act as king over Israel?" he then had Naboth stoned to death (1 Kings 21:7). Finally, both King Ahab and King Manasseh suffered for their sins. Manasseh was imprisoned by the Babylonians and in his suffering prostrated himself and repented. Even Ahab was forced to humble himself before God because Elijah delivered the message: "There was never a man like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife," (1 Kings 21:25).

2. Unfortunately, Ahab and Manasseh did not have a positive impact on the people they ruled. Both Kings abused their power, acting treacherously and in direct defiance of God. They both led their people astray. Instead of continuing to worship the one true God, both King Ahab and King Manasseh allowed the old pagan gods to propagate. They even encouraged pagan worship by building altars to Baal. By no means were Ahab and Manasseh good kings. Their sins would be passed on to their successors too, as God vowed of Ahab: "I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son," (1 Kings 21:28). Similarly, the son of Manasseh Amon was as evil as his father.

The only positive impact Ahab and Manasseh might have had on their people was to teach a lesson about poor leadership. The people of Israel were vulnerable at the time of their reigns. Instead of offering spiritual strength, Ahab and Manasseh acted selfishly and sinfully. As we read their stories, we can learn how not to act. The people of Israel may have been able to discern bad leadership from good. Furthermore, the people of Israel may have learned from the errors of their kings. Both Ahab and Manasseh were ultimately forced to repent and humble themselves. Ahab "tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly," (1 Kings 21:27). Manasseh "prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God," (2 Chronicles 33:13).

In the end, Ahab and Manasseh were defeated by their own wickedness. While they might have squandered their leadership, Ahab and Manasseh ultimately proved the power of God. Herein lies the most important lesson for their subjects and for all posterity.

3. Ahab and Manasseh are powerful examples of how the human will is ultimately weak without God. Their failure to effectively lead the Israelites through a vulnerable period of history shows that neither Ahab nor Manasseh understood how important their faith was to their ability to govern. The stories of Ahab and Manasseh can therefore illustrate valuable lessons related to leadership in general. One of the ways these stories can be used to teach spiritual truths is by examining how and why Ahab and Manasseh failed as kings.

Moreover, these stories teach well through negative examples. These kings show us what not to do, just as inspirational stories in the Bible show us how to positively conduct our lives. Ahab succumbed to greed and egotism. Although he repented in the end, he was unable to have faith until he suffered. Manasseh ruled as if he were a child his entire life, defying the will of God the Father. He was unable to have faith until he suffered, too. The message is clear: we do not need to wait for suffering to accept the Will of God. The legacies of Ahab and Manasseh lies in their errors and sins. We can learn from the mistakes made by Ahab and Manasseh and hopefully not repeat those mistakes again.

4. (a) Although not Christian kings, Ahab and Manasseh's stories clearly apply to the modern Christian life. For example, one of Ahab's greatest errors was to listen to his wife Jezebel when she encouraged him to abuse his power as king. Ahab seemed ready to accept that he could not have Naboth's vineyard. He was simply sulking after Naboth refused his offer. It was only after Jezebel egged him on by appealing to his ego that Ahab indirectly murdered Naboth. Jezebel set the evil plan in motion, but only after she received approval from the king. Ultimately Ahab bears the responsibility for murdering Naboth, which is why his repentance is the key to the story. One can apply this story in modern Christian life by noting how we are unduly influenced by those around us. Just as a teenager may be tempted to do drugs because of peer pressure, an adult in a position of power like Ahab was can be easily swayed to commit a sin. Ahab was weak; his ego was hurt by Naboth's refusal. Jezebel took advantage of his low self-esteem and weak will. It is precisely in those times when we feel weak and defeated that we need to turn to God, not away from God.