Receiving Correction

Scripture: Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” 1 Kings 17:1

When he [Ahab] saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?” “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals." 1 Kings 18:17-18

Observation: Elijah arrives on the scene in Israel, curses the land, and is gone for three years. Upon his return, Ahab accuses him of bringing trouble on Israel, but Elijah properly places fault - it is Ahab who is to blame.

What is really happening in this exchange is that Ahab is refusing to receive correction. Ahab and his family - the kings of Israel - have offended God. They have worshipped the Baals and Asherah, killed the Lord's prophets, and destroyed all of the Lord's alters. They have abandoned all teachings, and committed all kinds of sins. But when Elijah pronounces the punishment from God, Ahab blames Elijah, and spends years searching for him to punish him.

Ahab should have repented and sought forgiveness. Instead, he refuses to accept that the punishment is even about his actions, and instead wants to kill the messenger who pronounced the punishment.

Application: How do I receive correction? Am I quick, when someone says I should improve, to think "well that's their opinion" or "they have a problem and are projecting it on me"?

Ahab may be an extreme example, however his reaction is common to all of us ... it is difficult to be told you are doing something wrong and the resulting hardship is a result of your decisions. Instead, we feel wronged by the world, or at lest unlucky, and certainly we don't want to hear about it from someone else.

I need to pay special attention to this and ensure that I am open to input, lest my rejection of such correction leads to my destruction.

Prayer: Lord, please to send words of correction my way, and open my heart to receiving it wisely. I would want to know the truth before I allow my own internal lies to lead me astray. Amen.