Page 10 - No Apologies

Jezebel and Idolatry

Writing about Jezebel may seem an odd way to begin a book on godly womanhood.
In Jezebel is seen the antithesis of everything that Yahweh finds praiseworthy in a woman.
Yahweh has chosen to teach us much through contrasts. He sets before His daughters the
lives of the godly, as well as the ungodly. Sarah’s life and attitude is set forth as an example
of a godly woman.

I Peter 3:5-6
For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to
adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands; just as Sarah obeyed
Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right
without being frightened by any fear.

Yahweh has similarly provided the details of the life and attitudes of Jezebel in the
Scriptures that all might understand what is odious and detestable to Him. Among women,
there is no name so reviled and full of divine reproach as Jezebel. In this chapter I want to
set forth before you Jezebel’s relationship to idolatry, which Yahweh hates. In subsequent
chapters we will look at other matters of great importance as the life of Jezebel is further
reviewed.
The Scriptures reveal that one reason Jezebel received divine reproach, resulting in
severe judgment, is that she embraced and promoted idolatry. Before you determine that
you could not, or are not doing the same thing, I encourage you to consider carefully that
which follows.
In the book of Revelation we find Christ pronouncing judgment upon the spirit of
Jezebel that has infected the church.

Revelation 2:20-23
“I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a
prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that
they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. I gave
her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. Behold, I will
throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great
tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. And I will kill her children with
pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and
hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.”

The book of Revelation is a book of parables. Truth is communicated through types,
symbols, and signs. Christ is not speaking of an individual by the name of Jezebel that
attended a certain church. The reference to Jezebel is to be understood spiritually. There
was a spirit tolerated among the church that bore great similarity to the woman named
Jezebel in the Old Testament. At this time, I would specifically focus upon Jezebel’s
promotion of idolatry and its practices.
Jezebel was the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians. As you might guess by