1. Three Chariots
Text: Num. 23:10 (I Kings 22:35; II Kings 9:33; II Kings 2:11) Scripture Reading: James 5:7-11
By Nathan L Morrison
All Scripture given is from NASB unless otherwise stated
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Adapted from a lesson by Mark Mayberry

2. Intro God promises eternal life that applies to both eternal
punishment and eternal reward (life) – Mt. 25:31-46
The end of the righteous and the wicked are contrasted in the story Jesus told of the rich man and Lazarus the poor man – Lk. 16:19-26
God will reward according to our deeds – Rom. 2:4-11; 14:12; II Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:12
Balaam to King Balak of Moab…
Numbers 23:10
10. "Who can count the dust of Jacob, Or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the upright, And let my end be like his!"
For our end to be like the upright, our character must
be righteous!
Three Chariots

3. “Character” occurs only twice in the N.T. (NASB):
Intro
“Character” occurs only twice in the N.T. (NASB):
Rom. 5:3-4
3. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
4. and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
“Character” is Greek dokimē [dok-ee-may'] (G1382)
Refers to the process of undergoing a trial through which one is tested and by which one is approved. KJV: “experience”
Phil. 2:22 of Timothy (2:19): “proven worth” (NAS); “proof of him” (KJV); “proven character” (NKJ)
Heb. 13:5
5. Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,"
“Character” is Greek tropos [trop'-os] (G5158)
Refers to one’s manner of life (KJV: “Conversation;” NKJ: “Conduct”)
Three Chariots

4. Intro We will look at the end of three people represented by
their chariots and contrast their character of life that
brought them to their respective ends!
Three Chariots

5. Character – Weakness and Wickedness
Ahab
Character – Weakness and Wickedness
I Kings 16:30-33
30. Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD more than all who were before him.
31. It came about, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went to serve Baal and worshiped him.
32. So he erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal which he built in Samaria.
33. Ahab also made the Asherah. Thus Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.
I Kings 21:25-26
25. Surely there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife incited him.
26. He acted very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites had done, whom the LORD cast out before the sons of Israel.
Three Chariots

6. Ahab Character – Weakness and Wickedness I Kings 21:4
Ahab’s lack of character is seen in his dealings with Naboth:
Coveting his vineyard (I Kings 21:1-7: Acting childish for not getting his way)
Ignoring the principle of family possession (Ex. 20:17; Lev. 25:23-28)
Thinking himself above the Law of God (Num. 36:7)
Allowing his wife to kill an innocent man so he could take possession of land he could not buy (I Kings 21:15-16)
I Kings 21:4
4. So Ahab came into his house sullen and vexed because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and ate no food.
Three Chariots

7. Ahab Character – Application
Are we like Ahab, weak and vacillating, wicked and covetous? (Lk. 12:15; Eph. 5:5; Col. 3:5)
Have we sold (out) ourselves to do evil (Mt. 16:24-27)?
Mt. 16:24-27
24. Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.
25. "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
26. "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
27. "For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.
Three Chariots

8. Ahab Chariot – Ahab’s Fixed Doom
God mercifully delayed the worst judgments that had been pronounced against the house of Ahab (I Kings 21:19-24) because he humbled himself (21:27-29).
But, despite the mercy of God, disaster still awaited the weak king!
I Kings 22:1-40
After three years, King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah fought against the Arameans (Syrians) at Ramoth-Gilead
God warned:
Ahab would die and the army would be scattered (I Kings 22:5-28)
Ahab disguised himself (I Kings 22:30)
Ahab was mortally wounded on the battlefield, and died in his chariot, just as Micaiah had predicted (I Kings 22:29-40).
Three Chariots

9. Chariot – Ahab’s Fixed Doom
I Kings 22:34-38 (I Kings 21:19)
34. Now a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and take me out of the fight; for I am severely wounded."
35. The battle raged that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot in front of the Arameans, and died at evening, and the blood from the wound ran into the bottom of the chariot.
36. Then a cry passed throughout the army close to sunset, saying, "Every man to his city and every man to his country."
37. So the king died and was brought to Samaria, and they buried the king in Samaria.
38. They washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood (now the harlots bathed themselves there), according to the word of the LORD which He spoke.
Side-note on I Kings 22:38:
ESV, NAS, NKJ: “The harlots (ESV: “prostitutes”) bathed themselves there (in it) – referring to the pool stained with Ahab’s blood.
KJV: “They washed his armour”
The Hebrew word used there has two meanings: zônôth [zo-noth'] (H2185): from H2109 (“plump or well fed”) or an unused root and H2181, and applied to military equipments (masculine); but evidently the feminine plural active participle of H2181(zânâh [zaw-naw']: highly fed, wanton, to commit adultery, whore) applies here as well meaning “harlots”: - armour (KJV).
The KJV uses the masculine participle for “armour” while the ESV, NAS, NKJ uses the feminine participle for “harlots.”
Part of the reason is the word for “wash” in KJV “they washed his armour” is a Hebrew word (H7364) that means to “bathe or wash oneself” and is different from the word for “wash” used of the chariot!
H7364 for “wash” is used 72 times in the KJV, and 67 times it refers to washing or bathing a person, or part(s) of a person (IE: Used of Naaman in II Kings 5:10-13), 4 times it refers to washing parts of a burnt offering (Lev. 1:9, 13; 8:21; 9:14), and 1 time it refers to armor (I Kings 22:38).
Three Chariots

10. Ahab Chariot – Application
The death of Ahab (I Kings 22:35) is a reminder that no
one can escape from the presence or the judgment of God
(Ps. 139:7-12; Jer. 23:23-24; Heb. 4:13)
Jer. 23:23-24
23. "Am I a God who is near," declares the LORD, "And not a God far off?
24. "Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?" declares the LORD. "Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?" declares the LORD.
Three Chariots

11. Character – Wickedness
Jezebel
Character – Wickedness
I Kings 18:19
19. "Now then send and gather to me all Israel at Mount Carmel, together with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table."
I Kings 21:25
25. Surely there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife incited him.
II Kings 9:22
22. When Joram saw Jehu, he said, "Is it peace, Jehu?" And he answered, "What peace, so long as the harlotries of your mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?"
Three Chariots

12. Jezebel Character – Wickedness
Jezebel was murderous!
I Kings 18:4, 13; 19:1-2: Destroyed the prophets of the Lord, killing whoever she could find!
I Kings 21:6-16 (Micah 2:1-2): When Ahab pouted over Naboth’s refusal to sell his vineyard, Jezebel organized a criminal conspiracy, bringing false charges against an innocent man, orchestrating his death on charge of blasphemy – a sin that she consistently committed.
Rev. 2:19-23: In the book of Revelation, Jezebel becomes an
abiding symbol of corruption and
compromise!
Three Chariots

13. Jezebel Character – Application
Do we share a similarity with Jezebel, exercising a corrupt and corrosive influence? (Rev. 2:20-23)
Through our words and deeds, do we “teach” others to compromise?
Do we engage in character assassination?
Do we hate our brothers and sisters?
(Gal. 5:13-15; I Jn. 3:15)
I Jn. 3:15
15. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
Three Chariots

14. Jezebel Chariot – Jezebel’s Dreadful Death
Jezebel met death at the hands of Jehu, whom Elijah and Elisha anointed as the 11th king of Israel (I Kings 19:15-18; II Kings 9:1-13).
Jehu returned to Jezreel, the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, and overthrew Joram, King Ahab’s son and chosen successor (II Kings 9:14-26), fulfilling the word of the Lord (9:22-26).
Then he pursued King Ahaziah of Judah, overtaking and killing him at the ascent of Gur, at Ibleam (II Kings 9:27-29; II Chr. 22:7-9: From God).
Three Chariots

15. Chariot – Jezebel’s Dreadful Death
II Kings 9:30-37 (I Kings 21:23)
30. When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it, and she painted her eyes and adorned her head and looked out the window.
31. As Jehu entered the gate, she said, "Is it well, Zimri, your master's murderer?"
32. Then he lifted up his face to the window and said, "Who is on my side? Who?" And two or three officials looked down at him.
33. He said, "Throw her down." So they threw her down, and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall and on the horses, and he trampled her under foot.
34. When he came in, he ate and drank; and he said, "See now to this cursed woman and bury her, for she is a king's daughter."
35. They went to bury her, but they found nothing more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands.
36. Therefore they returned and told him. And he said, "This is the word of the LORD, which He spoke by His servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 'In the property of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel;
37. and the corpse of Jezebel will be as dung on the face of the field in the property of Jezreel, so they cannot say, "This is Jezebel."'"
Three Chariots

16. Jehu’s chariot was an instrument of God’s judgment & wrath!
Jezebel
Chariot – Jezebel’s Dreadful Death
Jehu exacted judgment upon Ahab’s house by:
Killing all the remaining descendants of Ahab (II Kings 10:1-17)
Killing the worshippers of Baal (II Kings 10:18-31)
Fulfilling the word of God – I Kings 21:19-24; II Kings 10:17, 30
Jehu’s chariot was an instrument of God’s judgment & wrath!
Three Chariots

17. Jezebel Chariot – Application
The death of Jezebel (II Kings 9:33) is a reminder of the
shame that is associated with sin!
(Acts 1:18-19; II Pet. 2:20-22)
II Pet. 2:20-22
20. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
21. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.
22. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire."
Three Chariots

18. Elijah Character – Conviction I Kings 21:20
The prophet Elijah demonstrated a godly and steadfast character (I Kings 17:1), rebuking the sins of Ahab and Jezebel, correcting his misconceptions (I Kings 21:20), pronouncing destruction upon his house (I Kings 21:17-29).
His character and conviction is also reflected in Messianic prophecies regarding John the Baptist, who would come in the spirit and power of Elijah (Mal. 4:5-6; Mt. 11:7-15; Lk. 1:17).
Like the prophet of old, John courageously confronted sin, calling God’s erring people to repentance (Mt. 3:1-12) and confronted Herod’s adultery with his brother’s wife Herodias (Mt. 14:3-4) that resulted in his imprisonment and death (Mt. 14:8-11).
James 5:16-18: Elijah is an example of righteousness and accomplishing much in prayer!
I Kings 21:20
20. Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, O my enemy?" And he answered, "I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.
Three Chariots

19. Elijah Character – Application
Are we like Elijah, manifesting an unwavering
commitment to truth? (Prov. 23:23)
Are we willing to stand and be counted, even in the
face of opposition and danger? (Eph. 6:10-13)
Eph. 6:10-13
10. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
11. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
12. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
Three Chariots

20. Elijah Chariot – Elijah’s Glorious Deliverance II Kings 2:11
In contrast with the inevitable death of Ahab and shameful end of Jezebel, Elijah’s departure from this life was glorious and triumphant!
II Kings 2:1-14: Crossing over Jordan with Elisha, his servant and successor, Elijah was separated from Elisha by a chariot of fire drawn by horses of fire and was carried up to Heaven by a whirlwind (II Kings 2:11)!
II Kings 2:11
11. As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven.
Three Chariots

21. Elijah Chariot – Application
The end of Elijah’s life (II Kings 2:11) reminds us of blessings that God has reserved for the faithful!
(Rev. 2:10; 21:3-7)
Numbers 23:10
10. "Who can count the dust of Jacob, Or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the upright, And let my end be like his!"
Emphasis in Scripture mine!
Three Chariots

22. Conclusion For the righteous, the day of one’s death is better than
the day of one’s birth (Eccl. 7:1-2; Rev. 14:13); yet, the
same cannot be said for the wicked (Is. 3:11; 48:22;
Rev. 20:10, 15)
Eccl. 7:1-2 (Rev. 14:13)
1. A good name is better than a good ointment, And the day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth.
2. It is better to go to a house of mourning Than to go to a house of feasting, Because that is the end of every man, And the living takes it to heart.
Is. 3:11 (Rev. 20:15)
11. Woe to the wicked! It will go badly with him, For what he deserves will be done to him.
Is. 48:22 (Rev. 20:10)
22. "There is no peace for the wicked," says the LORD.
Three Chariots

23. Conclusion For those who remain faithful to the Lord, the end of a
matter is better than its beginning (Eccl. 7:8)
Yet, for those who fall away, the last state is worse for them than the first (II Pet. 2:20)
Eccl. 7:8
8. The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit.
II Pet. 2:20
20. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
Three Chariots

24. Conclusion
James 5:7-12
7. Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.
8. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.
9. Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.
10. As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
11. We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.
12. But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.
Three Chariots

25. Conclusion If we endure to the end, we will receive God’s manifold
blessings! (II Tim. 4:6-8; Js. 1:12; Rev. 2:10)
Let us share in Balaam’s conclusion,
“Let me die the death of the upright, and let my end be like his!” (Num. 23:10)
Three Chariots

26. “What Must I Do To Be Saved?”
Hear The Gospel (Jn. 5:24; Rom. 10:17)
Believe In Christ (Jn. 3:16-18; Jn. 8:24)
Repent Of Sins (Lk. 13:35; Acts 2:38)
Confess Christ (Mt. 10:32; Rom. 10:10)
Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16)
Remain Faithful (Jn. 8:31; Rev. 2:10)
For The Erring Child of God:
Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I Jn. 1:9),
Pray (Acts 8:22)