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The Amazing Ahab

I must admit I'm somewhat fascinated by King Ahab of Old Testament Israel. Maybe it's similar to my fascination with the early auditions of American Idol. The worse they sound, the more I laugh. I think Ahab's reign over Israel was like one long, horrible Idol audition. If ever there had been a competition to find the next king of Israel, Ahab would probably fall somewhere between William Hung and that guy who sand 'Pants on the Ground'.

Is it just me, or is Ahab that guy at the party who's only there because he's hosting the party. Like the guy that never realized what he had or what part he should be playing. Lest we forget, this is the king who let his wife do all the hard work, though most of that work was sinful; 1 Kings 19:1-2, 1 Kings 21:8-14.

But maybe Ahab was more unlucky than evil. After all, he did know how to play people. When he & Jehoshaphat went into war together, Ahab convinced his good buddy Jehoshaphat (king of Judah) that he should wear his kingly robes while Ahab went incognito. Really? Why Jehoshaphat did not think for himself in this issue I'll never get, but that's what they did. Because no one ever aims for the leader of an army, right?

But through randomness (1 Kings 22:34-37) or by God fulfilling prophetic words, Ahab died. That's too bad. He brought such great times to Israel. Mind you, nobody recorded those good times, but I'm sure they were there. After all, Ahab was hosting the party.

What do you think? Who's your fave loser from the Bible?
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