He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat. 1 Kings 21:4b

Each of our kids had moments of engaging in typical toddler warfare. There were plenty of time-outs and privileges revoked for their behavior, and I recall having to leave a few cart loads of groceries at the store due to the magnitude of the tantrums thrown when they didn’t get what they wanted. Outbursts still happen sometimes, but no one has thrown themselves on the floor at the store in a long time. (Knock wood!)  As they have approached and entered their teenage years, they still test mom and dad’s authority. We’re on the receiving end of lots of sighs, eye rolls, the silent treatment, and the occasionally slammed door. You know…typical teenage warfare! 

Toddlers' and teenagers' reactions to not getting what they want are indicative of their physical and emotional ages, and also how they relate to their parents. It’s normal as children grow physically and emotionally for them to test the boundaries of their parents’ authority. As they get older the need for temper tantrums declines sharply in favor of logic, the understanding of the consequences of one’s actions, and the value of mature dialogue with the wise adults in their lives.

King Ahab “lay on his bed sulking and refusing to eat” when he didn’t get what he wanted. (Parents of teenagers, does that behavior sound familiar?) Except that King Ahab was a grown man, and one in a position of immense power. His childish reaction to not getting what he wanted cost a man his life (v13), which is arguably more valuable than momentary embarrassment over a toddler’s public tantrum.

What does King Ahab’s behavior say about how he relates to God? Toddlers lacks the ability to see beyond the object they so desperately want to the ramifications tied to having it, and a loving parent is there to keep them from self-destruction. Ahab isn’t a toddler, but he engages in typical toddler warfare. The sin in his heart blinded him to the boundaries already set in place, looked past what having that vineyard in his possession would mean, and threw a fit to get it anyway. 

How do you react when you don’t get what you want? Is there sin in your heart blinding you to boundaries put in place by a good Father? God had mercy on Ahab (v29) despite the initial tantrum, and He extends that to us, too.