Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 8:7-15,23-26,28-29; 9:1-27,29-37;10:1-17; 2 Chronicles 21:19-20; 22:1-4,7-9

One attack against the authority and authenticity of the Bible by Muslims is that the Bible is full of stories that they find offensive. “If the Bible is really a holy book from God,” they say, “why would He have all those gruesome and obscene stories in it?” Good question! Jezebel’s death in 2 Kings 9:32-33 is a case in point. (I’ve highlighted, in bold, three gruesome details and added my own clarifying comments in brackets.)

He looked up at the window and called out, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked down at him. “Throw her down!” Jehu said. So they threw her down [out the window], and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they [the horses] trampled her underfoot.

Even with our liberal rating system, I’m sure that scene would be rated R today (okay, PG-13). Yet, the gory story of Jezebel’s downfall (yes, pun intended, heh) is an honest account of the fulfillment of what the Lord had said would happen. It shows frankly the reality that rebellion against God comes with consequences. To me personally, it reinforces the fact that God is in touch with human reality. If everything always ended like a Disney movie, it wouldn’t seem real. It is shocking, yes, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.

(Just in case you’re curious: In answer to the Muslim’s question, I would point out that Islamic narratives of their prophets follow a pattern very similar to one another, which suggests that they have been tampered with. The Bible, on the other hand, has no such patterning in its various accounts, thus strengthening its authenticity.)