Even Ahab, who “did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him” received a bit of grace at the end of his life. 1 Kings 21 records how his wife, the infamous Jezebel, stole Naboth’s vineyard for him resulting in a confrontation from our friend Elijah:

Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, “Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria; behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession. And you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Have you killed and also taken possession?”’ And you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD: “In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your own blood.”’”…“Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city the dogs shall eat, and anyone of his who dies in the open country the birds of the heavens shall eat.” (1 Kings 21.17 – 24, ESV)

And yet we have Ahab and the LORD’s remarkable response:

And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly. And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son’s days I will bring the disaster upon his house.” (1 Kings 21.27 – 29, ESV)

Anyone can and should repent at any time appears to be the lesson.

“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. (Joel 2.12, 13, ESV)

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. (Revelation 3.19, ESV)