1 Kings 20
Today's Passage: 1 Kings 20
Ahab engaged in battle with the king of Syria, Ben-Hadad. Throughout this passage, the king of Syria continues to boast in his power and over how he will conquer Samaria.
However, again and again we see that this king is a drunk fool. Initially, Ahab quickly surrenders, but when Ben-Hadad demands more Ahab starts to see that this deal was not going to go well.
Ahab seeks counsel after he had already surrendered and now Israel is going toe to toe with Syria and the 32 kings that were allied with them.
But a prophet comes to Ahab and in verse 13 saying, ““Thus says the Lord, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will give it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”
God wants to show Ahab His power. That though they were only 7,000 men, the Lord will fight for and protect His people, and God’s promise was kept. They beat the Syrians. Not once, but TWICE.
God showed up in a powerful way, but in the midst of this, Ahab hardened his heart. Before Ahab would acknowledge the God who protected and sustained him, Ahab acknowledged the foolish king Ben-hadad as a brother and extended unjust mercy to him in order to gain power and wealth.
Ahab was continually presented with opportunities to repent and turn to the Lord. God speaks through prophets, God protects Ahab, but Ahab willfully blinds himself. .
At the end of the story, Ahab sentences himself. Ahab will be struck down because he did not acknowledge God’s protection .
Today, like Ahab, you have a choice. Will you look at the ways that God alone has fought for you and sustained you, and will you acknowledge Him as Lord? Or will you harden your heart and be wooed by foolish things of this world? The choice is yours and the choice you make will have consequences.
Written By: Paulette Carwile
Ahab engaged in battle with the king of Syria, Ben-Hadad. Throughout this passage, the king of Syria continues to boast in his power and over how he will conquer Samaria.
However, again and again we see that this king is a drunk fool. Initially, Ahab quickly surrenders, but when Ben-Hadad demands more Ahab starts to see that this deal was not going to go well.
Ahab seeks counsel after he had already surrendered and now Israel is going toe to toe with Syria and the 32 kings that were allied with them.
But a prophet comes to Ahab and in verse 13 saying, ““Thus says the Lord, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will give it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”
God wants to show Ahab His power. That though they were only 7,000 men, the Lord will fight for and protect His people, and God’s promise was kept. They beat the Syrians. Not once, but TWICE.
God showed up in a powerful way, but in the midst of this, Ahab hardened his heart. Before Ahab would acknowledge the God who protected and sustained him, Ahab acknowledged the foolish king Ben-hadad as a brother and extended unjust mercy to him in order to gain power and wealth.
Ahab was continually presented with opportunities to repent and turn to the Lord. God speaks through prophets, God protects Ahab, but Ahab willfully blinds himself. .
At the end of the story, Ahab sentences himself. Ahab will be struck down because he did not acknowledge God’s protection .
Today, like Ahab, you have a choice. Will you look at the ways that God alone has fought for you and sustained you, and will you acknowledge Him as Lord? Or will you harden your heart and be wooed by foolish things of this world? The choice is yours and the choice you make will have consequences.
Written By: Paulette Carwile
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