1 Kings

1 Kings 20:1-9

Israel was in a weakened state from the drought and Ben-hadad decided to take advantage of the situation while he could.  Ben-Hadad raised an army from the thirty-two kings of the cities of Syria.  He brought this army down against Samaria, which was the captial of the northern kingdom.  We don't know how long this siege was but at some point they sent messengers to Ahab asking for gold and silver along with the women and children.  We don't know for sure what Ahab's motivation was but we know he gave into these requests.  He agreed to give over his treeasure and wives & children.   When that capitulaton came easy, Ben-Hadad then sent messengers saying he would plunder the palace.   Whatever was meaningful to Ahab was to be taken.  This is where Ahab drew the line.

Suddenly we get a glimpse of Ahab's heart.  The silver and gold was okay to take; the wives and kids were okay to give up, but there were things more meaningful that he refused.  He didn't mind others feeling pain, suffering and hardship, but he didn't want to feel any for himself. 

1 Kings 20:10-22

Ahab experienced God's grace.  We might quickly think, ah, but Ahab surely doesn't deserve it.  That's correct, but then again none of us deserve God's grace.  God chose to use Ahab to defeat Syria and bring the credit to Himself.  God delivered them into his hand to show that He alone was God. 

God had a great victory to win and Ahab asks, "by whom?"  Who would volunteer for this folly?  Who would follow the leading of the Lord?  God said there were young men in the provinces.  These men were called and there were two hunred and thirty two who were followed by seven thousand Israeleites.  Ahab asked who would lead them.  It's fascinating that we rarely see ourselves as being that person God would use for a mighty work.  God told Ahab he would lead them.  We can only imagine Jezebel wasn't around during this to mess it up.  It appears Ahab was being forced to step up and play the man.

The Syrians were caught by surprise and routed Ben-Hadad's army.  There was a great slaughter but Ben-Hadad survived to fight another day.  The prophet spoke to Ahab to be prepared because he would be back in the Spring.

1 Kings 20:23-30

Ben-Hadad decided that they lost that battle because Jehovah was God over the hills.  And since he wasn't God over the plains they would attack there.  Ben-Hadad raised up a new army and went to Aphek.  The Israelites met him there.  The odds were incredible.  They faced off for seven days before coming to batttle.  In one day, Israel killed 100,000 Syrian foot soldiers.  The rest of the army escaped to Aphek but a wall fell on them and 27,000 of those were left died. 

1 Kings 20:31-34

Ben-Hadad got away.  He gathers with his cablinet and they counsel him to surrender to the king of Israel and hope for mercy.  They did so and presented themselves to Ahab for mercy.  Ben-Hadad seems to set the terms of surrender instead of Ahab.  Yet, Ahab accepts them and lets him go. 

1 Kings 20:35-43

God used this prophet to give Ahab an illustration.  The first man wouldn't strike him, thus interfering with the message of the Lord.  Because of his disobedience to the Lord he was killed by a lion.  The second man was more willing to strike the prophet, thus taking part in the play.  The prophet played the part of a soldier responsible, by his life, for a prisoner.  If the prisoner slipped away he was responsible.  Ahab announced agreement with the penalty. 

The prophet unwrapped himself and was recognized by Ahab.  Because Ahab let his prisoner go, he would pay with his life.  Ahab went away sullen and displeased after being used by God to win two victories.  How often do we find that after the victory we quit listening to God and often take the glory for the victory? 

©2016 Doug Ford