Ahab Defeats Ben-hadad

1 Kings 20:13-26

 

July 24, 2021

 

Ahab Defeats Ben-hadad

And behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel, and said, “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.”   And Ahab said, “By whom?” He said, “Thus says the Lord, By the servants of the governors of the districts.” Then he said, “Who shall begin the battle?” He answered, “You.”   Then he mustered the servants of the governors of the districts, and they were 232. And after them, he mustered all the people of Israel, seven thousand.

And they went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the booths, he and the thirty-two kings who helped him.   The servants of the governors of the districts went out first. And Ben-hadad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, “Men are coming out from Samaria.”   He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive. Or if they have come out for war, take them alive.”

So, these went out of the city, the servants of the governors of the districts and the army that followed them.   And each struck down his man. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them, but Ben-hadad king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen.   And the king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots, and struck the Syrians with a great blow.

Then the prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, “Come, strengthen yourself, and consider well what you have to do, for in the spring the king of Syria will come up against you.”

And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hills, and so they were stronger than we. But let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.  And do this: remove the kings, each from his post, and put commanders in their places,  and muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot. Then we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.” And he listened to their voice and did so.

 

What was it the Lord wanted king Ahab to understand?  He was outnumbered, the task was impossible, outnumbered, outgunned, but God.  It matters not the odds when God enters the equation.   With God on your side, the battle is His and you just follow His orders and walk in victory.  

God had one objective to show Ahab that he needed to understand that the God of Israel is the Lord.  Could it be that you are more like Ahab than you think?  Let me be clear if you are a follower of Christ, the world is not your friend, there is a growing disregard for the Church, the world is a moral sewer, and all that people have put their trust in the government is like unto one of those wood Idol, cover with gold, it cannot see nor hear, and it’s worshipers or liars at best.  

 

Marc Nuttle said it best, “You cannot print money and buy your way out of trouble.  If governments could print and borrow forever they don’t need God.  You make your own man.”

 

And he gave two areas for the Church of the Living God to do in this time we find ourselves.

1.    Understand the truth.  “Not the spin  politician put on their truth” (My words not Mr. Nuttle's.)  What the Bible tells us is truth.

2.    Stand on it and defend it.

 

And never forget with God all things are possible.  And often God uses evil men like Ahab to accomplish His purpose.

 

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice