1 Kings 19:19-20:34

1 Kings 19:19-20:34

After his moment of weakness where he had lost trust in God, Elijah got back on track and was ready to serve God again. He found Elisha and called him into service as well, as Elisha would be the next prophet to follow in Elijah’s footsteps. Elisha left all that he knew (his family and hometown) and did as Elijah requested, thus following God. As for Ahab, he was about to be tested again. After Israel’s return to God in 1 Kings 18, it was time to see where Ahab’s allegiance stood and if he would indeed trust God as well.

The Syrians were ready to attack Israel, and their king Ben-hadad requested that Ahab go ahead and turn over all his silver, gold, women, and children. He had an army ready to go into Israel and take over. At first it appeared as is Ahab was going to allow Ben-hadad to have his way, but upon the request of some of his most trusted men, Ahab decided to go on the defensive against Ben-hadad. Then God sent a prophet to Ahab assuring him of the victory. God wanted Ahab to know that through His power, Israel could and would have victory over the Syrians. But He also wanted Ahab to take the initiative. He was to go on the offensive against Syria. This was all an effort to see if Ahab would depend on God’s strength alone and in the end turn back to Him.

The war began, and the Israelites took the Syrians by surprise. They gained the upper hand rather quickly, and the Syrians had to react fast. Ben-hadad was able to escape and find safety, but the same could not be said for his army. The prophet that had been sent to Ahab gave him detailed instructions throughout the battle as to how he was to go about fighting the Syrians, and Ahab listened to every word that he spoke. As a result, God gave the Israelites the victory that day over the Syrians.

Sometime later the Syrians went on the attack again. After being defeated the first time, they were determined to make up for what they had lost. But when the Israelites heard that the Syrians were on their way, they too began to prepare for war. God sent another prophet to Ahab and once again assured Ahab that Israel would have the victory. The Syrians did not believe in God, they had their own gods that they followed. As a result, God was not going to allow them to have victory over His children. The Israelites had recently turned back to God, and God was ready to protect them.

Although Israel once again found victory in their battle against the Syrians, Ben-hadad was able to escape yet again. While his army fell around him, he found a place of safety. Then he returned to Israel to ask for mercy from the king. He hoped that Ahab would go lenient on him and allow him to live, and after humbly (or deceitfully) asking this from King Ahab, Ahab agreed and made a covenant with Ben-hadad. But this had not been God’s intention when He had given Israel the victory. They had not only been commanded to destroy the Syrians, but Ben-hadad as well. Ahab went against God’s commands when he made a covenant (alliance) with the very people that God had commanded them to destroy. Although it had appeared as if Ahab had changed, he was still living a life of disobedience before God.

Matt