August 26, 2010
Ben-Hadad of Aram gathers 32 other kings and decides to surround and attack King Ahab of Israel. They demand that Ahab give them his gold and silver and the best of his wives and children. Ahab is surrounded and tells them they can have it. But that isn't enough for Ben-Hadad; he wants everything Ahab has. Ahab doesn't know what to do. He is far out numbered and surrounded. His advisers tell him not to agree to the demands. Ben-Hadad vows to destroy him completely, saying only handfuls of dust will be left. Ahab answers with a great quote, "The man who puts on his armor should not brag. It's the man who lives to take off his armor who has the right to brag."
Ben-Hadad and his group were so arrogant and cocky. They are in their tents getting drunk thinking there was no way they could be defeated. A prophet goes to Ahab (the same Ahab that was following Baal when Elijah called down fire), and tells him that God will hand the "big" army over to him so he would know that the LORD is God. Ahab asks God questions. Who will you use? ...the young officers. Who will lead them? ...you. Ahab gathers the army, and marches out against Ben-Hadad at noon. Ben-Hadad and his men are in their tents getting drunk. Ben-Hadad is so sure of himself that he tells his men, if they come in peace—take them alive. If they come in war—take them alive. Instead, Ahab and the army of Israelites began to defeat them and they ran. They were thoroughly defeated. But that wasn't enough to stop Ben-Hadad. He threatens to attack them again in the spring. They make excuses about why they lost the first round saying Ahab must have won because their gods are mountain gods, so let's fight them in the valley. We'll be able to win in the valley. Then we will win!
So, spring arrives, and Ahab and his men march out to meet Ben-Hadad's army who had gathered to fight them. Israel's army looked like two small flocks of goats. Ben-Hadad's army covered the land. A prophet again comes to Ahab and says: The people of Aram says that I the LORD am only a god of the mountains, not a god of the valleys, so I will allow you to defeat this huge army so you will know that I am the LORD! For seven days the two armies were camped across from each other. On the seventh day the battle began. The Israelites killed 100,000 soldiers in one day. The rest of them ran away to a city for protection and the city wall fell on them killing 27,000. Bed-Hadad hid, but he did not have a heart change. He was between a rock and a hard place. So what did he do? Well, he gathered some men together and they schemed. Everyone knew that Ahab was a merciful person so they decided to act like they were sorry, and act like they were repenting, and act like they wanted forgiveness. It was all an act. The truth is all they wanted was to fool Ahab so they could get out of the predicament they were in. So they put on rough cloth and ropes around their heads to show sadness and they went to Ahab.
And sure enough, Ahab was merciful and allowed Ben-Hadad to live and have his cities. Ahab decided to make a peace agreement with Ben-Hadad and let him go free. Ahab decided. He didn't inquire of the LORD. Because God had already clearly told Ahab that he was to destroy the entire army, and because Ahab chose not to consult God, the punishment would now become his. His life would be taken and his people would suffer.
Next Entry: I Kings 21:1 – 22:53
Ben-Hadad of Aram gathers 32 other kings and decides to surround and attack King Ahab of Israel. They demand that Ahab give them his gold and silver and the best of his wives and children. Ahab is surrounded and tells them they can have it. But that isn't enough for Ben-Hadad; he wants everything Ahab has. Ahab doesn't know what to do. He is far out numbered and surrounded. His advisers tell him not to agree to the demands. Ben-Hadad vows to destroy him completely, saying only handfuls of dust will be left. Ahab answers with a great quote, "The man who puts on his armor should not brag. It's the man who lives to take off his armor who has the right to brag."
Ben-Hadad and his group were so arrogant and cocky. They are in their tents getting drunk thinking there was no way they could be defeated. A prophet goes to Ahab (the same Ahab that was following Baal when Elijah called down fire), and tells him that God will hand the "big" army over to him so he would know that the LORD is God. Ahab asks God questions. Who will you use? ...the young officers. Who will lead them? ...you. Ahab gathers the army, and marches out against Ben-Hadad at noon. Ben-Hadad and his men are in their tents getting drunk. Ben-Hadad is so sure of himself that he tells his men, if they come in peace—take them alive. If they come in war—take them alive. Instead, Ahab and the army of Israelites began to defeat them and they ran. They were thoroughly defeated. But that wasn't enough to stop Ben-Hadad. He threatens to attack them again in the spring. They make excuses about why they lost the first round saying Ahab must have won because their gods are mountain gods, so let's fight them in the valley. We'll be able to win in the valley. Then we will win!
So, spring arrives, and Ahab and his men march out to meet Ben-Hadad's army who had gathered to fight them. Israel's army looked like two small flocks of goats. Ben-Hadad's army covered the land. A prophet again comes to Ahab and says: The people of Aram says that I the LORD am only a god of the mountains, not a god of the valleys, so I will allow you to defeat this huge army so you will know that I am the LORD! For seven days the two armies were camped across from each other. On the seventh day the battle began. The Israelites killed 100,000 soldiers in one day. The rest of them ran away to a city for protection and the city wall fell on them killing 27,000. Bed-Hadad hid, but he did not have a heart change. He was between a rock and a hard place. So what did he do? Well, he gathered some men together and they schemed. Everyone knew that Ahab was a merciful person so they decided to act like they were sorry, and act like they were repenting, and act like they wanted forgiveness. It was all an act. The truth is all they wanted was to fool Ahab so they could get out of the predicament they were in. So they put on rough cloth and ropes around their heads to show sadness and they went to Ahab.
And sure enough, Ahab was merciful and allowed Ben-Hadad to live and have his cities. Ahab decided to make a peace agreement with Ben-Hadad and let him go free. Ahab decided. He didn't inquire of the LORD. Because God had already clearly told Ahab that he was to destroy the entire army, and because Ahab chose not to consult God, the punishment would now become his. His life would be taken and his people would suffer.
Next Entry: I Kings 21:1 – 22:53
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