1 Kings: Walk Before Me FaithfullySample

Samaria – the city built by Ahab’s father, Omri – is regarded as impregnable. But Ben-Hadad of Aram (Syria) besieges it. He demands gold, silver, wives and children, and Ahab accedes to his request. When he makes a further demand to seize all valuables, Ahab declines. So Ben-Hadad taunts Ahab, promising defeat within a day.

 Yet again, a prophet of the Lord appears on the scene. Surprisingly, the prophet assures Ahab he will win the battle. We might have expected Ahab to lose under the judgement of God, but that is not to be. Notice the prophet’s words are like Elijah’s on Carmel: ‘you will know that I am the Lord’ (v. 13). The aim of God giving Ahab victory is not a reward but that he may know God. As the word of the Lord promised, Ahab is victorious (v. 21). 

Later, another man of God speaks to Ahab, again with the statement ‘you shall know that I am the Lord’ (v. 28). Again the Arameans are routed and Ahab is victorious. 

It would be easy for Ahab to assume that these victories are rewards from God for his behaviour. He would be wrong. Ahab is idolatrous and immoral. When things go well, it does not always mean God is blessing and rewarding us. Some who call themselves Christian accumulate great wealth, maybe with dubious means, and think their wealth is God’s stamp of approval. It is not so simple. God’s main aim is that people know him, in good times or bad. Neither wealth nor poverty are ends in themselves. We are to be content whether rich or poor (Philippians 4:11–12). 

The Arameans thought that God was limited only to hills, and not sovereign over valleys (v. 28). How wrong they were! The living God is not at all limited in time or space. It is dangerous to have too small a view of God. The all-powerful and ever-present God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who himself is supreme over all creation. We must be careful never to limit God, even when appearances seem hopeless.

Reflection

In what ways do you limit the power of God in your thinking and practice?