Thursday, January 14, 2016

I Kings 20: Lord Of All

"The servants of the king of Aram 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" (vs. 23).  Big mistake.

In an era of polytheism, when many gods were believed in and considered to have their own specialties and principalities, it is not surprising that Ben-hadad's people believed that the god(s) of the Israelites had only won their first victory over them because of some kind of home-court advantage.  In some way, the reasoned to themselves, the Israelites had won only because their god(s) were better on the hills.  Just let us get them in the plains and valleys, they figured, and our gods will be stronger and we will win!

While that calculation may make sense in a world of many gods, it falls on its face when it is realized that there is but one God, and Israel is His people.  Even under evil King Ahab, God is looking out for His people and rallies to their side when threatened.  Perhaps the earlier contest on Mount Carmel had served a purpose of cleansing the nation and returning them to God's side in time for this war with Aram?

When the second battle draws near in verses vs 29-30, Israel again wins a resounding victory against overwhelming odds.  The reason appears to be that God is establishing for Himself a name and making the claim that He alone is God.  As the unnamed prophet says in verse 28: "Because the Arameans have said, 'The Lord is a god of the hills but he is not a god of the valleys,' therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord."

God is the Lord of all.  It's only too bad for Ahab that he didn't realize that in time.

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