SUMMARY OF 1 KINGS 20
Ben-Hadad king of Aram attacked Samaria, demanding all the silver, gold, wives, and children. At first, Ahab did not refuse. Then he did when more demands were made, so Ben-Hadad prepared to attack.
A prophet comes to Ahab to tell him that the Lord will deliver the enemy into his hands so that he will know the Lord did it. Ahab must start the battle and the young officers of the provincial commanders will defeat the army. The 7,000 remaining Israelites of faith went out while the enemy was in their tent getting drunk. The Israelites defeated the king of Aram, but the king escaped.
The prophet told Ahab that the king of Aram would attack next year. So, Ahab prepared for the attack. When it came, the prophet told Ahab that God would once again deliver the enemy into his hands so that he will know He is God. Ahab won the battle, but he ended up making a deal with the king of Aram and let him go free. A prophet tells Ahab that because he let a man go free whom he should have (the king of Aram), he would give his life for him.
BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 5, Day 4: 1 Kings 20
10) God ensured that if an enemy attacked Israel that Israel would win. He used prophets to tell Ahab these things.
11a) Verse 13 & 28
b) Too many. Honestly, every day in some small way when He rescues me from sin.
12) He bargained with the king of Aram and let him go free.
13a) He was “sullen and angry” and retreated to his palace in Samaria. Note he was not repentant.
b) Every time He lets me know He’s in charge and not me.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 5, Day 4: 1 Kings 20
I love how God never gives up on us like we give up on Him.
End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 5, Day 4: 1 Kings 20
At first, Ahab willingly surrenders. Then, he changes his mind with advice.
A prophet appears and tells Ahab the Lord will deliver them out of His infinite mercy and love. Ahab wonders how, which is something most of us wonder when God promises to do something in our lives. God delivers Israel, but the Syrians would try again in the spring.
Saying that God was a god of the hills and valleys meant God was only a god over certain areas instead of the Lord of the earth.
The Lord delivers Israel another miraculous victory over a vastly superior army. Yet, Ahab makes a treaty with the defeated pagan king instead of completely destroying him.
The Mysterious Prophets
These prophets mentioned here are nameless and are believed to not be Elijah or Elisha. They are presumed to be among the 7,000 faithful.
The reason for the harsh judgement of against the man who refused to strike the prophet was because that man was a fellow man of God or a son of the prophet. Thus, he should have known to follow the command of the prophet.
The prophet tells Ahab a story that is really a story of the mistake he just made — failing to guard the life of someone. Since King Ahab failed to guard what was entrusted to him, he would pay the ultimate price. God wanted the death of the king of Aram to be by the army that He had empowered.
God reached out in so many ways to Ahab. As He does to us.
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