I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on 1 Kings 20-22.

King Ben-Hadad of Aram mustered his army and demanded tribute from Ahab. When King Ahab agreed to pay the tribute initially demanded, King Ben-haddad demanded to be allowed to loot the city. This latter demand was too much for King Ahab and his advisers. A prophet of God advised King Ahab on how to take Ben-Hadad’s forces off guard. King Ahab followed the advice and defeated Ben-Hadad. Ben-Hadad’s advisers convinced him that they had lost because God was a god of the hills and if they attacked again but stayed on the plains they would win. On this second occasion the Israelite army was vastly outnumbered, but was still able to gain the victory.. King Ben-Hadad believed that God was limited by geography and paid the price. Our God is not limited to the hills or the plains. Wherever we need His aid He is able to rescue us.

When Naboth refused to sell King Ahab his vineyard, King Ahab threw a temper tantrum until his wife, Jezebel, arranged for Naboth to be killed. Then later, when Jehoshaphat asked that they consult a prophet of God, King Ahab did not want to do so because he did not like what the prophet told him. I want to point out some similarities between these tow incidents. In the first story, despite the fact that King Ahab did not give the orders for Naboth’s death, God held him accountable. When Elijah confronted Ahab with God’s judgement, Ahab humbled himself and begged forgiveness. In the second story, King Ahab initially “misinterpreted” Jehoshaphat’s request and consulted his prophets of Baal. In both stories, when Ahab was pushed he recognized God’s sovereignty. In the first story, when King Ahab did not get his way, he threw a temper tantrum. In the second story, when King Ahab did not want to consult the prophet because he did not like what he told him, King Jehoshaphat called him out on it. In both cases King Ahab acted childishly. In the first stroy Jezebel coddled him and rewarded him for his behavior. In the second story, Jehoshaphat confronted him and made him do what was right. When our friends act like Ahab, we should strive to be like Jehoshaphat and not like Jezebel.