The children of Israel were encamped about by the Syrians and the kings of Syria demanded all of their silver, gold, and even their women and children, King Ahab agreed to this, but when they pushed harder the children of Israel so NO...and the Lord sent a prophet to Israel to let them know that Syria would be delivered into their hands. They defeated the Syrians because it was in God's will, but they only pushed them back. The kings of Syria stood up and told the people that the God of Israel was only a God of the hills and not a God of the valleys and they planned another battle in the valley.
The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is God over all things...he created the heavens and the earth and the Syrians were about to find this out. God will not be mocked. When the Syrians came up against Israel, they had to pay for their actions with their lives because of that statement!
1 Kings 20:27-28
27 And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.
28 And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the Lord, Because the Syrians have said, The Lord is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
Israel was greatly outnumbered, but they had God on their side. With God all things are possible, but God also expects total obedience to his word. He WILL NOT bless you and then allow you to disobey his word. Just like a disobedient child, you will be punished. God delivered the Syrians into Israel's hand even though they were greatly outnumbered for his own Glory, to show them that He was God and there is no other, but the king of Israel failed to obey God. He made a covenant with the enemy.
1 Kings 20:34
34 And Ben-hadad said unto him, The cities, which my father took from thy father, I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. Then said Ahab, I will send thee away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away.
Revelations 3:15-16
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
42 And he said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Romans 10:9-10
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
34 And Ben-hadad said unto him, The cities, which my father took from thy father, I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. Then said Ahab, I will send thee away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away.
God will not have it. You CAN NOT serve God and dally with the devil. God WILL NOT BLESS SIN. God said be either hot or cold. If you try being both, he will cast you aside.
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Because of King Ahab's disobedience to God, he was destroyed. God gave him a choice and he decided his own fate by his disobedience.
1 Kings 20:4242 And he said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.
God is giving you a choice today. Will you accept Jesus Christ as your savior and choose God or be like King Ahab and give up your soul for a few earthy pleasures that will soon vanish away. Jesus said come unto me all ye that are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Eternity is just one breath away. Choose wisely.
Revelations 3:20-2119 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Romans 10:9-10
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Kathy Wellman
Reference: King James Bible
