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1 Kings 20:20 "And each killed his man; the Syrians fled and Israel pursued them, but Benhadad king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen."

 

There are many times in the Old Testament when Israel is greatly outnumbered, yet God gives them victory over their enemies. This is one of those times, and it is especially interesting because God gave this victory over the Syrians to Ahab, possibly the most wicked king Israel had.

 

When the Syrian army came against Samaria, Ahab had been willing to send Benhadad his silver, gold, wives, and children, but that was not enough to satisfy the Syrian king. With the Syrian army in attack positions against the city, a prophet approached Ahab, saying "Thus says the Lord, Have you seen this great multitude? Behold I will give it into your hands this day; and you shall know that I am the Lord." (1 Kings 20:13). Ahab was wise enough, or maybe just desperate enough, to listen to the prophet. He asked which men he should call, and who should begin the battle, and he followed the prophet's answers, leading to this victory where each killed his man and the Syrians fled, to be pursued and slaughtered by Ahab. (1 Kings 20:13- 21).

 

God gives us so many chances to come back to Him! Ahab was a wicked man, yet here, in a time of desperation, God came to his rescue so that he would know God is the Lord. Ahab will eventually humble himself before the Lord - putting on sackcloth and fasting, and God will say "Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days; but in his son's days I will bring the evil upon his house." (1 Kings 21:27-29). Ahab's wickedness brought evil onto Israel, but in this moment of battle, and in the time of Ahab's repentance, God recognized Ahab's willingness to listen, obey, and humble himself, and God spared him and Israel from the full effects of the evil Ahab's wickedness deserved.

 

No matter how far astray we have gone, no matter how wicked we have been, God will not stop calling to us. He may not send us an outright prophet, but He has ways of making His messages to us known. If we listen, obey, and humble ourselves, we can get back into His favor, and that is all God wants for us. He will deal with the effects of our wickedness as is necessary, and there is no guarantee we or our children will not suffer, but if we hear and heed His messages, He will lead us through even the most desperate of times.