April 7, 2010 - The Incredible Grace

Meditation on 1 Kings 20

The Northern Kingdom of Israel had just experienced a famine under King Ahab. Then this weak nation faced the attack of the alliance of thirty-two kings under Ben-Hadad, the king of Syria. Ben-Hadad demanded Israel to surrender and would take away any women and treasurers and anything they pleased in Israel capital, Samaria.

We know that King Ahab was a very wicked man with a very wicked wife, Jezebel who led the nation to worship idols and false religions. She even vowed to kill Elijah after he killed her prophets and brought the nation for a revival to worship the LORD.

But in light of the critical circumstance, God still had mercy upon the people of Israel. He sent his prophet to instruct Ahab how to fight the enemies. It was the 232 young leaders who led a seven thousand army to defeat the great amount of Syrians. In the following year, the little group of soldiers of Israel (so weak like two little flocks of goats, v. 27) had again destroyed the overwhelming numbers of Ben-Hadad's armies. There was no doubt that this was the work of God because of His powerful grace.

There should be no reason that God should help a king like Ahab. But His incredible grace still was showered upon His people some of whom looked to Him.

We should learn to turn to Him with all our hearts and not to abuse His grace like Mr. and Mrs. Ahab who eventually met a tragic end. (1 Kings 22:37 and 2 Kings 9:30-37)