Read: 1 Kings 20-21
Ben-adad came up against Israel and sent a messenger to tell Ahab that he wanted his silver, gold, wives, children, and the best of what he owned. Ahab agreed to this until he talked to his elders. They told him not to agree with Ben-adad. Ben-hadad means “son of a shouter”. That is exactly what Satan is - a shouter. He intimidates with his shouts and wants to steal our inheritance.
God sent his prophet to tell Ahab that He would deliver them through the young men of the princes of the provinces if he would order the battle. Ben-hadad had a host with 32 kings and chariots and Ahab had 232 princes. Ahab obeyed the word of the Lord and sent the princes. They won and sent the king home.
Ben-hadad came back at the end of the year thinking they needed to fight Israel in the plains since they couldn’t win in the hills. God is god of the hills and the plains. Israel went out and slew 27,000 of the Syrians. Ben-hadad begged for his life and made a covenant with Ahab. He would give back the cities he had stolen if they would spare his life. Ahab agreed without asking God. God sent a prophet to him who disguised himself as a wounded warrior. He rebuked Ahab for letting Ben-hadad escape. It would be his life for Ben-hadad’s.
Then we have the story of Naboth’s vineyard. Ahab did the same thing to Naboth as Ben-hadad tried to do to him. He wanted his inheritance. When Naboth refused to give it to him, his wife, Jezebel devised a plan to steal it and kill Naboth. It worked and Ahab was happy till Elijah showed up with the word of the Lord. God was going to show vengeance for Naboth and Ahab would lose everything along with his inheritance. Ahab humbled himself so God postponed his sentence for the next generation.
Lord, you honor our inheritance. Let us fight for what You have given us and promised us and never give it away.
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