Thurs.’s Devo - God Sees Everything

Read: 1 Kings 20:1-21:29; Acts 12:24-13:15; Psalm 137:1-9; Proverbs 17:16 Yesterday, we read where God told Elijah to anoint Hazael the king of Aram and he didn’t. Now the king of Aram, which is Benhadad came against Israel. He threatened Ahab to bring back 32 other nations’ armies to conquer Samaria. He demanded that King Ahab give him his silver and gold, his wives and the best of his children. Ahab agreed, but this was not enough. Then Benhadad added that he was sending officers to go through, not only Ahab’s palace, but the homes of his officials and take anything they found valuable. This was not okay with the officials. They were fine with Ahab losing all this things, but not them. *** They sent word to Benhadad that he could just have Ahab’s things. This meant war. *** God sent a prophet to Ahab telling him that God would hand all these enemies into his hand today. He told him to send the troops of the provincial commanders. The provincial army was made up of 232 young men. They went out while 7,000 followed at a distance. It was around noon and Ben-hadad’s men were already drunk. When Ben-hadad heard a small army was approaching he ordered them killed even if they were coming in peace. *** Israel’s army attacked the army of Aram erupted into chaos. The Syrian army panicked and ran. God had caused the Israelite’s small army to win over a much greater army and yet we don’t read of any acknowledgement made to thank or glorify God who brought about their victory. *** The prophet told Ahab to be ready in the spring because Benhadad would return. When they did, they returned with a huge army and attacked at Aphek. The prophet told them that the Arameans thought God was a god of the hills and not the plains so they attacked in the plains. But Israel would know that God was the Lord. He is the Lord over the whole earth because he made it. *** Israel’s much smaller army killed 100,000 Arameans in one day. The rest fled to Aphek where the wall fell on them and killed another 27,000. Benhadad’s army advised him to surrender and bank on the mercy of Israel. Ben-hadad offered to give back towns his father had take from Israel and to let them trade in Damascus. Ahab made a treaty with him and released Ben-hadad. *** A prophet had another man hit him so he would look wounded. He disguised himself and went to the king. He explained that he had been put in charge over a prisoner and had lost him. Now he would be ordered to either die or pay 75 pounds of silver. He wanted mercy from Ahab but instead, Ahab told him he deserved his punishment. The prophet took the disguise off and revealed his identity. He told Ahab that because he had spared Benhadad who God wanted dead, he and his people would now die instead of him and his people. Ahab went away angry and depressed. *** Later, Ahab coveted Naboth’s vineyard that was right beside his palace. He wanted to take Naboth’s vineyard and turn it into a vegetable garden. It takes years to produce a vineyard and produce good wine and now Ahab wanted it for something totally different. He tried to buy it from Naboth but this was land passed down to him - his families’ inheritance. When he wouldn’t sell to Ahab, Ahab was depressed. Jezebel found out what happened and was disgusted with Ahab. She told him she would get it for him. She had Naboth accused of blaspheming the king and God and then had him stoned. She went to Ahab and told him he could have his vegetable garden - Naboth was dead. *** God sent Elijah to Ahab as he was going to claim Naboth’s vineyard. Elijah asked Ahab if it wasn’t enough that he murdered the man; now he was stealing his land. His payment would be that the dogs would like his blood at the very place they licked the blood of Naboth. God would destroy all his male descendants, slave and free all over Israel - just like he killed all of the family of Jeroboam and Baasha because of the trouble and sin he had caused Israel to enter into. *** The dogs would like Jezebel’s body on Naboth’s land. All of Ahab’s family would be eaten by dogs and vultures. This was the ultimate curse. *** When Ahab heard this, he tore his clothes, put on burlap and fasted. God saw this and told him that he would not destroy his dynasty during Ahab’s lifetime because he humbled himself. *** In Acts, the gospel continued to be spread around the world. Barnabus and Saul had returned to Antioch from their mission in Jerusalem. They had brought John Mark back with them. *** Some of Saul’s teachers were Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, and Manaen, the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas! As these men prayed and fasted, God called out Barnabas and Saul to mission work. John Mark went with them to the island of Cyprus teaching and preaching as they went. Then they went to Paphos and met a Jewish sorcerer named Bar-Jesus or Elymas. He was closely associated with the governor, Sergius Paulus. The governor invited Paul and Barnabus to visit him and tell them their mission. The sorcerer tried to convince the governor not to listen them. Paul finally confronted the sorcerer and cursed him with blindness. He immediately became blind. When the governor saw this he believed and was able to listen with his heart. *** On their way home, John Mark left and went back to Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas continued to Antioch and were asked to share their experiences the next Sabbath. *** Lord, may we confront evil and declare righteousness. May we walk in the Holy Spirit and do the works you have called us to walk in.