1 Kings 20:1-6 – God alone is our sure refuge

First Kings 20:1-6 feature two godless men. One was Ahab, the king of Israel who had no regard for the covenant God of Israel. Having been confronted with the truth by Elijah he should have known better. Through the several brushes he had with Elijah, he should have awakened to the power of Yahweh, but apparently he was not. Obviously, all that Elijah had done did not make any impact on him.  So in the face of a threat from Ben-hadad and a coalition of 32 kings, he ceded without a fight. He showed himself to be a spineless coward. Listen to how he responded to the demands of Ben-hadad in verse 4. He was heard to say, “It is according to your word, my lord, O king; I am yours, and all that I have.”

The other godless man was Ben-hadad of Aram. He was a bully because he had a greater force. Together with a coalition of 32 kings with all their military arsenal, he came threatening Ahab of Israel. Verse 1 said that they went up and besieged Samaria. Sending a messenger to Ahab, he demanded that Ahab give him all his silver, gold, harem, and family. He even threatened to send someone to him the next day to inspect all that he had demanded and to relieve him of all the items he had enumerated.

What can be more humiliating than seeing Ahab's willingness to give in without a fight? As the person who was made the head of the covenant nation of God, the least he could do was to seek His help. But he did not. This reveals how far he had departed from God. He lacked the dignity as one who represented the nation whose God was the Sovereign God of the nations. All he did was show himself a coward. To willingly surrender his harem and children clearly showed himself to be a man lacking honor, dignity, and conscience. If only he had surrendered to the LORD God of Israel, the same way he had capitulated to Ben-hadad! He would have realized that he had a strong refuge and fortress in the LORD.  

When God is not the person we bow to, we will pander to fear. Thankfully, we all serve a great God who promises to take care of us. Our confidence is in Him.  In Hebrews 13:5, we are reminded of what God had promised. “…He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.”” Hence like the author of Hebrews we can say confidently, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?” Hear the reassuring words of Psalm 46:1-3:

God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. 

What an assurance, glory to His name! Let us place our hope firmly on Him!