1 Kings 20:31-34 – Seizing every God-given moment

First Kings 20:31-34 describe another misstep of Ahab. He failed to capitalize on the opportunity to finish off Ben-hadad and free Israel from the oppression of the Syrians. It was obvious that God had granted him success by providing the messengers to help him deal with Ben-hadad’s aggression. Ahab managed to subdue Ben-hadad who was at his mercy.

However, Ben-hadad had shrewd advisors who taught him how to exploit the inept Ahab. They told Ben-hadad in verse 31 saying, “Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings, please let us put sackcloth on our loins and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel; perhaps he will save your life.” Accordingly, they went ahead with their plan. So Verse 32 said they acted by girding on … sackcloth on their loins and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please let me live.’” What Ahad did next was inexplicable. He asked Ben-hadad’s servants, “Is he still alive?” He added by acknowledging Ben-hadad as his brother and asked that he be brought to him.

When Ben-hadad was brought to him, Ahab received him into his chariot. The Syrian king then agreed to return the territory Syria had seized from Israel previously. Thinking that it was advantageous for him, Ahab agreed to a needless treaty with Ben-hadad. Unwittingly, he had again put himself at a disadvantage by not trusting God who had granted him the recent victory. It showed how insensitive he was to God who was stretching His hand toward him. Ahab’s insensitivity would eventually exact an unnecessary price from him.

Ahab had the opportunity to deal a serious blow to Ben-hadad and end the oppression the latter had brought to him and Israel. Clearly, it was God who had engineered the moment for him. God’s purpose and Israel’s security were placed in Ahab’s hand, but he squandered the opportunity. Here we see how misplaced his magnanimity was. It would become a thing that he would live to regret. Often times God would also grant us moments to deal with what seems to be hampering our progress with Him. When that moment comes, we must be quick to seize it with courage and deal with it wisely and decisively. Why? Because the same opportunity may not come again. There is a season for everything. Don’t let any God-moment go to waste. Seize it!