Today’s Devotion
Topic: Don’t Give The Enemy An Inch! – Part 3
(Self Assessment 132)
Background: We bring you the concluding part of our devotion “DON’T GIVE THE ENEMY AN INCH”. A Bible Study that seeks to reveal how relentless the enemy can be in his quest to destroy the people of God.
You remember how Ben-Hadad (King of Aram) wouldn’t give up after an initial defeat by Israel. He restrategised for a second war but was heavily defeated again. This time he is hiding away in an inner room till his officers tell him of the mercies of the kings of Israel if only he will plead for his freedom. When he did, king Ahab called him brother and quickly granted his liberty; on the basis that Ben- Hadad returns cities that were seized by his father.
Let us see what ensued after king Ahab agreed to a peace – brotherly treaty with the enemy of the people of God, Ben- Hadad. Our focus will be on God’s opinion of what Ahab did and learn from it.
Text: 1 Kings 20: 35- 43
35 By the word of the Lord one of the company of the prophets said to his companion, “Strike me with your weapon,” but he refused.
36 So the prophet said, “Because you have not obeyed the Lord, as soon as you leave me a lion will kill you.” And after the man went away, a lion found him and killed him.
37 The prophet found another man and said, “Strike me, please.” So the man struck him and wounded him. 38 Then the prophet went and stood by the road waiting for the king. He disguised himself with his headband down over his eyes. 39 As the king passed by, the prophet called out to him, “Your servant went into the thick of the battle, and someone came to me with a captive and said, ‘Guard this man. If he is missing, it will be your life for his life, or you must pay a talent of silver.’ 40 While your servant was busy here and there, the man disappeared.”
“That is your sentence,” the king of Israel said. “You have pronounced it yourself.”
41 Then the prophet quickly removed the headband from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. 42 He said to the king, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You have set free a man I had determined should die. Therefore it is your life for his life, your people for his people.’” 43 Sullen and angry, the king of Israel went to his palace in Samaria. Amen
Questions:
i. Read verses 35- 36 again. How will you compare the mode of operation of the prophets of old and modern day prophets?
ii. What was the prophet trying to achieve by getting wounded and by disguising himself to meet the king? Vrs 37- 38.
iii. Do you think it was God that told him to adopt such a strategy, or he saw this as the best means to put his message across? (Read vrs 35)
iv. Read verses 39 and 40 again:
a) Did the prophet’s strategy work?
b) Mention at least one other passage in the Bible where a prophet used a scenario to get a sitting king to bring judgement upon himself?
c) Why do you think both kings fell easily for this strategy? Why are we so quick to judge others, but fail to admit or even realize our own mistakes?
v. Read verse 41- 43:
a) Why do you think God had determined Ben-Hadad to die?
b) The fact that he was still alive means he lives to torment Israel another day, right? How can we relate this with the alliances we enter with the devil, even after becoming born again or delivered from old habits?
c) Ahab went home both sullen and angry. What is the one important thing he failed to do after being convicted of acting contrary to the will of God?
vi. What have you learnt from today’s Bible study?
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