Benhadad’s officers said to him, “The Israeli God is a god of the hills; that is why they won ( the battle) . But we can beat them easily in the valleys.” (1 Kings 20;23)

The Lord’s message to Ahab, the King of Israel,was, “Because the Syrians have said, “The Lord is the God of the hills, but he is not the God of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands.” (1Kings 20:28) Benhadad was the King of Syria who planned to march upon Israel and dominate the country and destroy King Ahab and the nation.

When I read the story of the Syrians and the Israelites, I thought how very ignorant Benhadad’s officers seemed concerning Israel’s God, and even concerning their own gods. The story contains some ironies. Ahab, the King of Israel, had witnessed Elijah’s dramatic challenge of the Baal worshipers on Mount Carmel. Ahab had also been visited by one of God’s prophets who had informed him of God’s plan for his victory over the Syrians. It was Ahab’s first victory in the hills that convinced the Syrians that they could win in the valleys; and God’s statement to Ahab that enabled him finally to defeat the Syrian army for good. Nevertheless, Ahab did not respond with obedience to God ‘s saving presence in his life.(1 Kings 21:20)

I believe that, strange as these ancient people’s beliefs may seem, we Christians of this generation are as divided in spirit between the hills and the valleys as they were. In good and happy times we feel confident and even joyful, but in the valleys of life sometimes we lose sight of our God and believe that He just can’t help us.

Ahab had no reason to believe that God could or would help him, but he believed enough in God’s messengers to follow their instructions and win two decisive victories, freeing his nation from the oppressive threat of Syria.

Today we have powerful messengers in the Bible itself. God spoke to us when He demonstrated that He is the God of both the highs and lows of our lives. When we despair and feel separated from all the good in the world, yet, he is not absent. The victory that He supplied to one who proved unfaithful, is ours in even greater measure. God rescued Ahab for the sake of His own name. He gave us the name of His son who has promised eternal rescue.

Love in Him,

Prue