1 Kings 20:42–43 (NASB)
“42 He said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.’ ”
43 So the king of Israel went to his house sullen and vexed, and came to Samaria.”
When reading the Old Testament always on the forefront of my mind is what truth about who God is can be garnered from the text and applied to my life. In 1 Kings 20 we have an account of Ben-Hadad king of Aram trying to attack and destroy Isreal. This king of Aram had previous committed blasphemy and thus paved the way for God to judge him by destroying him. God spoke to the king of Isreal telling him that he would be victorious and to destroy the king of Aram who was mounting an attack against Isreal. The king of Aram escaped and pled for his life after having his army wiped out twice. The king of Isreal agreed to spare his life because they were brothers. In v.42-43 we have God passing judgement on the king of Isreal for disobeying His command to kill the king of Aram (his brother).
How often do we as Christians do the same thing? The king of Aram is likened to sin in our life. God hasn’t told us to go kill someone but He has told us to kill sin in our lives. Sin that we have already been given victory over if we obey His will. Yet, we choose not to because we relate to and think about the sin as humans rather than as God sees it.
God’s truth is that He is just and righteous. All are subject to the consequences of disobedience. I wonder if the victorious life spoke about by the Apostles isn’t being achieved because of our micro-disobediences? If Heaven (God’s Kingdom) is the best destination then our best life is Kingdom living now.
