Featured Photo Courtesy of Aaron Carley
1 Kings 20:13 “…that you may know that I am the Lord.“
When you hear believers talk about God being with us on the hills and in the valleys do you know where this reference is found in the Bible?
Would you believe it if I told you that we have it all wrong?
Well, I know some believers who absolutely know the context of this verse. But there are enough Christian praise songs that prove most people don’t really know the history behind the actual verse. This is an actual verse about God. Not about people’s spiritual highs and lows.
First of all, God is absolutely with believers no matter where they walk. The Holy Spirit lives in us and is with us everywhere. God is not absent. That is why we should be careful to walk only where we will glorify Him.
But the story of the God of the Hills and the Valleys is about God’s authority over two wicked kings. One was the king of Syria, Ben-Hadad. The other is a name you recognize. King Ahab, king of Israel. Both were godless men. But God’s intervention was on behalf of Israel, not the king.
Most importantly, God’s intervention was on behalf of His great name.
1 Kings 20:28 Then the man of God approached and said to the king of Israel, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Because the Arameans have said, “The Lord is a god of the mountains and not a god of the valleys,” I will hand over all this whole huge army to you. Then you will know that I Am the Lord.’”
Let’s pick up the story from here. Click the scripture to read this story. 1 Kings 20
The power of God is not diminished by wicked leaders. And His power is not embellished by so called “good” people.
It’s essential for God’s people to deeply root His Word in their hearts. If we let the Bible collect dust, we only rely on sermons, blogs, and songs from others to shape our beliefs. Every believer is responsible to read scripture for themselves.
“And you will know that I am the Lord.’”
Our God is in fact God of the hills and the valleys. Not just yours and mine. He is God almighty.
You see, God doesn’t rely on strong armies of human beings to achieve His divine plan. God sets up rulers and authorities at His pleasure. If Ahab had revered God as his King, he may not have faced the fearsome threat of the Arameans and the other thirty-two kings that allied with Ben-Haddad. Regardless, Ahab learns his fate at the end of chapter 20. Does the name Jezebel sound familiar? I will leave that for you to read.
Philippians 2:10-11 reminds us “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”
One day, even Ben-Hadad and Ahab will bow before the Lord God and confess that He alone is God.
1 Kings 20:13 A prophet approached King Ahab of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Do you see this whole huge army? Watch, I am handing it over to you today so that you may know that I am the Lord.’”
Everything we represent from God—words, deeds, or motives—should be guided by His Word alone. This is why it’s important to know God’s Word for yourself.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7 You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. These words, which I command you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.
Resources
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 
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