Everything You Consider Valuable

As I am reading through the One Year Bible which, by the way, is an amazing way to connect with God through His Word, I can't help but notice in today's First Kings 20:1-43 reading today, this spiritual application:  my enemy wants to take away everything I consider valuable. This scenario is the perfect picture of how he does it. This is spiritual warfare at its finest and it's not confined to the Old Testament.  He knows what our "idols" are and he comes and presents a way for us to keep them IF ONLY we will give up something in return.  I have lived this scenario out in my teens, 20's and 30's only I had no idea the "game" he was playing with me although I do remember some conviction of the Spirit which I clearly ignored.

Here's how it goes.  In this story, King Ben-hadad of Aram (modern day Syria) will play the role of Satan (our enemy). The enemy came to besiege Samaria, the capital of Israel.  In verse 3, he sends a message to King Abab of Israel and this is what he says:  "Your silver and gold are mine, and so are your wives and the best of your children!"  Shockingly, in verse 4, King Ahab agrees with him and says, "All right, my lord the king.  All I have is yours!"  WHAT THE HECK?!  Just like that, he was willing to give up his wife, family and all that he had worked for?!  Hello Ahab, whatever happened to the "hide your wife, hide your kids" mentality.  Who is the spiritual leader of your family?!  Jerkface!!! But that's not the end of it.  After the King of Israel agreed to the demands of his enemy, the enemy has the nerve to come back for more.  He sends his 'messengers' and says in vv. 5-6, "I have already demanded that you give me your silver, gold, wives, and children.  But about this time tomorrow I will send my officials to search your palace and the homes of your people.  They will take away everything you consider valuable!"  This is, after-all, Satan's way.  Come for a little, take a lot.  In fact, just take it all.  Steal, kill, destroy.

I am somewhat shocked by how easily and willingly King Ahab gave into the demands for his wife and kids.  But if we were to make a modern day application, this showdown is the same exact epidemic of our day only we've renamed it DIVORCE.  It sounds much better than "all I have is yours, Satan."  But it is the identical battle. Satan has always been after everything that God deemed sacred...marriage, family and worship of the One True God.  And we've all heard the stats that divorce in the church is about the same as those outside the church.  Again, vat the heck?!

I am curious to know what King Ahab was thinking as he "reasoned" whether or not to give into the first demands.  I mean, what did he think he was getting to keep that justified giving up his family.  It probably went something like this. "Well I can still see the kids on weekends and they for sure will be better off and they will still turn out fine and I mean she obviously wasn't my soulmate but surely my real soulmate is out there and by golly I just need to find her and in the mean time I can sure "have fun" LOOKING.  I'm not really happy and I deserve to be happy so if this Ben-hadad dude wants to take my family away, I can always get another one. And I'll still get to exercise my power as king of Israel.  I'll still be king.  So no biggy.  Deal on.

But Satan's demands don't stop.  He doesn't suddenly get a heart and muster up compassion for us.  Not happening.  Ever.  He comes for everything we consider valuable.  Little by little.  But we do have the power to STOP giving into his demands.  I know I am picking on marriage/divorce but any idol can be plugged into the story-line and the outcome would be the same.  What am I willing to give up____________________ in order to hang onto my ____________________.  All idols cost us something.  Don't be naive.  Tribute will be paid.  Most likely, King Ahab's idol was POWER and as long as he could cling to that, he was willing to throw everything else away. " I'll still be king" and with that notion he was convinced that all would be o.k. 

But God is all about defeating our enemy and the vast army that comes against us in order that we would know that He is the LORD." ( v. 13, v. 28)  He wants to demonstrate His power in our lives and  give us victory over idols (anything we exalt in the place of God) instead of us giving in to any more of their demands.   

Lord, help us to recognize our idols and open our eyes to see how we let the enemy of our souls negotiate with us to work out a deal so that we can keep that which is highest in our hearts.  Help us to operate in your strength and fight for that which is truly valuable.  Raise up mighty men to be the spiritual leaders of their homes and fight for their marriages and family. Idols demand tribute.  Let us no longer be duped!!!  Give us hearts to care about everything You consider valuable.

Bottom line:  Spare the sin, destroy the life.  Destroy the sin, spare the life.  God gives us His prescription for the abundant life. We get to choose whether or not to take it.  But it's definitely best not to spare (under any conditions) what God says MUST BE DESTROYED.  Unless of course you don't mind losing EVERYTHING YOU CONSIDER VALUABLE.  Just ask King Ahab. Or better yet, read this passage to see how the enemy works in his oh so subtle ways.  King Ahab of Israel was actually just the king of pride as demonstrated by his actions.  And so am I when I refuse to respond and obey God's directives for me.  I don't need to destroy the "Ben-hadads" of my life.  I'll be king (or queen) and exercise my power and control over them.  RRRRighhhhtttt.