God’s tenacious love and what we do with it

John Newton, who later wrote ‘Amazing Grace’, had a troubled childhood marked by conflict and disobedience. He renounced his faith as a young sailor, deserted the Navy and later ended up as a crew member on a slave-trading vessel. His behaviour of writing obscene mocking songs about the captain and conflicts with other sailors led him to be imprisoned on the ship. He was enslaved by locals in Sierra Leone but was eventually rescued by another vessel. On the return journey to England in 1748, a violent storm threatened to sink the ship. At a moment of crisis, Newton appealed to God and after the ship survived, he was troubled by his own appeal wondering if his life were redeemable. Thus, this episode became the catalyst for his eventual conversion though it did not happen overnight. Even after turning to the Lord, he continued in the slave trade for six or seven more years.

A crisis and an opening for God

King Ahab similarly encountered God’s power on Mt Carmel and saw His blessing of rain after long drought (1 Kings 18:36-38, 44-45), though what he thought about it all is unclear. Now the next crisis looms, this time a political one. The king of Aram (i.e. Syria) threatens Israel requiring their allegiance as a vassal state (the sense of Ben-Hadad’s claim that everything Ahab has is his; 1 Kings 20:1-3). Despite Ahab’s acquiescence (1 Kings 20:4), the Aramean king deliberately picks a quarrel by insisting that Ahab give permission for his palace to be looted by the Arameans (1 Kings 20:5-6)! After consultation, the king refuses such violence (1 Kings 20:8-9) and another round of verbal sparring ensues (1 Kings 20:10-11).[1] While we know nothing of Ahab’s feelings, it is noteworthy that God’s prophets can now come and approach the king (1 Kings 20:13, 22, 28, 35), when previously they were in hiding. Ben-Hadad’s drinking (1 Kings 20:12, 16) suggests arrogance, as if he thought that victory was already in the bag contrasting with Ahab’s willingness to listen and submit to God’s counsel (1 Kings 20:14-15).

God’s overruling grace and tenacious love

Despite the uncertainty over where Ahab stands in relation to God, the Lord promises help and deliverance (1 Kings 20:13). It will be another opportunity for the king to know who God is (v.13). ‘Knowing’ here means recognising and acknowledging God’s power and sovereignty, but this incident also reveals God’s gracious character that He is willing to give another demonstration to bring Ahab to Himself. Yet, there are different ways to read reality, and the Arameans conclude from their defeat that the terrain was advantageous to Israel’s God who is a deity of mountains (1 Kings 20:23). Since gods were thought to be territorial, Aram must engage Israel where the latter’s God is less effective. A second campaign then ensues in the spring (‘the turn of the year’, 1 Kings 20:26),[2] where Israel’s camp is like two little flocks of goats against a sea of Aramean soldiers (1 Kings 20:27). Yet, God’s reputation is at stake (1 Kings 20:28) and little flocks with God turn out to be more powerful than the army without Him (1 Kings 20:29-30). The key is, once again, God’s desire for Israel (‘you’ plural) to know and acknowledge Him (v.28).

What we do with God’s tenacious love

The most striking feature of this episode in Ahab’s story is the Lord’s willingness to give the king another chance and another that he might see God’s power and sovereignty. Despite Ahab’s seeming ambivalence, God keeps persevering. As in John Newton’s story, recognition of God and submission does not always happen overnight. Sometimes, there may be alternative interpretations of events, doubts and questions that need addressing. God’s overruling grace and patience often continues for the sake of real change and commitment to happen. It is true at conversion but also in the Lord’s ongoing work in us. Our reading teaches us that true transformation can be a process and we must be patient as we look at loved ones who do not know the Lord or as we seek change for ourselves. We should also marvel at the Lord’s perseverance and love and acknowledge Him when we discern His hand in our life, whether we are being called back to obedience or already live for Him.

[1] Ahab’s proverb evokes a soldier going into battle boasting (of victory) before he has won the battle. It is the equivalent of the English saying not to count one’s chickens before they hatch.

[2] The turn of the year (the same phrase is used in 2 Sam 11:1, NASB ‘spring’) was the time for new campaigns because of the weather. The religious calendar started in the spring (March-April) with Passover (Exod 12:1-20). Israel came to celebrate the civil New Year (Rosh Hashanah, lit. ‘head of the year’) in northern hemisphere autumn (September-October). Although the name itself is not mentioned in the Bible, it is the holiday described in Lev 23:24-25.

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