It's Bragging Time ♡♡♡

"Then a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel and said, "Thus says the Lord; 'Have you seen all this great army? Behold, I will hand them over to you, and you shall know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord" - I King 20:13 20:28 AMP

Know any bullies? - A bullying tale going on in 1 Kings chapter 20, pay attention. So Ben-hadad king of Aram (Syria) gathered all his army together, besieged Samaria [Israel's capital]. and fought against it. Heavy right? Dude sends messengers to the King of Israel; "your silver and gold are mine; your wives and your children, even the fairest, also are mine [as conditions of peace] - 1 Kings 20:3. Audacious if you ask me. Scripture says that the King of Israel conceded his defeat and agrees to Ben-hadad terms. But just like any other bully, once there is some kind of green light, the boundaries keep being pushed, not until they are firmly stopped - "The messengers returned and said, "Thus says Ben-hadad; I indeed sent word to you, saying, "You shall give me your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children," but about this time tomorrow I will send my servants, and they will take with thier hands (confisicate) whatever is desirable in your eyes and carry it away" - 1 Kings 20:5. Imagine the level of pointless wickedness. It's no different from how the enemy seeks to steal, kill and destroy.

The king of Israel recognizing the situation for what it is, calls together elders and some people, to seek further advise . Indeed good counsel and good company matters. "Do not listen or consent to this additional demand" they said. This is where it all stops. We need such encouragers on our journey. People who will help you confidently put your foot down from life-bullying situations. The King refuses Ben-hadad's additional request and of course you guessed right. He barks again, like every bully does "May the god's do so to me, and more also, if there is enough dust left of Samaria for handfuls for all the [armed] people who follow me." - 1 King 20:10. Oh, and I love love the King of Israel's response "....Tell him, "A man who puts on [his armor to go to battle] should not boast like the man who takes it off [after the battle has been won] - I Kings 20:11. Wooooosah!!!! - Incredible response, oozing of so much Godfidence. May we all know when to say ENOUGH!!

Scripture says that they camped opposite each other for seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle began, and the sons of Israel killed 100,000 of the Aramean foot soldiers in a single day - I king 20:29. Wow!. I love reading portions of scriptures like this. Our God though very patient, merciful and long-suffering, make no mistake about it - He is no wimp. God is mighty and strong through His people when the need arises. What is even more hilarious as you read the scripture, is Israel's enemy thinking they know so much of who God is. -----> "Israel's god is a god of the hills; that is why they are stronger than we. But let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they" - 1 kings 20:23. I laugh in Swahili. In the end, we see that they knew nothing. Beloved, sometimes we can lose sight of who God is, in really trying times. I have been here many times. Life bullying situations like the one the Israelites and their king found themselves in. We need to take hold of moments where we say "This is where it all stops". Not because we glory in ourselves or rely in our own strength, but because our God also hates any kind of injustice and oppression against his people. Beloved, you don't have to sit there and take all of life's punches. You can get up by God's mighty strength. Just like the King of Israel, you can say enough is enough.

Thus says the Lord; 'Have you seen all this great army? Behold, I will hand them over to you, and you shall know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord" - I king 20:13 AMP

May the Lord truly help you and I have reasons to glorify his name. Anyone in the mood for bragging this week? Let us brag about our God! Step into a new week because God is not only the god of the hills, but the God of the plain and valleys also. It's bragging time......

Love,

Shay