1 Kings 20:1-12 Click here for Bible Verses

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Kings 20:1-12.  Let’s go!

1 Kings 20:8 (NIV) 
 The elders and the people all answered, “Don’t listen to him or agree to his demands.” 

On verses 1-12:  Ben-Hadad king of Aram, together with his entire army and 32 other kings (most likely rulers of smaller neighbouring city states), beseige Israel’s capital city of Samaria.  Ben-Hadad tells Ahab in verse 3, “Your silver and gold are mine, and the best of your wives and children are mine.” (In the Nintendo International Version, Ben-Hadad says, “All your base are belong to us.”)  King Ahab of Israel tries to appease Ben-Hadad by agreeing to give what Ben-Hadad initially asks for — “I and all I have are yours” (v4).  But Ben-Hadad says he wants more and says he will ransack the palaces of Ahab and Ahab’s officials (v5-6).  King Ahab realizes that negotiating with Ben-Hadad is of no use.  With the support of the elders and the people of Israel, King Ahab refuses to let Ben-Hadad enter Samaria (v9).  After a trash-talking exchange between Ahab and Ben-Hadad, Ben-Hadad orders his troops to prepare to attack Samaria (v10).

What can we learn from this?  When you face an enemy who is bent on destroying you, taking everything from you and leaving you with nothing, don’t try negotiating.  It’s no use.  Just as Ahab’s attempts to negotiate with Ben-Hadad were of no use, you can’t negotiate with your enemy Satan, whose agenda is to steal, kill and destroy your life (John 10:10).

How do you know if you are trying to negotiate with Satan?  It’s when you’re tempted to compromise in some area of your faith in hopes of gaining some kind of short term advantage or peace — maybe it’s in regards to money, sex, ethical business practices, or in keeping your promises.

So when Satan tries to take a valuable part of your life away, when he tempts you to compromise and do what is wrong, don’t give into him, thinking that he will be satisfied with that.  As the people in verse 8 say, “Don’t listen to him or agree to his demands.”  The fact is your enemy will not be satisfied until you are totally destroyed.

So don’t negotiate with Satan.  Don’t try to make a deal with the devil.  Stand firm against him in Jesus’ name.

Lord Jesus, thank You that You did not negotiate with Satan but You completely defeated him. Because You gained victory over Satan on the cross, thank You that through You I can experience victory over Satan as well.  And so I say, in Jesus’ name, Satan get behind me.  May I not compromise my faith, but stand my ground against the enemy.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!