Again we see God’s unfathomable ways in Ahab’s story. Although His anger was aroused against His people like it had never before been aroused against them, God gave the wicked Ahab victory over the king of Aram. He had numerous reasons for doing so: He wanted Ben-Hadad to die, He wanted Ahab to know that He is the Lord, and He wanted to Arameans to know that He is not only God of the hills but also God of the valleys. It amazes me that He would be interested in pursuing any relationship with Ahab. It likely would have surprised His people that He cared whether the pagan Arameans knew anything about Him at all. We must never think that we have God figured out.
Fully sold out to evil as he was, Ahab wasn’t past humbling himself, and God relented, softening His judgment against Ahab. That may seem disappointing to us, but it is a response demonstrating love. It is also a just response, since God said that if His people would humble themselves, then He would hear and forgive. If Ahab wasn’t past God’s relenting, who is?
What are some things that you can know about God from these stories of His interactions with the unsurpassingly wicked Ahab? Do any of them inspire more love in your heart for Him? Why not tell Him so?