God of the Hills and Valleys

There is a story in 1 Kings 20 that I find fascinating.

Ben-Hadad, the king of Syria, went to King Ahab of Israel, demanding his silver and gold as well as his prettiest wives and his children. Knowing he could not win a battle against Syria, King Ahab agreed (1 Kings 20:1–4). Ahab’s acquiescence made Ben-Hadad bold. He sent another convoy of messengers to tell Ahab that his servants would visit Israel the next day and would strip it of everything that Ahab found appealing (verse 6).

This second threat made Ahab angry, and for what was probably the first time in his life, he spoke out courageously. He refused to agree to the more stringent terms, which then made Ben-Hadad angry. A battle ensued in which Ben-Hadad and the thirty-two kings with whom he had joined forces were trounced by the seven thousand men in Ahab’s army. You would think Ben-Hadad had learned his lesson, but no. The following spring he returned with an army the same size as the previous one. His servants had convinced him that the only reason the Israelites had won before was that their God was the God of the mountains.

They were convinced that He would not be able to defeat them if they fought the Israelites on the plains. The God of Israel proceeded to prove that He was the God not only of the mountains but also of the valleys. My friend, this story reminds us that God is Sovereign over every problem or situation in our lives. He is not surprised by the things that happen to us. Neither is He threatened or defeated by them. But when we do not bring our problems to God, we rob Him of the opportunity to prove His dominance over all things.

Let us remember that the God we serve is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present. Let us lay our burdens at His feet, trusting that He will take care of them.

Father, thank You for the reminder that You are the God of the hills and the valleys. Today I want to lay at Your feet all that troubles me, trusting that You are able to give me the victory. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

Aminata Coote