It’s overshadowed by Mt. Carmel. While the events I read of this morning were intended so that “you shall know that I am the Lord”, it’s not something that comes to mind as does the showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal (1Kings 18). Elijah’s 1-on-450 encounter was big . . . and flashy . . . and designed for a large audience who needed to stop “limping between two opinions” and needed to get off the fence, “If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him.” (18:20 ESV) When Elijah stood on that mount and called down fire from heaven upon his water drenched sacrifice he pleaded, “Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God and that you have turned their hearts back.” (18:37) But God was not done in trying to turn hearts back.

I’m reading 1Kings 20 this morning and Ben-hadad, the king of Syria, has amassed a great army against Ahab, king of Israel . . . yeah, Ahab, the Baal worshiping, prophet persecuting king of Israel. And God sends a prophet to Ahab as the king stares down a massive enemy army and says to him, “Thus says the LORD, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will give it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the LORD.” (20:13).

“You shall know that I am the LORD” . . . You! . . . you demon-led, degenerate Ahab . . . I want you to know that I am the LORD . . . I want to turn your heart back to me . . . I haven’t given up on . . . I will move the heart of a Syrian king and the feet of a Syrian army in order to provide you the opportunity to know anew that I am the LORD.

And it’s not like God does it just once. After Israel sends the Syrian forces running for their lives, the Syrians regroup, rethink their strategy, and return for round two . . . this time in the valley, not the mountain, for Israel’s “gods are gods of the hills, and so they were stronger than we. But let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.” (20:23-25).

And as the people of Israel muster before the formidable Syrian army again it says that they were “like two little flocks of goats, but the Syrians filled the country” (20:27). Out numbered . . . again! . . . like a few feeble goats. And again a man of God draws near to King Ahab and says, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The LORD is a god of the hills but he is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.'” (20:28)

There it is again . . . “and you shall know that I am the LORD” . . . 127,000 Syrian soldiers would perish in that battle in order that one, hard-hearted king of God’s people might return to the living God and abandon idols of wood and stone. And while I get that God had other reasons for judging the Syrians, I am amazed at the lengths that He goes to in an attempt to get Ahab to wake up, repent, and return . . . at the lengths to which His grace compels Him in order to redeem not just a nation, but one wayward king. Sadly, Ahab never did return but lived out his life in rebellion to the One who wanted His heart so badly.

And as I noodle on it . . . while I might be amazed at the lengths God went to reveal Himself to Ahab, I shouldn’t be surprised. How far did God go in order to redeem me? . . . He sent His Son to die on my behalf. How persistent was God in seeking me and drawing my heart to Him? . . . pretty! What circumstances, that seemed to be about others, were orchestrated that I might know that He is the LORD? . . . I’m guessing a few.

How good is my God! How great His power! How amazing His grace!

Thank you Father for revealing Yourself to me . . . for showing me that You are the LORD . . . that my heart might be turned to You . . . that Your grace should be poured out on me. For Your glory alone, Lord!