With the Lord’s help, Ahab had won a decisive victory over the army of Ben-Hadad king of Aram (20:1-21). The next spring, Ben-Hadad attacked again, and the Lord promised to help Ahab again, to show that he is not just a “God of the hills”, but Lord of the whole earth. Ben-Hadad’s army was defeated, and Ben-Hadad himself was trapped and about to be captured. When he begged for his life, Ahab welcomed Ben-Hadad as a brother and they made a treaty for mutual benefit. Then the Lord sent a prophet to rebuke Ahab for sparing Ben-Hadad, prophesying that Ahab had forfeited his own life for this sin (42).

Why was it wrong for Ahab to show mercy to Ben-Hadad? It’s not genuine mercy when it’s for selfish gain. Ben-Hadad had not repented of trying to destroy the Lord’s people. Ahab was not a good shepherd and defender of Israel, because he cared about his own prestige and wealth more than those God put under his care. Let’s pray that we may be conscious of what God has put under our care and guard it with the mind of a shepherd.
Application: Father, please make me a shepherd who will stand up to protect the sheep you put under my care.
One Word: A good shepherd doesn’t make a deal with wolves.