1 Kings 20:30-43
It is sad not to find on Ahab’s part any sense of gratitude for the double victory the LORD has granted him. Unfortunately most people are like this! God’s grace leaves them indifferent. In scorning it, they insult God and make their own sorrow. Christ has defeated for us an enemy infinitely more powerful and more cruel than Ben-hadad with his armies. Have we all thanked Him for this glorious deliverance?
Not only do we see Ahab failing to turn to the LORD, but he shows a culpable leniency in sparing the enemy of God and of His people. Worse than that, he calls him his brother! God intervenes and sends him another prophet, but this time the voice of grace gives place to the voice of judgment.
It sometimes happens that we forget, as Ahab did, that the world is at enmity with God and with His people. But mankind is divided into only two families: God’s and the devil’s (John 8:41-44). They cannot be mixed. If we are so blessed as to belong to the great family which has God as its Father, all God’s children, but only they, are our brothers and sisters.