1 Kings 20-21 / June 27 (Day 179)

In 1 Kings 20:23 The servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hills. Therefore they were stronger than we; but if we fight against them in the plain, surely we will be stronger than they.” This sounds ridiculous to us (and it is), but it gives us insight into the ways of thought of people during the time. This wrong thinking was also partially responsible for Israel walking away from the LORD to other gods. After Yahweh brought them into the land, they started to look to the “gods” of this new land.  

A prophet told King Ahab in 1 Kings 20:28, "Thus says the LORD: 'Because the Syrians have said, "The LORD is God of the hills, but He is not God of the valleys," therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.” God wanted to make Himself known to the Syrians and to Israel; He wanted to show who was the Great God, the One above all others.  Israel wasn’t delivered because of their righteousness, but because of God concern to be glorified.