The Generation Gap-WHY? - Herbert W. Armstrong

November, 1968 J'be PL AI N TR UTH 37
"The God of Israel is the most powerful of
all gods," Ahab said in all sincerity, even though
Ahab practiced idolat ry, mostly because of his wife .
" I want to be fair to Israel," Ben-hadad nervously
continued. "My fath er took some cities from
Israel when your father was king. I will restore
them to you. To show you what respect I have for
Israel, I will reserve certain streets and dwell ings
in Damascus, my capital city, for the use of the
people of your nation who travel up our way."
If Ahab had been led by God's influence, in the
manner in which God's servants are guided, he
wouldn't have been so friend ly with this man who
hated him. Ben-hadad and his advisors should have
been seized for their murders and given the extreme
punishment. Instead, Ahab treated one of
Israel's worst enemies like a guest, suggesting to
him that they should agree not to war against each
other any more. Of course the grinning Syrian
agreed, whereu pon Ahab said goodbye to him and
let him go on his way to freedom - and to prepare
for war with Israel three years later. ( I Kings
20 :34.)
\Vhen Invad ers Are Not Punished . . .
While Ahab was on his way back to Samaria,
a prophet stopped the king. He informed the king
that the leader of Israel
had made a fata I error in
giving Ben-hadad his freedom.
" Because you didn't
take the life of that heathen
king that God has
already condemned, your
life will be required for
his," was the prophe t's
dismal prediction.
The rest of the trip
to his palace was a miserable
one for Ahab. He
knew the man who had
spoken to him was tru ly
a prop het of God, and he
had no reason to doubt
him. (I Kings 20:35-43.)
It wasn't unt il he talked to his wife, Jezebel,
that Ahab received some measure of comfort, for
Jezebel only laughed, as usual, at what God's prophet
had to say.
After a season of war, it was a relief to Ahab
to get back to the comforts of his pa lace. While
walking about in his garden, he decided that it should
be extended so that there would be room to grow
more than shrubs, fl owers and fruit. He wanted room
in which to grow berries, herbs and vegetables for
royal consumption.
Just beyond the garden wall was a fine vineyard
owned by a man named Naboth. He enjoyed
a good income from the sale of his choice grapes,
wine and raisins. He was thankful that he had inherited
such a valuable piece of property from his
ancestors who had taken good care of it. His happy
and peaceful life was disrupted the day he was
summoned to appea r before Ahab.
" I need your vineyard ," Ahab told him. "I
want to expand my gardens to include other kinds
of produ ce. Your land is next to mine. No other
grou nd is available adjoining my gardens. I' ll pay
you what your vineyard is worth. If you don't consider
that fair, I'll buy a bigger and better vineyard
and give it to you for yours." Ahab was guilty of
Naboth's hap py life as a grape grower was cut short when he learn ed that the king
insisted on buying his vineya rd property.