Chapter on War - Mercy and Power

YHWH
Desire was for people to know YHWH is God
Who does he reveal himself to be in this chapter?

Ahab
Unfaithful king
Elijah, Jezebel

In a world of hurt
Syria and Ben-hadad has risen up against him

Expect God to take him out
Get Ahab - but God shows him mercy

Ahab’s ready to give up
Terrible terms of peace
Ahab - sure!
Reconsiders, then asks for help

Advisors - hold on now…
Prophet
That you may know, the YHWH is God

Victory when there was none
Prophet - get ready, he’s coming back

Syria
God of hills, but not the plains…we’ll get them next year

Ahab
Out numbered…two little herds of goats

Again, the prophet
God of the hills and the plains
That you may know

Victory when there was none
Even greater than before

How does Ahab respond?
Unfaithfully - God, the ultimate king, wanted Ben-hadad removed
Instead of finishing the job, Ahab manipulates Ben-hadad for his own control and selfishness

Knowing God
Knowing God means understanding His justice and mercy

Ahab encountered God’s justice and mercy
Mercy he takes as a favor
Justice he bends towards himself

Humans
    One or the other
    Us vs. them
    Mercy for us; justice for them

Jesus
Woman at the Well
Gender, nationality
Woman caught in adultery
Pharisees want justice, but their own brand
Jesus offers both
Byron Stevenson - StoneCatcher

In Christ, justice and mercy embrace, suffering is the road to glory, the cross points to a crown, and the timber of the cross becomes the tree of life. —Herman Bavinck

Mission
Proclaim the Kingdom in every aspect of our lives
Being on mission changes how we understand us and them
Love as I have been so loved - bear witness to God’s justice and mercy
Christians - encourage them
Non-Christians - bear witness
Creation itself is yearning for this - how can I care for creation as the Creator intended?
Friend, Neighbor, Enemy
Every kind of person
Love as I have been so loved

In Christ, how can I bear witness to God’s justice and mercy?
Ahab had power
You have power
How are you going to wield it?
Will you join in God’s justice - seeking to set the world right again?
Will you join in God’s mercy - seeking its salvation and responding to the world with hope?