1 & 2 Kings: The King of Redemption History
Pastor Jim Thomas
1 Kings 20
In His surprising and relentless grace we see that God is often:
- More merciful than we think He should be
- More powerful than we believe He could be
- More just than we sometimes want Him to be
- More wise than we ever imagined He could be
Do not mistake the patience of God with you for the approval of God for you. We must be careful not to flout the kindness and mercy of God’s patience toward us.
5 pathways to a bigger EGO (Edging God Out):
- Think, talk and act without reference to God
- Avoid hearing from God by reading your Bible
- Avoid humbly seeking and communing with God in prayer
- Avoid any engagement with a community of faith
- Anytime God has been gracious to you, don’t stop to give thanks, simply move on, growing deeper into entitlement.
Discussion Questions
- How do we respond to the word of the Lord, while trying to understand the complex historical narratives in it?
- Sometimes, even a bad example can make a good learning experience. What do we learn from Ahab about how not to be? Is there a little bit of Ahab in you and in me?
- One of the ways that Ahab failed was by being thankless and indifferent to God’s blessings. In our fast-paced, consumer culture, are we, like Ahab, happy to receive God’s gifts without pausing to thank him? In our haste to move on to the next thing, are we forgetting all that God has done for us? What are some ways that we can cultivate a heart of thankfulness in the coming week?
“1 Kings 20 then teaches me that I must get clear about God: about his grace (vv. 1- 22) – it surprises me, for I don’t understand it, held out as it is even to the likes of Ahab; about his power (vv 23–30) – it rebukes me, because, Syrian-like, I try to limit it; about his judgment (vv 31-43) – it should sober me, even though, like Ahab and my own culture, I try to dismiss it.”
Dale Ralph Davis
“God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you may be aware of three of them.”
John Piper
“God relentlessly offers his grace to people who do not deserve it nor seek it, nor even appreciate it after they have been saved by it.”
Tim Keller
“The next time God surprises you, don’t doubt his goodness, faithfulness, and love. No, lift your hands to the heavens and celebrate. You are being rescued. You are being loved. You are being delivered. You are being transformed. And be thankful that since nothing can separate you from his love, there are more gracious surprises to come!”
Paul Tripp