As Christians, we have one true enemy—the devil. But too often, we misdirect our battles toward people instead of recognising the spiritual forces at work. The Bible reminds us, in 2 Cor 10:3-4: that, “For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” To stand firm in this spiritual battle, we must first know our enemy. Lessons from the scripture, like the story of Ben-Hadad and King Ahab, reveal not only the enemy’s tactics but also God’s ultimate victory.
Ben-Hadad, the King of Aram, formed a coalition of 32 kings to attack Samaria during King Ahab’s reign. He demanded that Ahab surrender his wealth, wives, and children (1 Kings 20:3). Similarly, the devil does not attack from one direction alone. He comes with mass attacks—like a flood (Isaiah 59:19), a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8), and locusts (Joel 2:25)—seeking to overwhelm us.
But praise God, “The battle is not ours but the Lord’s” (2 Chro 20:15). Through Jesus Christ, the war is already won. Still, we are called to prepare and fight strategically. Jesus said, “Who would go to war without first sitting down to calculate if he has the resources to win?” Luke 14:31. Spiritual victory requires preparation, prayer, and steadfastness.
Initially, Ahab agreed to Ben-Hadad’s demands but resisted when further demands were made (1 Kings 20:5-9). This decision reminds us that any compromise with the devil is fatal. The Bible warns, “Do not give the devil a foothold” Eph 4:27. If you give him an inch, he will take a mile.
Despite being outnumbered, Israel—under Ahab’s leadership—defeated Ben-Hadad’s forces twice because God promised victory to demonstrate His power (1 Kings 20:13, 28). However, Ahab made a critical mistake: when Ben-Hadad pleaded for mercy, Ahab spared his life and made a treaty with him, directly disobeying God’s command (1 Kings 20:42). This act of compromise had devastating consequences.
The devil, like Ben-Hadad, always returns to test our defences. Jesus warned that when an unclean spirit is cast out, it returns to see if the house is empty, bringing seven more wicked spirits to strengthen itself if it finds room (Luke 11:24-26). We cannot afford to leave any area of our lives unguarded or compromised.
Ahab’s failure to deal decisively with Ben-Hadad left a dangerous legacy. During the reign of King Jehoram, Ahab’s son, Ben-Hadad returned and laid siege to Samaria. This siege led to a devastating famine, causing the people of Israel to suffer deeply (2 Kings 6:24-29). Disobedience to God’s commands can lead to consequences that affect not only us but also future generations.
In our spiritual battles, complacency is not an option. The lessons from Ahab’s encounter with Ben-Hadad teach us that compromise with the devil invites destruction, but obedience to God secures victory. The good news is that our victory is already guaranteed in Jesus Christ! The devil may come like a flood, but our God raises a standard against him (Isa 59:19).
Stand firm in the Word, resist the enemy, and never give him room to operate in your life. Most importantly, trust in the power of your God, who has already triumphed. “The battle belongs to the Lord,” and He will always lead us to victory!
Author
kay.alli@legalview.co.uk