Day 225: King Ahab's Battle and God's Victory Over King Ben-Hadad - Immerse Bible Reading Experience

In today's episode of the Immerse Daily Bible Reading Experience, we read about the confrontation between King Ahab of Israel and King Ben-Hadad of Aram. Ben-Hadad, supported by 32 allied kings, besieges Samaria. Despite demanding Ahab's silver, gold, wives, and children, Ahab initially complies but refuses further demands. As a result, war ensues. A prophet informs Ahab that God will deliver victory to Israel. The Israelites, although outnumbered, defeat the Aramean forces both in the hills and on the plains, showcasing God's power. Despite their victory, Ahab's decision to spare Ben-Hadad, against the Lord’s command, leads to prophetic judgment. The episode concludes with a prophet's disguised rebuke and a warning of consequence for Ahab's disobedience.

00:00 Introduction to Today's Reading
00:04 King Ben Hayad's Demands
01:07 Ahab's Response and Preparation
02:20 Prophetic Assurance and Battle Strategy
03:02 First Battle Against Ben Hayad
04:11 Ben Hayad's Second Attempt
05:03 The Final Confrontation
06:56 Ahab's Treaty and the Prophet's Message
08:29 Conclusion and Reflection

Buy Immerse: Kingdoms Now!

Volume 3 — Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel–Kings

Kingdoms

Immerse: Kingdoms is the third of six volumes in Immerse: The Bible Reading Experience. Kingdoms presents a new and unique journey through the story of Israel from the time of its conquest of Canaan (Joshua) through its struggle to settle the land (Judges, Ruth) and the establishment of Israel’s kingdom, which ends in a forced exile (Samuel–Kings). The nation of Israel, commissioned to be God’s light to the nations, falls to division and then foreign conquest for rejecting God’s rule.

4 Questions to get your conversations started:
1. What stood out to you this week?
2. Was there anything confusing or troubling?
3. Did anything make you think differently about God?
4. How might this change the way we live?

QUICK START GUIDE
3 ways to get the most out of your experience

1. Use Immerse: Beginnings instead of your regular chapter and verse Bible. This special reader’s edition restores the Bible to its natural simplicity and beauty by removing chapter and verse numbers and other historical additions. Letters look like letters, songs look like songs, and the original literary structures are visible in each book.
2. Commit to making this a community experience. Immerse is designed for groups to encounter large portions of the Bible together
   for 8 weeks–more like a book club, less like a Bible study. By meeting every week in small groups and discussing what you read in open,
   honest conversations, you and your community can come together to be transformed through an authentic experience with the Scriptures.
3. Aim to understand the big story. Read through “The Stories and the Story” (p. 483) to see how the books of the Bible work together to tell God’s story of his creation’s restoration. As you read through Immerse: Beginnings, rather than ask, “How do I fit God into my busy life?” begin asking, “How can I join in God’s great plan by living out my part in his story?”