1 Kings 20:1-6: a reflection

1Ben Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together; and there were thirty-two kings with him, with horses and chariots. He went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it. 2He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Ben Hadad says, 3‘Your silver and your gold are mine. Your wives also and your children, even the best, are mine.’” 4The king of Israel answered, “It is according to your saying, my lord, O king. I am yours, and all that I have.” 5The messengers came again and said, “Ben Hadad says, ‘I sent indeed to you, saying, “You shall deliver me your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children; 6but I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they will search your house and the houses of your servants. Whatever is pleasant in your eyes, they will put it in their hand, and take it away.”’”

When Ben-Hadad, king of Syria, besieges Samaria, he sends Ahab a demand: Your silver and your gold are mine, your wives and children are mine. And when Ahab weakly concedes, agreeing to the demand, Ben-Hadad only escalates: now he will send servants to search Ahab's house and take whatever they please. The concession did not satisfy the aggressor; it only emboldened him to demand more. Yielding to the unjust demand invited a greater one; appeasement fed the aggressor's appetite rather than satisfying it.

Notice what happened when Ahab conceded: the demands only escalated. Ben-Hadad's first demand was outrageous enough; but when Ahab weakly agreed, rather than being satisfied, the aggressor pressed further, demanding even more. The concession did not appease him; it emboldened him. Yielding to the unjust demand, far from ending it, invited a greater one; the aggressor's appetite grew with the feeding. Appeasement of an unjust, greedy demand does not satisfy it, but emboldens it to demand more.

That is worth taking to heart, for yielding to unjust or wrongful demands can embolden greater ones. When we are pressured by unjust or wrongful demands, we can be tempted to concede, to yield, hoping to satisfy and end the pressure; but conceding to an unjust demand can, like Ahab's concession, only embolden greater ones, feeding rather than satisfying the appetite. There are demands that ought not to be yielded to, for yielding only invites more. Do not assume that conceding to an unjust demand will satisfy and end it; it may only embolden greater demands, as Ahab's concession only led Ben-Hadad to demand more. Be wise about what you yield to, recognizing that appeasing an unjust, greedy demand can embolden it to demand more, rather than satisfying it, as Ben-Hadad's demands escalated when Ahab conceded; for some demands, yielded to, only grow, and yielding to the unjust can invite a greater injustice.

Lord, when Ben-Hadad, king of Syria, besieges Samaria, he sends Ahab a demand: your silver and your gold are mine, your wives and children are mine. And when Ahab weakly concedes, Ben-Hadad only escalates: now he will send servants to search Ahab's house and take whatever they please. The concession did not satisfy the aggressor; it only emboldened him to demand more. Show me what happened when Ahab conceded: the demands only escalated. Ben-Hadad's first demand was outrageous enough; but when Ahab weakly agreed, rather than being satisfied, the aggressor pressed further. The concession did not appease him; it emboldened him. Yielding to the unjust demand, far from ending it, invited a greater one. Appeasement of an unjust, greedy demand does not satisfy it, but emboldens it. Take that to my heart, for yielding to unjust or wrongful demands can embolden greater ones. When I am pressured by unjust or wrongful demands, I can be tempted to concede, hoping to satisfy and end the pressure; but conceding to an unjust demand can, like Ahab's concession, only embolden greater ones. There are demands that ought not to be yielded to. Keep me from assuming that conceding to an unjust demand will satisfy and end it; it may only embolden greater demands, Lord. Help me be wise about what I yield to, recognizing that appeasing an unjust, greedy demand can embolden it to demand more, rather than satisfying it.