“Then the servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hills. Therefore they were stronger than we; but if we fight against them in the plain, surely we will be stronger than they. So do this thing: Dismiss the kings, each from his position, and put captains in their places; and you shall muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse and chariot for chariot. Then we will fight against them in the plain; surely we will be stronger than they.” And he listened to their voice and did so.” 1 Kings 20:23-25

When the Syrians fought against Israel in the hills, the Syrians were soundly defeated. They had the mindset, as did many idolatrous nations, that the God of Israel was a local God. He was the “hill God” and if they could draw them into the valley, Israel would lose the support of their God and be defeated. However, when the Syrians fought in the valley, they lost there too. The God of Israel was not a local deity. He is the same God we, as Christians, serve today. 

With the spring and summer season and vacations before us, let us remember when we leave town that we are not leaving God behind. Wherever we go for vacation, let us remember on the first day of the week we are to be in worship to God. This can be done with just a few in a hotel room or with a local congregation where we vacation. Paul stayed in Troas for seven days to worship with the saints on Sunday (Acts 20:6). With two opportunities to worship God on a Sunday, there is no excuse why we can’t gather with the saints. The God of our town is the God of every town!

Heed the words of David in Psalm 139:7-10, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.”

By: Justin Odom