August 23, 2010
Elijah told Ahab that the LORD says it won't rain until he says so. So what does Ahab do? Does he say, "Oh no...I better quit worshiping Baal and start serving God?" No, he instead wants to kill the messenger.
Three years passed. No rain.
Is Ahab ready now to repent? Is he trying to find Elijah to see what he needs to do so it will rain again? No. He instead has spent three years searching for Elijah so he can kill him. Now three years has passed, and Ahab is still trying to avoid the truth and personal responsibility. Instead of repenting, he sent people to search throughout the whole land to try and find a spring or valley that had water in it. He was desperately trying everything, in his own power, to keep from losing his possessions.
God tells Elijah to go to Ahab and tell him that it will soon rain. So Elijah obeys and goes. He runs into Obadiah who Ahab has sent out looking for springs. Elijah tells Obadiah to go get Ahab, but Obadiah is reluctant. What if Elijah isn't there when he returns? Ahab will be mad and kill him. Elijah assures Obadiah he will be there when he returns. Is Ahab thrilled to see Elijah because now he can seek forgiveness and Elijah can pray for rain so his possessions and land can be restored? No. Instead he accuses Elijah of being, "the biggest troublemaker in the land." (Evil blaming the innocent.) Elijah replies, "I haven't made trouble, the choices you and your family made to not follow the LORD's teaching is what has made all the trouble." Then Elijah asks the Israelites, "How long?" How long will you not decide between two choices? If the LORD is God, FOLLOW HIM! If Baal is the true God, then follow him.
And the people said nothing.
God is either God of all, or He isn't God at all. You can't have it both ways. You can't be on the fence. Either God is God, or He isn't. Admit it! Say it! By following both a small "g" god and capital "G" God, you are effectively saying the LORD is not God. So say it! Admit it! If you can't say He isn't God, then somewhere in your heart you know the truth and you are afraid to totally abandon God. If you are afraid to totally abandon God then it should cause you to want to surrender all to God.
The people said nothing. They refused to give up Baal, their god of power, lust, fertility, and their god of wealth. They believed Baal to be the god who supplied rain for their crops. What irony! As Dr. Phil would say, "How's that working for you?" For three years you've had no rain? But still you reject God and follow your own god that is supposed to be the god who supplies rain? How does that make any sense? Where is the logic in that?
Elijah has them build an altar and he builds one. He tells them to pray to their 'god' and he would pray to the LORD. Whichever 'god' sent fire down to burn the offering would be proof that he was the god. The Israelites pray to their "god." They pray and pray. Nothing. Elijah pokes fun at them and tells them to pray harder, maybe their god is busy, or thinking, or traveling, or maybe even sleeping. They prayed harder and harder. Nothing. I Kings 18:29 - "Baal didn't answer, and no one paid attention." They have a 'god' of rain, yet it hasn't rained for three years. They've prayed and prayed to Baal for him to prove that he is god, and nothing—and no one paid attention.
They still didn't get it. They didn't get that they were following a false god.
Elijah builds his altar. He uses twelve stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel, the very people who turned their backs on the true God. To make sure no one else can get the glory for what God is about to do; Elijah has them pour water on the meat and wood. He had them do it three times, until the water ran off the altar and filled the ditch. Then he prayed a prayer. We have memorized this prayer and have prayed it many, many times during "the storm."
Fire from the LORD came down from heaven and burned the offering, the wood, the stones, the water, and ground. There could be no mistaking. The LORD, He IS the God. When the people saw His power they fell to the ground crying, "The LORD is God, The LORD is God."
Elijah had them capture the false prophets and they were all destroyed. Elijah told Ahab to prepare because rain was going to come. Elijah climbed to the top of Mt. Carmel where he bows down with his head between his knees praying to the LORD. He has his servant go and look toward the sea to see if any rain is coming. Seven times! Seven times Elijah bowed down to the ground in fervent prayer. Six times ... nothing happened. Elijah sent his servant to check the skies six times with no result. Thank goodness Elijah didn't give up after 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th times. He believed in his LORD, and he believed in God's promise and he kept praying. On the 7th time a small cloud appeared, and the rain soon began.
Elijah told Ahab that the LORD says it won't rain until he says so. So what does Ahab do? Does he say, "Oh no...I better quit worshiping Baal and start serving God?" No, he instead wants to kill the messenger.
Three years passed. No rain.
Is Ahab ready now to repent? Is he trying to find Elijah to see what he needs to do so it will rain again? No. He instead has spent three years searching for Elijah so he can kill him. Now three years has passed, and Ahab is still trying to avoid the truth and personal responsibility. Instead of repenting, he sent people to search throughout the whole land to try and find a spring or valley that had water in it. He was desperately trying everything, in his own power, to keep from losing his possessions.
God tells Elijah to go to Ahab and tell him that it will soon rain. So Elijah obeys and goes. He runs into Obadiah who Ahab has sent out looking for springs. Elijah tells Obadiah to go get Ahab, but Obadiah is reluctant. What if Elijah isn't there when he returns? Ahab will be mad and kill him. Elijah assures Obadiah he will be there when he returns. Is Ahab thrilled to see Elijah because now he can seek forgiveness and Elijah can pray for rain so his possessions and land can be restored? No. Instead he accuses Elijah of being, "the biggest troublemaker in the land." (Evil blaming the innocent.) Elijah replies, "I haven't made trouble, the choices you and your family made to not follow the LORD's teaching is what has made all the trouble." Then Elijah asks the Israelites, "How long?" How long will you not decide between two choices? If the LORD is God, FOLLOW HIM! If Baal is the true God, then follow him.
And the people said nothing.
God is either God of all, or He isn't God at all. You can't have it both ways. You can't be on the fence. Either God is God, or He isn't. Admit it! Say it! By following both a small "g" god and capital "G" God, you are effectively saying the LORD is not God. So say it! Admit it! If you can't say He isn't God, then somewhere in your heart you know the truth and you are afraid to totally abandon God. If you are afraid to totally abandon God then it should cause you to want to surrender all to God.
The people said nothing. They refused to give up Baal, their god of power, lust, fertility, and their god of wealth. They believed Baal to be the god who supplied rain for their crops. What irony! As Dr. Phil would say, "How's that working for you?" For three years you've had no rain? But still you reject God and follow your own god that is supposed to be the god who supplies rain? How does that make any sense? Where is the logic in that?
Elijah has them build an altar and he builds one. He tells them to pray to their 'god' and he would pray to the LORD. Whichever 'god' sent fire down to burn the offering would be proof that he was the god. The Israelites pray to their "god." They pray and pray. Nothing. Elijah pokes fun at them and tells them to pray harder, maybe their god is busy, or thinking, or traveling, or maybe even sleeping. They prayed harder and harder. Nothing. I Kings 18:29 - "Baal didn't answer, and no one paid attention." They have a 'god' of rain, yet it hasn't rained for three years. They've prayed and prayed to Baal for him to prove that he is god, and nothing—and no one paid attention.
They still didn't get it. They didn't get that they were following a false god.
Elijah builds his altar. He uses twelve stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel, the very people who turned their backs on the true God. To make sure no one else can get the glory for what God is about to do; Elijah has them pour water on the meat and wood. He had them do it three times, until the water ran off the altar and filled the ditch. Then he prayed a prayer. We have memorized this prayer and have prayed it many, many times during "the storm."
"Lord, you are the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Prove that you are the God of Israel and that we are your servants. Show these people that we have done everything that you have commanded us to do. Hear and answer our prayer, so that they will know that you LORD are the God and that you would change their minds."Psalm 17:14 - "...save me by your power."
Fire from the LORD came down from heaven and burned the offering, the wood, the stones, the water, and ground. There could be no mistaking. The LORD, He IS the God. When the people saw His power they fell to the ground crying, "The LORD is God, The LORD is God."
Elijah had them capture the false prophets and they were all destroyed. Elijah told Ahab to prepare because rain was going to come. Elijah climbed to the top of Mt. Carmel where he bows down with his head between his knees praying to the LORD. He has his servant go and look toward the sea to see if any rain is coming. Seven times! Seven times Elijah bowed down to the ground in fervent prayer. Six times ... nothing happened. Elijah sent his servant to check the skies six times with no result. Thank goodness Elijah didn't give up after 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th times. He believed in his LORD, and he believed in God's promise and he kept praying. On the 7th time a small cloud appeared, and the rain soon began.
Don't give up! Don't ever give up! The fulfillment of God's promise may be coming on the horizon!!
Next Entry: I Kings 19:1 – 20:43
Next Entry: I Kings 19:1 – 20:43
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