Elijah and Ahab hurled “troubler of Israel” insults at each other in their pre-Mt. Carmel confrontation. Ahab referring to the famine that Elijah’s 3 ½ year drought caused; Elijah to Ahab’s apostasy from Jehovah to serve Jezebel’s obscene Baals. (To see Ahab’s continuing depravity, he also called Elisha his enemy II Kings 6:31.) As the last Part of this blog illustrated, those who live by God’s word benefit community and country. Those who forsake God to worship other deities, including themselves, burden, harm and eventually destroy community and country.
To this day, our view of God determines whether we’re benefactors or troublers of America. The troublers always begin with the suffering humanity of God. The benefactors begin with the suffering God of humanity. Unbelievers blame God, not their sins, for all our adversity. Why does he allow innocent people to endure poverty, illiteracy and disease? And are we not all innocent? Are we not all like C.S. Lewis’ farmer, who wondered what he had ever done to make God angry? After all, he’d tried never to impose on him. He called for his help only in emergencies. The benefactors of society—spiritually-enlightened believers—indict the entire human race as godless infidels for shielding themselves from believing in and serving God despite his innumerable gifts: the very air we breathe, the very ground we walk on, the very space into which we look without seeing the glories of his colossal Presence! And we hypocritically consider ourselves innocent when every wrong afflicting humanity has come from humanity’s rejection of God! Unbelievers always see the result of humanity’s troubles, never the source. And they refuse to be educated. Instead they find God a convenient whipping boy. That keeps the attention diverted from us to him. Which surfaces the fact of sin. For some reason even Bible-believing people see sin as a mystery we can’t resolve. Amazing inconsistency! Indeed, sin is a PROBLEM, but it is NO MYSTERY! For we know how, when and why it entered human experience. We had two innocent humans as the very beginning of our creation. Yet, even they exalted their OPINION above God’s TRUTH. At the instigation of the serpent-satan, it’s true. For when God told Adam he would surely die if he ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, satan’s lying, conniving, wickedness turned the threat into a misunderstanding. Instead of Adam hearing God’s, “You will surely die”, Eve listened to satan’s, “You will not surely die.” A colossal difference. The first, God’s word a threat not to be denied; the second satan’s insinuation that Adam and Eve must have misunderstood the Creator. Our parents, leading all unbelievers into sin, wanted their own opinion and choice, making themselves the deity in charge of life, without being sinful. To this day, the unsaved refuse to see satan’s presence in human lives as the REASON humanity suffers—and has since God DROVE Adam and Eve—they didn’t go willingly—from the Garden. Like us, they wanted to make their own rules and exemption from the consequences. Concluding this part, understand that obedience to God begins when we have a difference with God: whether with what he says, or does, or wants; whether in judging our own life, or someone’s we love as much. We can say that obedience to God comes whenever we obey him. Not true. If we obey when we agree with his demand, it’s merely accommodation. We begin obedient discipleship when we differ, disagree, wish he hadn’t said it, wish he said, etc., etc., but still OBEY because he said it and has the right to make all the rules, and exercises that right, and never surrenders it to any of us. With that in mind, dear Benefactors, always teach that God’s Rules rule, not our opinions. Not even if ignorantly stated, definitely not when we arrogate our opinions against his truth. For God cannot be mocked. Not…should not be mocked. That is, to turn your nose up at God Galatians 6:7. Or…will not be mocked. But CANNOT BE…as in NEVER…IMPOSSIBLE…WON’T EVER HAPPEN…DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT! We will quicker fly by flapping our arms than mock God. Or dive safely into the Marianas Trench wearing only scuba gear than mock God. Or thrust our index finger through the concrete at Hoover Dam than mock God. End Part XII
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Who’s the troubler, and who’s the benefactor, of America?
First, since God ordains marriage as necessary, whoever marries for the long-term benefits America, though quite unaware of the benefaction. Whoever supports or accepts any other living arrangement AS marriage, troubles America, though ignorant of the adverse impact. Indeed, those refusing to marry because it’s only “a piece of paper” reveal their removal from God’s will, however much culture applauds their freedom from tradition. For who are they to pit their opinion exactly opposite God’s TRUTH? And, BTW, that “piece of paper,” so irrelevant to them when life and love rule, becomes essential when love dies or death supervenes between partners, married or not. Then…legally… that “piece of paper” determines conjugal obligations and inheritance rights. While merely living together determines NOTHING. Our extended family recently discovered that when death came suddenly for a “living-together”, “going-to-get-married” couple. Second, since God recognizes but two sexes, and they carefully distinguished Male and Female, those who defend the Bibilical mandate benefit America. So when the new political administration insists on recognizing transgender sexuality as equal to heterosexuality, they and all who support them trouble America. Third, since the Triune Godhead;…Father…Son…and Holy Spirit, agree that no one can enter heaven unforgiven, Hebrews 9:6-7. Since Jesus Christ, God the Son, offered the ONLY sacrifice for sin that God accepts, Hebrews 9:23-28. Since Jesus alone, of all historical religious leaders, came with the name Savior to become Savior at Calvary, Mark 10:45, Luke 23:34. Since God ordained that Jesus alone will be the Person before whom “every tongue” will “confess that Jesus Christ is Lord….”, Philippians 2:11. Since Jesus flatly warned all humanity that he alone determines who enters or is barred from God’s presence, John 14:6. And a plethora of other scripture, each in perfect agreement, and NONE dissenting. Those, then, affirming Jesus Christ as God’s Only Begotten Son, as Savior of all who accept him, as Lord of all who serve him, and never divert to any other position, BENEFIT America. And those who in fractured diversity claim other lords and saviors and teachers as Christ’s equals or superiors, TROUBLE America. There exists an unbridgeable chasm between Christians befriending world religionists AND accepting their religion as equal to or superior to Christ’s FAITH! God expects the former of Christians. But while he wants Americans to celebrate our land for its Freedom of religion, he won’t have his people accepting the PARITY of religions! Never. End Part XI Too many Christians want Christ…AND…in addition…. (you fill in the blank.) Before long the additions become Christ’s competitors. Not long after, they become his superiors. In no time Christ has no relevance by those additions being all-important.
That may explain why some people commit to church activities, faithfully serve for a time, then, without explanation or visible reason, reduce participation or STOP. As thorny/soil believers, they find fulfillment in juggling a number of projects, interests or commitments, but each only as it satisfies an existential need and they feel it worth the effort. Since their interests change, they make periodic adjustments. Multiple involvement remains, but always at the mercy of time constraints. They discard what has lost its appeal or they feel no longer merits their time. At that point, the question of investment-to-reward ratio determines the discard. And…without a firm commitment to Jesus, he’s the first to go. For no leader demands more of us—since he demands the first of us in every thought, decision and behavior; and is therefore eliminated by those who simply have too many interests to concentrate all their energies on ONE issue, person or cause. A corollary issue relates to this point. All Christians, including leaders, can mistake busyness with spirituality. Which is why the church can be more divisive than unifying in members’ lives. It’s a challenge leaders must resolve when Covid-19 runs its course. We won’t need less Christian work done. We will need to involve more people, each with fewer roles, instead of fewer people with more roles. The need of lay workers, always the genius of New Testament life, will be enhanced by the uncertainties Covid and other issues pose. But the service will need to provide opportunities without being another of many civic organizations that keep family life scattered. Since many of us find quietness before God unappealing, even boring, we neglect him for what keeps excitement surging through our minds and hearts. Our friend Elijah suffered from that sin. When duty called, he formidably served. But after the fierce contest at Carmel, and he recounted it in the quiet following, adrenalin failed. He needed to wait before God. When he failed to do so, he fell to the threat against life that he would have disregarded prior to Mt. Carmel. (This is a supposition but based on understanding the response to Jezebel and the collapse of adrenaline rush in activity once quiet has returned.) Like him, our discipleship-life can get so noisy with activities, projects, deadlines and meetings that we hear only their demands, frustrations, shouts ad moans. In the turmoil, God’s “gentle whisper”, AKA “still small voice”, may be not only unheard but unwelcome. Elijah, in the grip of manic-depression, judged his entire life by a single threat from a wicked woman. He couldn’t read the entire book of his life’s work at that time. He could see only the last chapter—and it revealed a weakness he didn’t know he had and, once seeing, didn’t want to see as his finale. But, excepting a few brief appearances as God’s most important servant in the critical battle with Baal, Elijah’s signal success—and do not minimize its usefulness in God’s Kingdom—was his appointment of Elisha as successor. God would permanently retire Elijah from ministry. He would always personally, through chosen men, continue to attack every satanic effort to introduce deities to divert attention from himself, the REAL, ONLY GOD! I’ve always remembered that my brother Dick said he was “worn out” previous to his death. I remember it so clearly that I never use the term. I may be exhausted. I may need more sleep. I may even need a break from writing and preaching. But I never say, “I’m worn out.” Philip Rivers retired from the NFL a few days ago. He said he could still run, still pass, still lead, but the time had come to STOP. I’m 84, without an awareness of it. I still preach with power and write with clarity. And however much 84 years shout that I have only a past of service, I’m preparing like I have a future in God’s service. I may be wrong, understand. But retirement from preaching and writing will have to overtake me as I keep speeding along. I WILL NOT slow down and make it easy. One or two more Parts will be in this series. But for now…Remember: God will call us: to accept Christ; to be obedient to Christ; to an active role in serving Christ. We may not hear him by allowing too much static, from too many other causes. Remember: if we have plenty of other options in life, we won’t want God to monopolize it. That very busyness will keep us occupied, distracted and confused about our REAL purpose in life—read II Corinthians 4:16-5:10. But if we say our SINGLE life desire is to KNOW God and the Christ he sent, God has a place where any Christian can be used. End Part X Recapitulating . . .
Tossing restlessly on his mat, he slept, haunted by visions of fire falling from above on animal sacrifices, then by messages of fire clawing at his eyes. The visions passed and he slept peacefully from sheer exhaustion. For how long he didn’t know, when he suddenly felt warmth on his face. Straining to arch his lids open, he SAW what he FELT—a single laser of light directed at his eyes. He instantly sat, the voice spoke and the light vanished. Awake now, but with too many ideas…too many questions…too many efforts to find solutions in his humanity…. When asked, “What are you doing here?”, the prophet revealed the depths of his discomfiture AND his inability to THINK straight. Consider evidences from I Kings 18:30-40.
Proving that even God’s people can easily let personal perspectives distort our experiences and misinterpret God’s will. Because we see it ALL through our, not GOD’s, eyes. In this appeal God gave his servant a chance to personally experience a divine visitation parallel to Moses’ own. Not going out as directed, Elijah stood in place and felt, heard and saw God’s explosive nature-power: wind, earthquake and fire. Then…a gentle whisper (NIV), a still-small voice (KJV). The previous didn’t affect him. In fear he fled a Queen’s anger. In greater fear he hid from God’s even-more dreadful softness, mercy and peace. Covering his face, he stepped to the cave mouth. To once again hear, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” The same question from God. The same answer from Elijah. The right question each time. The wrong answer each time. Which indicated that Elijah had exhausted his strength in ministry. My brother Rich went to the doctor. Asked how he felt, he replied, “Very unwell.” “Why?” “I’m worn out.” Within days he died. At 83. Full of years. Full of faith in Christ. More than that, Full of faith in glories to come. Since Elijah hadn’t changed his mind, even after seeing the POWER of God in nature and the compelling power of God in COMPASSION, he needed to retire. He had been so long a thunder and lightning presence that he couldn’t understand God’s message of peace and forgiveness to those still allied with him in service. An addendum, however. After his greatest victory Elijah suffered his greatest humiliation. Which didn’t mean he had no future. He would quickly ordain Elisha to carry on for God, but Elijah would see Ahab killed in battle, but not Jezebel at the hand of Jehu. He then retired from earthly experience in the blaze of a “chariot of fire and horses of fire” that came in a whirlwind of fire, snatching the old man from the young and carrying him to Heaven. That didn’t represent Elijah’s end either. For on the night Jesus let his inner light explode darkness into day, who but MOSES and ELIJAH came to his side to discuss his exodus from life? God never finishes using his servants, though he may transition their field of activity from earth to Heaven, from time to eternity. For in the New Jerusalem, the only “Eternal City”…“his servants will serve him…. And they will reign forever and ever” Revelation 22:3, 5. AMEN. PRAISE GOD! End Part IX To Readers: A new computer system has caused the delay in posting this series of blogs.
In the small space Elijah lay on his mat, tossing and turning to find comfort. Praying he could sleep he found the mental peace begetting sleep had fled and carried somnolence away. Instead, his mind a beehive of issues he couldn’t resolve and questions he couldn’t answer, he could only WONDER at the circumstances that had brought him there, miles in distance and eons in perception from his work. With God as his teacher, Elijah had been his own counselor, absorbing and following the spiritual instruction given. Now, suddenly deprived of God’s presence and word, he had no counsel of value. He had found, in the isolation he welcomed the loneliness that only the community of believers could banish. He had found that the last person SELF needs in crisis is the SELF that caused or proved unable to manage it. Buckled by a woman’s rage, but demolished by his own cowardice, he searched in vain for the courage that had been his trademark. In a crack of the cave wall; mentally outside on the route he had walked watching for any hint of retrieval. Without result, leaving him afraid it had flown without return. Once anchored by faith to God, and always under God’s control, his life flew now one way, then another, unsecured. His had become a conflicted commitment, a Palm tree’s root, clumped together in a mass with no tap beneath to secure his confidence, now torn loose from all he had believed and preached, now flapping in the suddenly increasing wind that entered a room empty save for a man emptier still by losing touch with God. It suddenly seemed personal to him and he shielded his eyes before a glow it blew into the cavern. And out of the glow a voice…a too-familiar voice calling…, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Energized by it, and heard too often too many times before to mistake it now, his tortured mind suddenly became AWARE…. Yet, not so personal he considered it necessary to call the voice by name, and still impersonal enough he felt it easier NOT to humble himself before it. Indeed, proving that while the journey had left him physically exhausted, it left his mind even more acerbic, his temper more active, his complaint more pointed, his optimism totally degraded and his explanation of the most recent event 180◦ from accurate, save for his zeal for Adonai YHWH Sabaoth, “the LORD God Almighty. End Part VIII Interestingly, the very “still small voice” that so unraveled Elijah that he hid his face, heartened Moses when God revealed his “back side” or “latter side”, represented by Christ’s TRUTH IN GRACE message John 1:14. Both men faced a crisis in their leadership at Horeb/Sinai. Moses from hearing that God would appoint an angel, not the THE ANGEL with God’s face—the Pre-Incarnate Jesus—to lead Israel. Moses trembled at the thought and begged to be excused from leading if God himself didn’t go before as vanguard.
The humble reply brought God’s compassionate assurance of HIS PRESENCE. Which emboldened Moses to seek God’s glory. That is...a revelation of himself. Which God answered with a vision of his back or latter side. In reality, Moses saw the GLORY of God’s Presence in history when he witnessed the “inside-OUT nature” of Jesus Christ at the Transfiguration. Elijah’s leadership crisis followed his dramatic success at Mount Carmel. He inspired attending Israelites to profess faith in God and destroyed the malignant influence of Baal’s prophets. That success, however, disemboweled the source of Jezebel’s confidence by removing her religious counsel. She suddenly couldn’t silence her inner demons with the hocus-pocus rituals, ceremonies and immoralities instinctive to Baal worship. And, as expected, she hurriedly re-assembled the corps almost man-for-man II Kings 22:6. She could live without God, but not without her personal deities! Off her scroll went by royal chariot, flush with imminent doom to its recipient. Which produced unexpected results in Elijah’s flint-hard disposition. Given his previous “do your best, I dare you” to any threat from God’s enemies. Given his stalwart refusal to be intimidated by King Ahab’s bluster. First, it was emotional, not rational—still hitchhiking on the triumphant Carmel-high surging in his brain. Second, for the first time in his life, an instinctive self-preservation replaced his duty to God. Third, he saw the Queen’s vindictiveness, not God’s sanctuary, as the last word. He panicked. Off Elijah fled: to the mountain where Moses had been fortified with new courage, hoping God would be as gracious to him in his crisis. Instead, the never-fearing prophet heard an attack of conscience ballooning spiritual anxiety as it diminished physical fear. The naturally-combative man, who flourished in every confrontation with evil, had been bush-whacked in a moment of spiritual elation, the emotional collapse dragging his victory over Baal into spiritual depression. Conscience: God’s unfailingly faithful monitor in each forgiven soul. Assuring us in every effort for Christ, correcting our every failure to guard what he’s entrusted to us. In Elijah’s life, congratulating him for serving in God’s strength that couldn’t lose, but accusing him of letting his humanity snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. And, in an honesty that couldn’t deny the truth conscience stressed, but personal pride still wouldn’t fully accept, he travelled on, trying vainly to re-discover the man he wanted to be, now defeated by estrangement from God. Losing contact with God, through a woman’s depravity, contrasted with Moses uniting with God despite the sin of an entire nation. The lack of God’s Presence punished the prophet, the Presence of God rewarded the Lawgiver. Elijah sure he had failed despite Israel’s confession of God; Moses assured he hadn’t, despite Israel’s sin against God. Against all the reminders that God would still reward his prophet, Elijah couldn’t convince himself he deserved it by the time he reached the fabled mountain. End Part VI Satan had increasing freedom in the 30 years the house of Omri ruled ten-tribe Israel. He began the spiritual decline in his 12 year reign. His son Ahab made two malevolent decisions early in his 22 year reign that plunged decline into catastrophic depravity. First: he considered Jeroboam’s twin calves the new religious norm in Israel, not a wicked divergence. Second: he considered marriage to a rabidly heathen wife his right, however violently opposed to God and fanatically devoted to Baal he knew her to be.
Point of fact, then. Both decisions reflected Ahab’s depraved state. Jezebel didn’t have to lead him into Baal worship; he willingly followed her into it. While momentarily nodding at Jehovah he obsessed with viewing Baal. He wanted, not a Hebrew mate to challenge his desire for a religion that allowed sexual freedom to excess, but one who not only encouraged, but lived it herself. While a trace of Hebrew decency remained in Ahab, no redeeming quality characterized Jezebel. Naming his sons after the LORD indicates a desire for syncretism between Jehovah and Baal. She had no use for any religion that weakened her heathen faith. Daughter of a king who served also as priest of Baal over Tyre/Sidon, she represented the uncompromising fanaticism only women bring to a cause. Their always toxic marriage teaches spiritual lessons. One, in any relationship, marriage especially, ounces of reverence for God will never outweigh tons of contempt. Unless the partner loving God dominates, disrespect for God will grow and Christian piety will diminish. Because Ahab had so little of the Hebrew in him, and Jezebel so much of the Tyrian/Sidonian, with his connivance she assumed control of his beliefs. That’s a sobering reminder for Christians. Choose those at least equal to us in faith and, better still, beyond us in faith. Otherwise, those we choose may weaken our faith while their lack of it strengthens. A then-young man new in faith asked God to find him a girl strong in faith so she could strengthen him without weakening herself. God did. While new in faith, he had wisdom to know how to improve his Christian walk. Had he not possessed such a desire, he would have looked for someone weak as himself. Always include that principle in the equation when trying to understand why people gravitate to those who can only do them spiritual harm, not good. Two, if our mindset is Christ-focused, neither sex should choose mates from groups where ANY OTHER FOCUS dominates. The contest determining dominance will waste energy that could otherwise be applied to productive Christian values. Choosing partners whose goal is equally Christ-centered guarantees spiritual reinforcement for both. Three, be careful of friendships between Christians and non-Christians. If the relationship strengthens one’s convictions in Christ, continue it; the unsaved need a witness. If it weakens one’s convictions about Christ, discontinue it; there’s no need to lose the soul Christ has saved to gain a relationship with a soul content to be lost. Four, beware always against attraction to those without Christian convictions, lest it reveal something unhealthy in our own walk with God. Lest it reveal that we ourselves are suffering a spiritual decline that needs to be reversed before we follow it into depravity. End Part VI As he journeyed to Horeb/Sinai, Elijah had time to think, ponder, appraise, and evaluate the circumstances that led him to abandon his ministry and left him afoot in a desolate land. Indeed, the environment paralleled his thoughts: barren hills his dark contemplation; sterile expanses stretching beyond sight his inability to find answers for his desertion of duty; the desiccated shrubs symbolizing his sudden spiritual drought; the few scant waterholes haunting reminders of better days when God provided him food and drink in the Kerith Ravine.
A congeries of contradictions struggled for control of his mind. He could admit in the desert that the self-preservation so domineering in Jezreel had been body-slammed by his greater commitment to God, whatever the danger. But he couldn’t forget that all his work for God against Baal had only superficially succeeded, for all the drama on the mountain, for all the confession of God’s Dominance, not resulting in real change. His optimism reminded him that he had killed those imposters of Jezebel; his pessimism answered that she would likely replace them all, perhaps man-for-man I Kings 22:6. And what permanent harm would befall Baal worship so long as his patroness remained alive? What had really been gained for God, it added? His self-loathing increased as he neared the fabled mountain fortress and sought a cave big enough to sleep in with an aperture small enough to hide in safety. What did it all mean, his pessimism continued hounding him as he sat or lay, seeking the spiritual peace eluding him. What result did it have? Great rejoicing followed by greater grief. (He didn’t know that would be the “greatest-danger syndrome”—the greater success experienced leaving one vulnerable to even greater despair.) Another blog will study God’s appearance to Elijah. This one focuses on the decision Elijah made when arriving at Beersheba after fleeing the Queen. “I have had enough, Lord...Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors” I Kings 19:4. What the prophet said in I Kings 19:10 and 14, reflected his decision at Beersheba. Understand his pathos in both places, the second based on the first. In Matthew 13:7 and 22 Jesus said that the thorny-soil person readily accepted the Gospel, but retained equal interest in other things, summarized as the worries of this life, and the deceitfulness of wealth. They choke the seed, making it unfruitful. That means the thorny-soil person has purposes apart from serving God that invariably become equal to serving God, then more important than serving God. Thus, if they don’t have God, their other interests compensate. Elijah suffered no admixture of purposes in his life. It wasn’t God AND.... For him life meant GOD ALONE...nothing else and no one else. And if he had no further use to God—and he felt he DIDN’T, he may as well die. How many of us, Christians, have such dedication to God? How many times have we said to God, “I have no purpose for my life, and use for my life, except as your servant?” We will understand Elijah’s lament only when we do. End Part V Elijah suffered the classic “failure after success” syndrome. Reflect a moment on the colossal adrenaline rush he experienced when God not only proved HIMSELF Sovereign in Israel but equally proved Elijah his spokesman. Himself by answering with a stunning lightning bolt—remember that Baal supposedly had such power—destructive enough to:
Elijah luxuriated in God’s astonishing answer to his direct, simple prayer. Then...understanding the meaning of a fist-sized cloud rising from the Sea, flew in super-charged energy down the road ahead of Ahab’s chariot. God and his Prophet stood apart from everyone in Israel, God Supreme, Elijah supremely confident. Ahab recited breathlessly, and step by step, to Jezebel all he had witnessed on Carmel. Only to see her rage defiantly. Interrupting him with her uninterrupted fanaticism for Baal, she called in a scribe and had scribbled on parchment, then sealed with her seal, a death threat to the man who dared attack her through her priests. Elijah soon read the letter and his adrenalin rush as instantly evaporated into stunned silence. Only she could remain unrepentant before God’s fearsome display of authority! A sudden sense of vulnerability seized him, followed by an erosion of euphoria into despair, delight into dread, faith into fear, fear into panic and panic into flight. Note: Elijah had previously gone only where God directed: to Kerith Ravine, I Kings 17:2-3; to Zarephath, I Kings 17:8-9; to confront Ahab, I Kings 18:1. On reading her letter, however, courage failed, cowardice grew and this suddenly-wasted man of God disappeared from public view, a wicked, woman symbolically shaking her fist at his departure. Sorry to say, it represents America today: the wicked vocal, the righteous acquiescent; the wicked demanding their rights, the righteous slow in defending God’s! It’s Proverbs 28:12, 28 all over again. End Part IV Note: this subject has become more multi-faceted than I originally considered. I’m writing it by studied installments, and not always chronologically, my usual procedure in multi-part blogs. Thus, in this portion, more background information on Elijah’s flight.
According to I Kings 17:1, God called Elijah to confront King Ahab with a prophecy of drought: “There will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word”. The “few years” were 3 ½ according to Jesus Luke 4:25 and James 5:17. That claim put Jehovah on a collision course with Baal, the god of Ahab and Jezebel. For they, among many heathen, considered Baal the god of agricultural fertility, commander of rain clouds that watered the land at necessary intervals and the deity who rode a thunderstorm like a charioteer his steeds. Either Jehovah or Baal had to be true, but not both. If rain fell during the 3 ½ years Elijah predicted drought, Jehovah lost. If no rain fell during that time, Jehovah won. To protect his prophet during the drought, God sequestered him from further contact in Israel. He first hid him within Israel, fed by ravens. Then, when water failed in the Kerith Ravine, ordered him to a foreign land to be fed by a Gentile widow I Kings 17:1-24. (That period is itself worthy of development, but not for this blog.) At the end of the 3 ½ years God sent Elijah back to Israel to once again confront the King. (Passing by their initial encounter, which I’ll develop later in the blog), Elijah challenged Ahab to a contest between Jehovah and Baal—to be held publicly in the daylight on Mt. Carmel, in full view of all those assembled, including the king and 850 prophets of his wife’s religions. (Obviously Jezebel wouldn’t deign to attend.) As my friend Bob Shaw used to say, “long story short”, Elijah went from an outsider in Israel preaching Jehovah, to a national figure as Jehovah’s appointed prophet. (And, by the way, as the epitome of the prophetic class Matthew 17:1-4.) But let us see in this event God’s compassion for his misled people and his warning to the liars misleading them. First, predicting a 3 ½ year drought that threatened life in Israel, and ending it only at Elijah’s command. Only if Elijah could again begin the rain stopped at his command would he be God’s TRUE prophet. That’s essential to understanding God’s powerful display at Carmel. Second, Elijah gave Baal’s prophets the chance to derisively upstage him by giving them priority in their appeal. It offered the incontrovertible way to prove the TRUE GOD from the satanic impersonator. If Baal answered, and had fire fall on his bull, and Elijah then had greater fire fall from Jehovah, on a much-more difficult altar, devotees of the heathen god could claim victory by not being entirely defeated. After all, many heathen nations believed in many gods for the very reason that they could never be sure a greater god didn’t exist Acts 17:22-23. They counted any success by their chosen deity enough proof of his existence. Read in I Kings 18:25-29 the account of their efforts to recruit Baal’s intervention and achieved NOTHING. Then read I Kings 18:30-37 and see how amply difficult Elijah made it for Jehovah to prove himself. And achieved far more than needed to prove his complete authority. That didn’t end God’s proof of himself and of Elijah as his prophet. That came in two ways. First, in a furious thunderstorm (assumed) that formed from a cloud in the Mediterranean the size of a man’s hand. Second, in empowering his prophet to out-run the king’s horse-powered chariot all the way to Jezreel, some 25 miles away. HOORAY for God. God in great mercy gave proof of himself to the Israelites that NO ONE could DENY. And a warning to anyone rejecting him that they were satanically possessed. Which even apostate Ahab may have escaped, see I Kings 21:27-29, but which worse-than-apostate Jezebel didn’t. End Part III |
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