God told Elijah that it would rain soon and He wanted him to present himself to the king of Israel, Ahab. Meanwhile, Ahab had summoned a man named Obadiah during a severe famine. Obadiah believed in God. Ahab was married to a woman named Jezebel who tried to kill every prophet of God (she missed Elijah and 100 others who Obadiah hid in two caves.) Ahab wanted to find some grass so they wouldn't have to kill the animals, and he had Obadiah go one way and he went another in search of grass. Elijah met Obadiah while he was looking for fresh grass. Obadiah knew Elijah on sight and greeted him. Obadiah wanted to know when he would die, since everyone involved with finding Elijah was put to death by Ahab. Elijah assured Obadiah he would present himself to Ahab that day.
When Ahab and Elijah met, Ahab accused Elijah of causing trouble in Israel. But Elijah countered that Ahab and his father's family had worshiped Baal and other gods, making God angry. Elijah dared Ahab to have all the prophets of his gods meet Elijah by himself and see who's god was God. When the people gathered for the spectacle, Elijah told them to make up their minds, that the god who answered by fire, was God. Everyone thought this was a good idea. The Israelites were first. They prepared the bull as an offering and all day and night they asked Baal to come and consume their offering. They shouted louder in case he was thinking, busy, traveling or napping. They even cut themselves with blades and bled themselves. Nothing happened. Then it was Elijah's turn. He repaired the alter with 12 stones, and he dug a trench around the base large enough to hold 13 quarts of seed. On the altar, he arranged the wood and the bull parts. Then he told the people to fill 4 large jars with water and pour it over the offering. He had them do this 3 times. There was A LOT of water! Then Elijah started to pray. When he was finished the fire of God came down and consumed the offering, the wood, stones and soil and even the water! Then the people believed. Elijah had the prophets of Baal killed. Then Elijah told Ahab to go eat because it was going to rain. Elijah climed a mountain and bowed down and told his servant to look to the sea 7 times and then the servant saw the storm beginning. Ahab rode home, but Elijah tucked his robe into his belt and ran and beat Ahab home.
When Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done, she wanted to kill Aham. So Elijah got out of town quick! He took a break and sat down and prayed to the Lord to take his life. He fell asleep and an angel woke him up and told him to eat. There was a cake and a jar of water. He ate, drank and lay down again. The angel repeated his request for Elijah to eat and drink. When he was refreshed, he was able to continue his journey. He traveled 40 days and nights and got to Horeb, the mountain of God. He found a cave and spent the night there.
God spoke to Elijah and asked him what he was doing there. Elijah told God that he was the only prophet left and he had run for his life. God told him to stand on the mountain and that He would pass by. A terrible wind came, then an earthquake, then a fire came, but God was not in them. Then Elijah heard a gentle whisper and he covered his face with his cloak and went out to the mouth of the cave. The voice asked him what he was doing there? He told Him about how God's covenant had been rejected by the people and how they had tried to kill him along with all the others. Then the Lord told him to go back the way he came and anoint Hazael king over Aram, Jehu king over Israel, and Elisha as prophet to succeed him. He told Elijah that all but 7000 who had remained faithful to Him would be put to death.
Elijah called Elisha to follow him. After slaughtering his yoke of oxen (he had been plowing in the field) and breaking up the plow to use as fire to burn them and feeding the people who were with him, he followed Elijah and became his attendant.
The king of Aram decided to attack Israel. A prophet told Ahab that he would be victorious even though there were only 7000 to fight. They won because they attacked during the day when the king of Aram and his soldiers were getting drunk. So the king of Aram devised another plan with his commanders.
Tomorrow read 1Kings 20:26-22:36
No comments:
Post a Comment