I Kings 17 – 19
Are you finding it confusing trying to keep track of who is king of what? Is this person a king of Israel or Judah? From now on, I think I will indicate in parentheses following the king’s name whether he is king of Israel or Judah. It also doesn’t help that Judah’s king might serve during the reign of several of Israel’s kings or vice versa.
For today’s reading, Ahab (Israel) is king – an evil, wicked man and we are introduced to Elijah the Tishbite. Like many prophets of old, he told it like it was. These prophets are amazing; they had to deliver unwelcome messages to those in authority. In I Kings 17, Elijah had to tell King Ahab (Israel) that there would be no dew or rain during the next few years.
The Lord told Elijah to hide by the Kerith Brook. I’m sure the Lord knew that as the lack of rain became evident, Ahab (Israel) would seek out Elijah to harm him. Elijah was told to drink from this brook and to eat what the ravens bring him. Can you imagine a raven giving up food for anyone? The Lord commanded them to bring Elijah food.
Eventually, as the lack of rain continued, the brook dried up. The Lord then sent Elijah to the village of Zarephath to a widow so she could feed Elijah. The woman had amazing faith. Here she was, ready to feed herself and her son the last of her food, but Elijah asked her to feed him first and promised that there would always be flour and olive oil until the Lord sent rain and the crops grew again.
Our God is a God of miracles. When the widow’s son died, Elijah prayed for him and the Lord revived him.
In I Kings 18, Elijah is told to go to King Ahab (Israel) and tell him the rain would soon be coming. Elijah meets Obadiah, another “devoted follower of the Lord,” who tells him Ahab (Israel) has been looking for him and that he had hidden 100 f the Lord’s prophets to keep them safe. Elijah lays it on the line to Ahab (Israel) telling him that it is because of him and his family that the trouble has come to Israel. He sets up a challenge against the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah at Mount Carmel. It was not even a contest. Elijah was on God’s side and defeated those false prophets.
Elijah then prays for rain and there was a “terrific rainstorm.” He ran ahead of Ahab’s (Israel) chariot to Jezreel where Jezebel was living. She vowed to kill Elijah and, surprisingly, Elijah became afraid and fled for his life. The Lord provides for Elijah during his flight and eventually speaks to him. In this conversation with the Lord, Elijah is not shown in a very good light. He whines about how he is the only one left in all the land who serves the Lord. The Lord straightens him out quite soundly. He is told to anoint Elisha son of Shaphat to take his place, Jehu as king in place of Ahab (Israel), and that the Lord “will preserve 7000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him.”
Chapter 19 ends with Elisha becoming Elijah’s assistant.
Tomorrow, it’s I Kings 20 – 21.
Never shuck corn again!
We will never again shuck corn!!!! What a great idea*
http://www.wimp.com/shuckcorn/
Until next time…
No comments:
Post a Comment