by Michael Hopkins
Elijah Announces a Great Drought (1 Kings 17:1)
Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, was a prophet who served the Lord, the God of Israel1. He made a bold proclamation to Ahab, the king of Israel, declaring that there would be neither dew nor rain in the coming years, except at his word1. This was a direct challenge to the Baal worship that Ahab promoted, as Baal was considered the god of fertility and rain1.
Elijah and Obadiah (1 Kings 18:1, 5-8)
After a long time, the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, "Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth"2. During this time, there was a severe famine in Samaria2. Ahab had summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of his house and a devout believer in the Lord3. Ahab instructed Obadiah to search the land for springs and valleys where they might find grass to save the horses and mules2. As Obadiah was on his way, he encountered Elijah. Recognizing the prophet, Obadiah fell on his face and asked, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?” Elijah confirmed his identity and instructed Obadiah to inform Ahab of his presence2.
Elijah on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:16-39)
Ahab met Elijah, accusing him of troubling Israel4. Elijah retorted that it was Ahab and his family who had troubled Israel by abandoning the Lord’s commands and following Baal4. Elijah then proposed a contest on Mount Carmel to prove who the true God was4. He challenged the 450 prophets of Baal to prepare a bull for sacrifice and call on their god to set it on fire4. Elijah would do the same, calling on the Lord. The God who answered by fire would be acknowledged as the true God4.
The prophets of Baal called upon their god from morning till noon, but there was no response4. Elijah taunted them, suggesting that Baal might be deep in thought, busy, traveling, or sleeping4. The prophets of Baal shouted louder and cut themselves with swords and spears, but there was still no response4.
Elijah then repaired the altar of the Lord, arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces, and laid it on the wood4. He had four large jars of water poured on the offering and the wood, not once, but three times4. Elijah then called upon the Lord, and the fire of the Lord fell, consuming the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and even the water in the trench4. When the people saw this, they fell on their faces and acknowledged, "The Lord indeed is God; the Lord indeed is God"4.
Elijah Flees to Horeb (1 Kings 19:1-16)
After these events, Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the execution of the prophets of Baal5. Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, threatening to take his life5. Elijah, filled with fear, fled for his life to Beersheba in Judah5. He left his servant there and went a day’s journey into the wilderness, where he prayed for death5.
An angel of the Lord appeared to Elijah, providing him with food and water5. Strengthened by this sustenance, Elijah traveled forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God5. There, the Lord appeared to him, not in a great wind, an earthquake, or a fire, but in a gentle whisper5. The Lord instructed Elijah to return to the Desert of Damascus and anoint Hazael as king over Aram, Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel, and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed him as prophet5.
Elijah’s story is a testament to the power and sovereignty of God, demonstrating His ability to use ordinary people to carry out His extraordinary plans.
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