184. ELIJAH THE PROPHET WARNS THE HOUSE OF AHAB

"There shall not be dew nor rain these years but according to my word."

 

With the division of the nation into ten tribes and two tribes, the ten tribes in the north became known as ISRAEL and the two tribes in the south as JUDAH.

 

During the years that followed this division of the nation, the Kingdom of Israel, (the ten tribes in the north) declined spiritually, and their kings walked in ways of wickedness and idolatry.

 

The king who was reigning upon the throne at the time when Elijah the prophet was sent to them was Ahab. Of Ahab it is said, that he "did more to provoke Yahweh God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him" (1 Kings 16:33). He married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Zidonians. She was a very wicked woman who worshipped the idol Baal and she urged her husband to build altars for Israel to likewise worship this heathen god. Of Jezebel and Ahab it is recorded, "There was none like Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of Yahweh, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up (incited, mg.)" (1 Kings 21:25). Thus with such leaders to encourage idolatry and wickedness the people of Israel were in a wayward and disobedient state when Yahweh sent His servant Elijah to them.

1 Kings 17 and 18.

 

THE SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF ELIJAH. 1 Kings 17:1.

Suddenly and dramatically a strange and colourful character appeared in the court of Ahab. He was a hairy man, clothed in a leather girdle around his loins with a mantle slung around his shoulders (c.p. 2 Kings 1:8)—Elijah, the Tishbite. He stood before King Ahab and uttered his as­tounding message, "As Yahweh God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word" (1 Kings 17:1). After delivering this message he left the king.

 

Many years earlier God had foretold that He would send drought as a punishment upon Israel if they turned to other gods (Deuteronomy 11:16-17). Thus they had brought this fearful punishment on themselves by their wickedness.

 

ELIJAH AT THE BROOK CHERITH. 1 Kings 17:2-7.

God directed Elijah to cross Jordan and hide at the brook Cherith. As drought parched the land, Ahab searched everywhere for the prophet who had foretold this would happen. Meanwhile Elijah was sustained by the water of the brook, and bread and flesh brought morning and even­ing by ravens. Yahweh had said, "I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there" (v.4). Of the many spectacular ways God could have provided food, it was to be through the humiliating experience of depending upon ravens—unclean birds to Elijah! (Leviticus 11:15). As though to demonstrate God's overruling power, these scavenger birds, that during a famine would normally consume all they found, were "converted" from scavengers to providers.

 

But there was another lesson being taught!

 

ELIJAH AT ZAREPHATH: THE CALL OF THE GENTILES. 1 Kings 17:8-24.

As an unclean bird, the raven symbolised the Gentiles, unwashed by the word of God (Leviticus 20:22-26). But in this case the "unclean" had been "cleansed" and used to provide the prophet of God with food. A clean bird or animal could have been used, but it was not in God's purpose to do this. Elijah was being taught that those who were esteemed “unclean" by Israel could have their hearts purified by faith. Elijah was about to be told to go to a Gentile woman of faith, with a message of life. God was no respecter of persons.

 

After some time the brook Cherith dried up because of the drought, and God said "Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon and dwell there: Behold I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee" (v.9). Note how the widow woman is paralleled with the raven (v.4).

 

This divine command to seek out a Gentile widow woman of the same district as Jezebel no doubt seemed strange to Elijah's ears (c.p. 16:31 and 17:9).

 

But this Gentile woman revealed an amazing faith in the God of Israel. She was prepared to deny herself and her son the last morsel of food they had, and because of this faith the prophet of the God of Israel promised an unending supply of meat and oil (v. 11-15). She, a Gentile, survived the famine while many in Israel perished for she had the faith that Israel lacked. Without faith it is impossible to please God (cp. Hebrews 11:6, 35, 1 Kings 17:23).

 

ELIJAH MEETS AHAB. 1 Kings 18:1-20.

God told Elijah that He was going to end the drought and send rain, He told Elijah to go and reveal himself to Ahab. When Ahab saw Elijah accused him of "troubling Israel" (v.17). But Elijah fearlessly answered him, "I have not troubled Israel, but thou and thy father's house, in that you have forsaken the commandments of Yahweh and thou hast followed Baalim" (v.18).

 

Then Elijah commanded that all Israel should assemble with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of the groves upon Mt. Carmel.

 

CONTEST ON MOUNT CARMEL: NO MORE TWO OPINIONS 1 Kings 18:21-40.

With all Israel and the company of false prophets before him, the courageous prophet issued the challenge, "How long halt ye between two opinions? If Yahweh be God, follow him: But if Baal, then follow him.'' (v.21).The people were speechless. Elijah pointed out that he, as Yahweh's sole representative, was set against four hundred and fifty pro­phets of Baal. He laid down a simple test whereby the issue could be settl­ed. The people all agreed.

 

The prophets of Baal were to make ready a bullock and lay it on wood on their altar and put no fire under it. Then they were to call upon their gods, to send down fire to consume the sacrifice. Elijah was to do the same, and the God that answered would be the true God.

 

But alas, the prophets of Baal called from morning till noon and no answer came. "And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, Cry aloud; for he is a god, either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey or peradventure he sleepeth and must be awaked" (v.27).

 

So they cried louder — "O Baal hear us", and cut themselves with knives, but by evening there was still no answer.

 

Then Elijah's turn came, he repaired the old altar of Yahweh that had been broken down. He took 12 stones, representing the 12 tribes and restored the altar, then placed his bullock on the wood on the altar. He dug a trench around the altar and then poured 12 barrels of water over the sacrifice and wood and the trench filled with water.

 

At the time of the evening sacrifice, the time of prayer, Elijah called upon Yahweh and said, "Yahweh God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel" (v.36). Suddenly without warning, fire from heaven struck the sacrifice and burnt not only the wood and sacrifice but the stones, dust and water as well. Fearful and astonished the people fell on their faces to the ground before the mighty manifestation of Divine Power. "And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, Yahweh, He is the God; Yahweh, He is the God" (v.39). No longer could they halt between two opinions; the issue had been settled. Elijah wasted no time and commanded that the 450 prophets of Baal be executed at the Brook Kishon.

 

We too must acknowledge that there still is only ONE GOD and ONE FAITH: we cannot serve two masters (Matt. 6:24).

 

THE DROUGHT BREAKS. 1 Kings 18:41-46.

With the prophets' acknowledgement that Yahweh alone was the true God, Elijah announced an end to the drought. He bade Ahab eat and drink "for there is a sound of abundance of rain" (v.41).

 

Elijah went to the top of Mt. Carmel and prayed earnestly for rain (c.p. James 5:17-18). He told his servant to go and look towards the sea to see if there was any sign of rain. He came back saying "There is nothing" (v.43). Six times Elijah prayed and six times his servant had nothing to report.

 

But on the seventh occasion the servant reported a small cloud, no larger than a man's hand. God was answering Elijah's prayer.

 

Soon the storm clouds gathered until the "heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain" (v.45).

 

Ahab drove with speed in his chariot to Jezreel. At the same time Eli­jah with strength given to him by God out-ran the chariot, and arrived in Jezreel before the king.

 

The reform that Elijah brought about was short-lived. Elijah's work has not been completed. He will take up his work again after he has been raised from the grave at Christ's coming. His work will be to prepare the hearts of the people of Israel for their king (Mai. 4:5-6). We can look for­ward to the day when God will make His people "one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all" (Ezekiel 37:22).

 

LESSON FOR US:

Let us note how powerful Yahweh's word is in the mouth of the pro­phets—even to close or open heaven; to bring fire or rain there from.

 

As Gentiles and not Israelites of the stock of Abraham, we, like the woman of Zarephath, are saved by faith and obedience. We must not "halt" between two opinions. We cannot serve two masters, and love God AND the world. God rightly demands our WHOLE heart and soul and mind. This is the greatest commandment.

 

REFERENCE LIBRARY:

"The Story of the Bible" (H.P. Mansfield)—Vol. 5, No. 1.

"The Visible Hand of God" (R. Roberts)—Chapters 25-27.

"The Ways of Providence" (R. Roberts)—Chapter 19.

"Elijah the Tishbite" (J. Martin)—Chapters 1-6.

 

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:

1. Where did God tell Elijah to hide at first and how did God care for him?

2. Upon what basis was the woman of Zarephath saved?

3. Describe Elijah's sacrifice and how God showed His acceptance.

4. Elijah went to Mt. Carmel and prayed for rain — describe what hap­pened.

5. Elijah's work is not complete, when will he take up his work again and what will his work be?

 

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1. Tell the story of how God cared for Elijah; what lessons can we learn from this?

2. Describe the contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal; what lessons can we learn from this?