309. ELIJAH WARNS THE HOUSE OF AHAB
"There shall not be dew nor rain these years but according to my word"
During the years following the division of the kingdom, the history of the ten tribes in the north was one of decline, bloodshed and misery. Successive monarchs exceeded each other in wickedness € first Jeroboam (1 Kgs. 14:9), then Omri (1 Kgs. 16:25) and finally Ahab (1 Kgs. 16:30).
Yet in spite of their waywardness and disobedience, God was prepared to extend mercy in abundance, if they would seek Him in truth. It was Elijah's mission, midst bitter opposition from Jezebel, to restore true worship to apostate Israel. The aim of this lesson is to show that Yahweh alone is God and that the words of His prophets are powerful.
1 Kings 17; 18
THE CHARACTER OF AHAB AND JEZEBEL (1 Kings 16:30-33).
The reigning king during the greater part of Elijah's ministry was Ahab. He married a Phoenician princess, Jezebel, thus introducing into Israel Baal worship, a religious superstition of the most degrading and offensive kind (1 Kgs. 16:31).
Jezebel was a most wilful, determined woman and a more forceful character than Ahab, whom she incited to do the most abhorrent practices (1 Kgs.21:25). Her name, ironically, means "chaste", though she was anything but that, being associated with the worship of Astarte (A.V. "groves"), with its religious rites involving all forms of uncleanness.
THE SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF ELIJAH (1 Kings 17:1).
"With the suddenness of a flash of lightning and a clap of thunder" (as one writer put it), Elijah the Tishbite burst upon the scene. A hairy man, clothed in a leather girdle tied around his loins and with a mantle slung around his shoulder (cp. 2 Kgs. 1:8), this stern and yet majestic man stood before Ahab, and in the name of Yahweh, prophesied drought upon Israel. The message delivered, Elijah departed.
Drought was God's decreed punishment for apostasy (Deut. 11:16-17; 1 Kgs. 8:35-36), and, in this instance, it was to be prolonged for 3 years (Lk. 4:25; Jas. 5:17).
Elijah's name ("My God is Yah") was a declaration of his purpose to show that Yahweh, and not Baal, was their God (1 Kgs. 18:21).
ELIJAH AT CHERITH (1 Kings 17:2-7).
Elijah was now in danger from Jezebel, and God directed him to cross Jordan and hide at the brook Cherith. As drought parched the land, Ahab searched everywhere for the prophet whose word had signalled it. 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! (Lev. 11:15). As though to demonstrate God's over-ruling power, these scavenger birds, that during a famine would consume all they found, were "converted" from being scavengers to providers.
But there was another lesson being taught.
As an unclean bird, the raven symbolised the Gentiles, unwashed by the Word of God (Lev. 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.
ELIJAH AT ZAREPHATH (1 Kings 17:8-24).
"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 of the same district as Jezebel no doubt seemed strange to Elijah's ears (cp. 16:31 and 17:9). She belonged to a group so low and insecure, so poor and oppressed, that God saw fit to give special laws of protection to ensure their existence among His people. But this 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, because the prophet of the God of Israel promised an unending supply of oil. Like Abraham, her spiritual father, she believed and acted (vv.11-15).
She, a Gentile, survived the famine while many in Israel perished. She had the faith that Israel lacked. Without faith it is impossible to please God (cp. Heb. 11:6, 35 with 1 Kgs. 17:23).
TWO IMPORTANT NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCES.
1. Luke 4:22-32. When the Lord came to his home town of Nazareth the people were unbelieving and challenged him to repeat his miracles before their eyes. To them he was "Joseph's son" and not the Son of God. Their unbelief placed a limit upon what he did. Even though they were descendants of Abraham they lacked faith. To illustrate the fact that God receives those who believe, independent of race, he used the illustration of Elijah: "Verily, I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you of a truth, many widows were IN ISRAEL, in the days of Elias (Elijah) when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout the land; But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of SIDON, unto a WOMAN, that was a WIDOW".
2. Acts 10. In this chapter the first Gentile convert to the gospel of Christ is made by the apostle Peter. Peter was prepared for his work in exactly the same way as Elijah. Both men, being Israelites, were prejudiced against Gentiles; but like Elijah, Peter was taught that the unclean beasts could be cleansed by God and in his dream he was commanded to "arise, kill and eat". Straight after this event he was sent to the Roman centurion, Cornelius. There Peter too learned the lesson that "God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness is accepted of him" (Acts 10:34-35).
MEETING WITH OBADIAH (1 Kings 18:1-20).
The time drew near when God determined to end the famine and He told Elijah to reveal himself to Ahab. So sore was the famine at this time that Ahab and his chief steward, Obadiah, personally supervised a search for food for the horses and mules that remained. This same Obadiah "feared the LORD greatly" and had nourished in secret a hundred of His prophets, when they were being purged by the sword of Jezebel. Elijah met him in the way and Obadiah immediately recognised him. "Art thou that my lord Elijah?" he asked (v.7). Abruptly Elijah replied, "I am: go tell thy Lord, Behold, Elijah is here".
When Ahab saw Elijah he accused him of "troubling Israel", but the dauntless prophet rebuffed the accusation and rightly blamed Ahab. The root of Israel's trouble lay in their forsaking of Yahweh and preference for Baalim. Elijah took the initiative and directed Ahab to assemble all Israel, together with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, upon Mount 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". The people were speechless. Elijah pointed out that he as Yahweh's sole representative, was ranged 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 called upon their god to consume the bullock upon the altar they had made. But though they called from morning till noon, there was no answer (Psa. 115:3-9). So pathetic was the display that Elijah began to taunt them. Perhaps Baal's indifference lay in the fact that he was about personal business € talking, pursuing or even sleeping € most ungodlike qualities indeed! Their "vain repetition", "O Baal, hear us", continued until the time of the evening sacrifice, but still nothing happened. Then Elijah's turn came. He called the people near him and then did some significant things: €
1. He repaired an old altar of Yahweh which had been broken down, an act symbolical of what he was attempting to do in Israel, that is, restore the fear of Yahweh (vv. 30, 37, cp. 19:10).
2. Twelve stones were taken for the altar representing the twelve tribes who would be one in spirit and in truth when Messiah appears to rule over them (v.31, cp. Ezek. 37:22).
3. He pointed to the origin of the nation and the change of Jacob's name to "Israel" in which the divine purpose was memorialised.
Israel means "prince with God". Israel would prevail with God's help, but without it would be caused to "halt" (vv. 31, 21; Gen. 32:28-31; Mic. 4:7).
4. He required that more difficult conditions be made. A trench was dug around the altar and water was poured over the sacrifice and
wood until the trench was full (vv.33-35).
5. At the time of the evening sacrifice, the time of prayer, he called upon the God of Israel by His covenant name (v.36; cp. Ezra 9:4-5).
Elijah pleaded earnestly that Yahweh would vindicate Himself, and Elijah as His prophet. "Hear me, O Yahweh, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back".
Suddenly without warning, fire from heaven struck the sacrifice. Reversing the course of nature it burnt downwards, consuming in fire the sacrifice, wood, stones, dust and water in the trench. Fearful and astonished, the people fell on their faces to the ground before the mighty manifestation of Divine power.
"Yahweh, He is the God! Yahweh, He is the God!", they shouted. In so doing they acknowledged the meaning of the prophet's name, "My God is Yah". No longer could they halt between two opinions. The issue had been settled. Elijah wasted no time and in the zeal of the moment he had the false prophets executed at the brook Kishon.
There is still only One God and One Faith. We cannot serve two masters (Matt. 6:24). If we are to serve God, then we must do it with all our heart, not trying to accommodate the opinion of the world as well.
THE DROUGHT BREAKS (1 Kings 18:41-46).
With the people's ackowledgement 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". Elijah himself went to the summit of Carmel and prayed earnestly for rain (Jas. 5:18). His servant was told to look out to sea for any sign of rain. Six times Elijah prayed and six times his servant had nothing to report. But on the seventh occasion the servant reported a small cloud, that soon increased till "the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain".
Ahab drove his chariot towards Jezreel, knowing that unless he arrived before the rains came, he would be bogged in the valley of Esdraelon. At the same time, the hand of Yahweh was on Elijah and he outran the chariot. Elijah went before the king of Israel to Jezreel as a forerunner, an act symbolic of his future work in "the day of Jezreel" (Hos. 1:10-11; 2:21-22).
His work has not been completed and the reforms he instituted were shortlived. He will take up his work again after his resurrection and will prepare the hearts of Israel for their king, the Lord Jesus Christ (Mal. 4:5-6). Then the day of Jezreel shall be truly great, for the children of Judah and Israel shall "be gathered together, and appoint to themselves one head" (Hosea 1:11).
LESSONS 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 rain or fire
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, loving 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. An unclean bird, a raven, fed Elijah at the brook Cherith. What lesson did Elijah learn from this?
2. Upon what basis was the woman of Zarephath saved?
3. Elijah's name means "My God is Yah". In what way did this indicate the purpose of his mission?
4. What lessons do we learn from the contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel?
ESSAY QUESTIONS:
1. Describe Elijah's visits to Cherith and Zarephath. What lessons do we learn from those incidents?
2. Describe the contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.
3. Write a character sketch of Ahab and Jezebel.
4. In what ways are the following two incidents alike?
(a) Elijah's visit to Cherith and Zarephath.
(b) Peter's vision of the unclean animals and the subsequent conversion of Cornelius.
1. Elijah comes from Gilead and prophesies before Ahab that there would be no rain (1 Kings 17:1).
2. He retires to the Brook Cherith where he is fed by ravens (17:5-6).
3. When the brook dries up, Elijah is sent to a widow of Zarephath (17:9-10).
4. Elijah contests 450 prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. The prophets of Baal are slain by the river Kishon (18:19, 38-40).
5. Elijah runs before the chariot of Ahab from Carmel to Jezreel (18:45-46).
6. Under the threat of revenge from Jezebel, Elijah flees to Horeb (19:1-3, 8).
7. He calls Elisha of Abel-meholah to take over his role (19:16, 19).
8. He confronts Ahab in the vineyard of Naboth, who was stoned at the instigation of Jezebel (21:17-19).