SCRIPTURE: 1 KINGS 18
ELIJAH AND OBADIAH (vs. 1-15)
Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord who was in charge of Ahab’s palace. While Jezebel was killing off the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hid them in two caves, fifty in each and had supplied them with food and water. Ahab told Obadiah to go through the land to find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive. As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Elijah told Obadiah to tell Ahab that he wanted to meet him.
ELIJAH ON MOUNT CARMEL (vs. 16-46)
So Obadiah went to tell Ahab that Elijah wanted to meet him. When they met, Elijah asked Ahab to summon the prophets from all over Israel and the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah to meet him at Mt. Carmel. So Ahab sent words throughout all Israel to assemble the prophets on Mt. Carmel. Then he said: “Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the woods but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire – he is God.” (vs. 23-24). All the people agreed. So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal: “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire” (v. 25). So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. But there was no response, not one answered. (vs. 26)
Then Elijah called all the people to come. He repaired the altar of the Lord. He took 12 stones representing the 12 tribes and dug a trench around it. He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them: “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood. (vs. 34). They did it for three times. Then Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be know today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so theses people will know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again” (v. 36-37). Then the fire of the Lord filled and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil also licked up the water in the trench., When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord – he is God! The Lord – he is God!” (vs. 38-39)
Then Elijah commanded the people to seize the prophets of Baal and slaughter them at Kishon Valley. Then Elijah told Ahab to go home for there is a sound of heavy rain coming. The sky grew black with cloud, the wind rose and a heavy rain came. Elijah touched his cloak and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
THOUGHTS:
Baal was the storm god so he should be able to send rain. But the Lord is the true almighty God who controls the rain and everything on earth.
The people assembled together to prove who is the true god. The one who can send fire to the altar will be the true God. So when the prophets of Baal call on him to send fire from morning to noon, there was no reply. But when Elijah prayed to God, He revealed himself by sending fire in response to Elijah’s prayer.
Before God sent the rain, judgment must be made. The false prophets had to be slain. God does not send showers of blessing until sin has been judged. If you want to receive God’s blessings, hate that which is evil and remove it from your life.
Elijah challenged the people to make a stand – to follow whoever was the true God. People enjoyed the sinful pleasure and other benefits that came with following Ahab in his idolatrous worship. But it is important to take a stand for the Lord.
Wealth, power, status and material possessions may become our gods if we devote more time to them than to God. But during time of crises, they offer no true assistance, guidance nor wisdom. We need the power and resources of the living God to provide our needs and the strength to carry though our lives.