What do we learn so far? When do we assess the success of a confrontation? From Elijah’s perspective, all he had managed to do so far was alienate himself from the nation at large, send everyone into famine, and earn the king’s wrath. Three years after the rain stopped, Elijah is sent back to Ahab where he learns that there is indeed a price on his head. From here Elijah is exiled from Canaan where God meets both his needs and the needs of a widow and her son by the exercise of her faith. Alone by the brook, God provided for Elijah’s needs supernaturally until the lack of rain dried up the brook. The threat of retribution from Ahab was real. Immediately following the declaration of drought, God sent Elijah into hiding. For all he knew at the beginning, he was the only one left true to God, and the ultimate outcome was never guaranteed. We know the end of the story – Elijah didn’t. Baal’s supposed power over the weather was shown be be a sham and the LORD was to be owned as the true God. The institutional worship of Baal that Jezebel abetted and Ahab condoned was to be exposed. Fortified by fervent prayer (James 5:17), Elijah declared to Ahab that it would no longer rain in Israel until he gave the word. As a lesser confronting a greater, Elijah fearlessly confronted Ahab because he was clear that God had called him to the task. Sadly, we are all aware that confrontations are fraught with negative outcomes.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |