Read 1
Kings 16-18 & John
1:29-51
To discover:
As you read note how God displays
his surpremacy over Israel’s
false gods.
To ponder:
Continuing with the northern
kingdom, another prophet, Jehu, now declares God’s word of judgement against
Baasha just as Ahijah had to Jeroboam (see 14v7-11). God used Baasha to punish
Jeroboam, but will still punish Baasha for what he did (16v7)! The fact that
God uses evil for good doesn’t justify the evil.
Baasha’s
son Ela succeeded him. He and Baasha’s entire family are then killed by Zimri,
fulfilling Jehu’s word. This was because both had “provoked” God’s anger by
their idolatry. Yet after only seven days, the Israelites proclaimed Omri king
instead. He took the royal city of Tirzah,
burned the palace, and killed Zimri - again,
as God’s judgement. After putting down a rebellious faction Omri then properly
became king, building a new royal city called Samaria.
Omri
and Ahab (his son and successor) do “more evil than any of those before them,” with
Ahab being led into Baal worship by his Sidonian wife Jezebel, who actually executed
God’s prophets (18v4). As a sign of wider disobedience, we also read of Hiel
rebuilding Jericho and so losing
two sons according to Joshua’s curse (Jos 6v26).
Again
and again then, events occur “in accordance with the word of the LORD.” It is truly astonishing that some
Christians today can questions it authority or trustworthiness.
History
now slows to focus on Ahab and Elijah. Elijah’s prediction of a drought but for
his “word” not only shows Israel
to be under the covenant curses because of her disobedience (Deut 28v22-24),
but that the nature gods she had turned to were false. By contrast, God’s
ability to provide if the people are faithful is seen in his action towards Elijah.
As with Israel
in the desert he supplies water and governs even birds to supply bread and
meat. Moreover, God’s provision through and for the impoverished widow shows he
can provide from next to nothing, and will do so according to Elijah’s word (17v12-16).
Supremely, the potential of Elijah’s prayers for rain are displayed when God
answers his prayer by restoring life to the widow’s (only? 17v13) son. This all
proved Elijah was “a man of God” who spoke the true “word of the LORD” (17v24),
and that Israel’s
fate was not due to any lack in God. We also see miracles accredit God’s
spokesmen, as they did Moses - and Christ who raised a widow’s son himself (Lk
7v11-16).
After
three years of drought God finally sent Elijah to Ahab. Obadiah’s actions (18v3-6)
show not all in the north were faithless and encourages readers in unbelieving
contexts to remain “devout” and serve God not man. Yet Obadiah acts for Elijah,
only when he gives his word that he won’t disappear.
Meeting
Ahab, Elijah affirms Israel’s
troubles are due to her idolatry, and gets Ahab to assemble the people and
prophets of Baal and Asherah on Mount Carmel. Elijah’s
words are poignant in our pluralistic culture. There can be no mixed religion.
People must decide who is the true God and “follow him” (18v21). And it is
clear who we should choose. One true prophet faces 450 false ones, whose gods
are shown by the detail to be impotent, and their prayers therefore futile. Having
soaked his altar, Elijah prays that God would act to affirm him, but also show the
people the LORD is the true God and turning their hearts back to him. When fire
consumes literally everything, the people then cry “the LORD – he is God!” The
event should strengthen our faith.
The
false prophets were then killed as God’s law required (Deut 13v1-5), and Elijah
could tell Ahab to go and eat and drink because, with this repentance by the
people, rain was on its way. We can assume he had his face between his knees in
“powerful and effective” prayer, which James says is a model for us (Jam
5v13-18). After a dramatic build up, the heavy rain then comes.
Praying it home:
Praise God for his abundant
provision not just materially but spiritually. Pray that you would give him
alone your allegiance, and pray with Elijah’s confidence in what God can do.
Thinking further: The number three
There may be some stress on the
number three in this passage. Elijah lies on the boy three times before he is
healed, the drought lasts for three years, and he has water soak his altar
three times. Every word of scripture has its purpose. Although the number three
can be no more than a number, the use here seems to highlight the
correspondence between God’s ability to give life to the boy and his giving
life to Israel
proved ultimately by his consuming what is on the altar. Elsewhere too, the
number three designates a particularly significant event or period of time – as
it does in terms of Christ’s resurrection.
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