In Today's Email:
I Kings 18 Notes
In this chapter Elijah faces off against Ahab and the prophets of Baal at Mt. Carmel.
vs. 1-16 – Obadiah (“servant of the Lord”) is the steward of Ahab’s house. He is in an interesting predicament. He is faithful to God and has worked to undermine Jezebel’s orders to exterminate the prophets by hiding 100 prophets in caves. Because of the drought, Ahab worries about his horses (used for military) and mules. He and Obadiah go to search the land for grass to keep these animals alive. Elijah appears to Obadiah and tells him to tell Ahab that it was time to meet. Obadiah is naturally scared, knowing full well the fury of Ahab. He is afraid that if he tells Ahab that the prophet has reappeared and somehow Elijah disappears again that it will cost him his life. Elijah swears that he is really going to meet with Ahab. In one of the greatest encounters of all time, Ahab sees Elijah and asks, “Art though he that troubleth Israel?” Elijah responds that it was Ahab and his father’s house that were the cause of the distress because they forsook the Lord and worshipped Baal. The showdown is to be at Mt. Carmel and Ahab is to bring the 850 prophets of Baal.
vs. 17-40 – The contest is set: Baal vs. Jehovah. Two offerings were to be made, one for Baal and one for Jehovah. The test was to see which would send fire to consume the sacrifice. The prophets of Baal go first. They cry and carry on throughout the day. Elijah even mocks them. As evening approaches, Elijah takes his turn. He builds an altar of twelve stones and digs a trench around it. Water is brought in four containers and poured on the sacrifice, then this process is repeated twice more. After a short prayer by Elijah – just 63 words in English and 35 in Hebrew – fire falls from heaven and the sacrifice is consumed. The people acknowledge that Jehovah is the one true God. The prophets of Baal are killed at the brook Kishon. By what right did Elijah act? He was simply following the commands of God (Deuteronomy 13:5, 18:20).
vs. 41-46 - Elijah prays until his servant spots a rain cloud over the Mediterranean Sea. Elijah tells Ahab to get into his chariot and leave before the rain comes. Ahab heads for Jezreel as the rain begins to pour. Elijah outruns the horses and arrives there first.
I Kings 19 Notes
In this chapter the discouraged Elijah encounters God at Horeb and Elisha joins him.
vs. 1-8 – When Ahab tells Jezebel about what had happened at Carmel, she immediately seeks to kill Elijah by the next day. Elijah, the prophet that boldly stood against a king and hundreds of prophets, knew how merciless and evil Jezebel was and ran south for his life. He arrives at Beersheba then goes a day’s journey further into the wilderness. He sat under a tree and prayed that he may die. God let him sleep and an angel brings him food and water. Elijah has no other food for the next forty days, mirroring Moses (Exodus 34:28) and Christ (Matthew 4:2). He then travels to Mt. Horeb.
vs. 9-18 – Elijah is discouraged and depressed. He claims to be the only faithful follower of God left in Israel. God sends a great wind, a great earthquake, and a great fire – huge dramatic events! But God was not in those. Instead, He spoke to His prophet in a still small voice.
vs. 19-21 - Elijah finds Elisha (“God his salvation”) plowing. Elijah approaches him and casts his mantle on him, a sign of either adoption or calling. Elisha immediately understands and wishes to bid his parents goodbye. This surrender to the call was done in the heart of Elisha without Elijah’s influence. Elisha slays his oxen (no turning back now!) and feeds the people around him. The number of oxen (12 yoke = 24 oxen) is extraordinary. The first solution is that the ground was so hard that it required a great number of oxen to plow, but it seems implausible that so great a number would be used to pull a single plow. The other solution is that there are twelve plows each with their own yoke. This could indicate that Elisha was from a wealthy family.
Closing Thoughts
It is part of the human experience that the highest highs are often followed by a plunge into the depths of depression. Elijah had utterly humiliated and defeated the prophets of Baal, but the threat of Jezebel sent him running for his life. Note God’s care for his weary prophet. He provides food and rest. Then he provides a fellow laborer in Elisha, and the work continued on. It is a comfort to know that God does not dispose of us when we grow tired or depressed. He is patiently restores us and continues to use us.
Hymn for Today
Our hymn today, “Saw Ye Not The Cloud Arise?”, was penned by Charles Wesley. It is based on 18:44, and sees the outpouring of God’s grace as the coming of Elijah’s storm.
Saw ye not the cloud arise,
Little as a human hand?
Now it spreads along the skies,
Hangs o’er all the thirsty land,
Lo! the promise of a flower
Drops already from above,
But the Lord shall shortly pour
All the spirit of His love.
Sons of God your Savior praise,
He a door hath opened wide
He hath given the word of grace,
Jesu’s word is glorified:
Jesu’s mighty to redeem,
He alone the work hath wrought,
Worthy is the work of Him,
Who all things to being brought.
When He first the work begun
Small and feeble was His day,
Now the word doth swiftly run,
Now it spreads its glorious way;
More and more it shines and grows,
Ever mighty to prevail;
Sin’s strong holds it now o’erthrows,
Shakes the trembling gates of hell.