One of the most taught stories in children’s Sunday school classes is the story of Elijah. Its truths are not only good for the young; they also are good for the mature.
The prophet Elijah appears on the scene in 1 Kings 17 as he announces to Israel’s king, Ahab, a worshipper of Baal, there would be a drought “in the next few years except at my word” (v. 1). The Jewish people depended on the seasonal rains for the success of crops. If the rains in October, November, March and April did not come, famine would devastate the land. However, the blessing of the semiannual rain depended on the people obeying the covenant of the Lord. An extended drought, announced and controlled by Elijah, the prophet of Jehovah, would make it clear to everyone that Baal the storm god was not a true god.
With this prophecy, Jehovah led Elijah to “hide in plain sight” for the next three years because of the threat on his life by Ahab. God first led Elijah to camp by the Kerith Ravine where he was fed by ravens and drank from the brook until it became a victim of the drought. Next, Elijah was led to the village of Zarephath, located in Gentile territory not far from Jezebel’s home of Sidon which is Baal’s follower’s home territory. There, Elijah lived with a widow and her family where the Lord miraculously provided limitless ingredients for food out of what seemed to be a limited amount of oil and flour. The Lord also used him to revive her child from death.
In this time, we see how the Lord can lead the disciples who are faithful to him one step at a time as they listen to and obey his word. God did not give a three-year schedule to follow, but he directed Elijah at each critical time, and Elijah obeyed. It has been shown in God’s word that people who are proven to be faithful with a few things in small places can be trusted by the Lord with many things before many people in large places (Matthew 25:21). Elijah had proved the power of God in Baal’s territory of influence, so God knew him to be ready to challenge and defeat Baal.
In chapter 18, God led Elijah “to call out” Ahab and his god Baal in a “showdown” on Mount Carmel. In the three years, Jehovah had Elijah in his “seminary.” He taught and filled Elijah with the word of God. He prepared Elijah with the faith necessary to confront Ahab, his god and prophets.
In a lifetime of following God, Elijah was prepared for this time of crisis and uncertainty. In 18:20-21, Ahab commands the prophets of Baal to assemble on Carmel, and Elijah challenges the people to decide whether to follow the Lord or Baal, but the people remained quiet.
As in our day, their culture was dominated by the worship of the false gods of materialism and humanism. If followers of Christ are ever going to make a difference, we have to choose to “take a stand” in the face of the strong opposition of today’s Baals.
In 18:25-29, the prophets of Baal had cried out in vain for hours for their god to consume their sacrifice. At the end of their time, Elijah called the people to him where he prepared his sacrifice by building his altar, preparing the meat and flooding the sacrifice, altar and the ground around it with water.
In 18:36-37, he asks the Lord to reveal himself as God to his people. To answer this request, “The fire of the Lord, fell and burned up the sacrifice the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench” (v. 38). Elijah trusted in God’s help. So confident was he in the Lord’s leadership, he had no “plan B.”
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Because of Elijah’s faithfulness and trust in God’s help, his prayer was answered; the people witnessed the power of the God of Israel, and affirmed the Lord as their God. They killed Baal’s prophets and witnessed the end of the drought. Christians today can strengthen their stand for the Lord by recognizing and affirming God’s answers to their prayers.
After being so faithful and courageous on Mount Carmel, when confronted by the threats of Queen Jezebel, Elijah became fearful and discouraged. He fled to Horeb.
Many times, after great spiritual victories that require physical effort or great emotion, discouragement can set in. It happened then, it happens now.
In Elijah’s case, he was discouraged, exhausted and wanted to quit. However, God never ceased to meet his needs by having an angel provide him with food and water.
Today, believers need to be sensitive to the needs of God’s people, who after extended periods of stress and labor, need to “decompress.” They need to make themselves available to minister in the name of Jesus to those who have given their best for the glory of God.
Last of all, we see how graciously God dealt with the lonely, broken and worn-out Elijah. In 19:13, after hearing the Lord’s voice in a “gentle whisper,” he cried out to God his complaints of the rejection of Jezebel, his isolation from society and his fear of dying. Elijah was an emotional and spiritual mess. The Lord assured Elijah he was not alone in faithfulness. God’s response was to encourage Elijah to return to his ministry.
However, God’s leadership for him now is to prepare the next generation to continue his work. The Lord was calling Elijah to stop weeping over the past and running away from the present. The time had come for him to start preparing others for the future. God instructed him to anoint three future leaders. When God is in charge, hope lives. Elijah recognized this and followed the Lord’s leadership and finished well.
In our present time, there are many faithful, loving disciples who are where Elijah was then. They are weeping over the past and running away from the present. However, God calls us to look to the future and its challenges. He is already there. When God is in charge, hope does live.
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