2007
June 10, 2007
Elijah 2: Consume the Sacrifice
Kathleen Maples
There is a drought going on in Samaria, the capital city of Israel. The whole region
of Israel is under severe drought conditions. Ahab, the king of Israel, lives in open
defiance of the Word of God having not only married Jezebel, the pagan daughter
of the Zidonian king, Ethbaal, but embraces her heathen religion and idolatry to
further pollute the worship of God and the faith of the people of God. Elijah has
been staying in the home of a widow woman in Zarephath, and the Lord had been
providing for them in the famine that had stricken the whole region. God has been
preparing Elijah for the events ahead and He has instructed Elijah to go face Ahab,
and warn him rain is finally coming. Everything has been dry for 3 years. The
animals are dying, people are dying, there is no harvest of crops. The people have
followed the leadership of the king and indulged the idols of their heart, and the
nations around them. They had followed the lust of their flesh, the sight of their
eyes, and the covetous desire to be like the rest of the world. They, like Esau, were
willing to trade their inheritance-God, off in order to satisfy the present lust of
their flesh and their carnal minds.
Ahab has made diligent search throughout Israel for Elijah. He's even sent to other
nations, making them search and declare by an oath that Elijah has not sought
refuge within their borders. When Ahab finally sees Elijah again, he is arrogant,
and accuses Elijah of being the root cause of Israel's dire problems. But it is the sin
and idolatry of the king and the people that has brought the judgment of God on
the land. Elijah is unafraid of the wrath of this king. Because he has listened and
obeyed God, his God has prepared him well to face the trials ahead. His faith has
been through the Refiner's fire.
1Ki 18:18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that
ye have forsaken the commandments of th