We are in 1 Kings 18.
Today, Scene 3, verses 41 - 46
God accepts the sacrifice. And Israel has a wave of reformation. They acknowledge that Jehovah is indeed God and the slaughter of the priests of Baal is a purging of evil from their midst. Elijah, recognizing that God accepted the offering, sends King Ahab to celebrate. Ecclesiastes 9:7 says, "Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do." Elijah said there was the sound of heavy rain. Did he hear something? Or was this the hearing of faith? I think it was the hearing of faith because Elijah goes to prayer - to the top of Mt Carmel - on his knees in humility. And he stays persistent and faithful in prayer. We don't know how much time passes ... but we do know that his servant went back to observe the heavens 7 times before he saw the smallest little cloud in the sky. That was enough. Elijah knew that the time was now. Two observations as we close this chapter ...
1. I am impressed by Elijah's persistence in prayer - his willingness to see this thing all the way to its end. He knew the rains were coming but he would not cease his communication with his God until it began. I can imagine how tired Elijah was. Expending yourself physically (he built an altar!) and emotionally (can you imagine the emotional investment?) drains every ounce of energy from your body. I might have wanted to go with Ahab to eat a bite and then sleep! But Elijah goes to prayer. I wish we knew what he was saying to God at this point. What we see is a man of God - quietly praying to his God - waiting in faith. Don't give up on your prayer. Are you praying for a spouse, or a child to experience new birth in Christ or reformation in life? Don't give up. Quietly, continually, pray to God ... and wait in faith.
2. When the cloud appears and Elijah knows the rains are imminent, he lets King Ahab know so he can get to the city before the roads become impassable with mud. I can see this scene. Those of us living in Houston experience it periodically. No clouds ... then a small one ... then a few large drops of water fall from the sky ... then the heavens open and water pours down ... and roads flood! The incredible part of this scene to me is verse 46. Read it again to refresh your memory. Why didn't Ahab honor Elijah by having him ride alongside him in his chariot? We know from previous verses that Ahab blamed Elijah for the drought. Does he not credit him now with the rains? Did he not want to talk with Elijah about further reformation in the kingdom? Or did he just want to be free of this prophet. Or is he so totally self-absorbed that he had no thought of Elijah now? Crisis over - back to ME - kind of thinking? So Elijah (through the power of God) RUNS in front of the chariot as one of Ahab's footmen! "Running before the king indicates service to that king" (NIV Application Commentary). Don't miss it! Elijah shows civil respect to the king of the land. To King Ahab. After being accused, ridiculed and even hunted ... Elijah shows civil respect to his king. We have some lessons to learn from Elijah. And this is a big one! What if they don't behave respectably? Well. Ahab didn't. What if I think they are totally wrong? Well. Ahab was - and will be again. What if I disagree completely with their philosophical positions? Well. Elijah certainly did not agree with Ahab.
Listen to Paul in Romans 13: 1 "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God." Those words were written to Christians in Rome during the reign of Nero. Nero!
Want to shine? Show respect to the governing authorities. Not because of them ... because of God. And pray ...
No comments:
Post a Comment