Click to read 1 Kings 18
Synopsis
Under God's command, Elijah confronted Ahab and Jezebel. Boldly, he told Ahab what an evil king did not want to hear. Though it seemed a dangerous thing to do, Elijah obeyed and trusted God for His protection. In this episode, Elijah also confronted the people and asked them to take sides; either God's side or Baal's. He wanted to open the eyes of the people who had followed Baal and the pagan gods. Elijah wanted to prove to them that the gods of Baal were false and that Jehovah was indeed the true God.
He defeated 850 false prophets by the power of God and then slaughtered all the false prophets. Elijah also prayed for rain to come to stop the famine in the land. God answered him. Still in all this happenings, Elijah offered Ahab a final chance to repent before God executed His punishment.
Major Verses
V10-15 - While Obadiah was another faithful one and recognized Elijah, he was afraid for his own life when Elijah told him to inform Ahab that he was there. Obadiah knew that Ahab had been desperately looking for Elijah and so Obadiah was afraid that he would be punished if he could not relocate Elijah after informing the king. Elijah assured him that he would surely present himself to Ahab.
What I learn
God preserves His own in ways that we do not know. If we are faithful to Him, He will ensure that we are kept in His care. We need only to faithfully obey His word and direction.
V16-18 - When Ahab met Elijah, he accused him of being the trouble maker for the nation. Elijah was bold with God's boldness to confront Ahab and told him that it was him and his father that made trouble of Israel by leading the people astray to worship pagan gods.
What I learn
Telling someone the truth demands courage and strength. Elijah was telling a king off. He did it to obey God. When God instructs us to confront with the truth, we must just do that...confront with the truth. Shying away because the person is of higher authority or rank shows that we do not respect God nor trust Him.
V21 - Elijah challenged the people to make a stand for themselves - are they for God or for Baal. But the people were still undecided, perhaps because they were not sure, or they had enjoyed the sinful pleasures of the Baal practices so much that they were not prepared to give them up.
What I learn
It is important for us to take a stand for the Lord. We cannot waiver for our own pleasure or convenience. We are either for God or not. There is no mid-point.
V26-29 - The false prophets called and called on their gods. They even cut themselves and let blood flow to appease them to come and help. There was no response from their gods because they were false gods.
What I learn
False gods do not answer prayers. For many, their false gods include wealth, power, status, appearance, friends etc. These can become our false gods too, if we devote our lives to pursuing them. But when we need their help and cry out to them, these false gods cannot save us.
V36-38 - Elijah called for God to flash His fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice. He did this to convincingly demonstrate God's sovereignty and might. God did this to accomplish Elijah's mission.
What I learn
God will provide us with the resources needed to accomplish the mission that He gives to us. It may not be as dramatic as what Elijah saw, but still, He will surely provide the creative ways to accomplish His purposes. These include wisdom to raise a family, have a good relationship with other, courage to take a stand for Him and for His truth and so on. All we need to do is to trust and obey Him.
V46 - Elijah ran 6 miles back to Jezreel in order to give Ahab a second chance to repent before he joined Jezebel.
What I learn
God loves all sinner. He will do what is necessary to allow a sinner to repent. However, He does not make us puppets nor force repentance upon us. We all have to make our choice of obeying Him or not, but God will always give us a chance to be reconciled to Him ... Praise the Lord!
Summary
Elijah boldly stood for the truth and confronted an evil king. The false prophets paid with their lives for worshiping false gods. Only Jehovah is the true God.
Your sharings....leave them by clicking on the "Comments" link.
Up next
After a major victory and God's powerful demonstration, Elijah was frightened by Jezebel's threat to kill him and ran away, wanting to die. Sharing comes on next week on 25th...
Synopsis
Under God's command, Elijah confronted Ahab and Jezebel. Boldly, he told Ahab what an evil king did not want to hear. Though it seemed a dangerous thing to do, Elijah obeyed and trusted God for His protection. In this episode, Elijah also confronted the people and asked them to take sides; either God's side or Baal's. He wanted to open the eyes of the people who had followed Baal and the pagan gods. Elijah wanted to prove to them that the gods of Baal were false and that Jehovah was indeed the true God.
He defeated 850 false prophets by the power of God and then slaughtered all the false prophets. Elijah also prayed for rain to come to stop the famine in the land. God answered him. Still in all this happenings, Elijah offered Ahab a final chance to repent before God executed His punishment.
Major Verses
V10-15 - While Obadiah was another faithful one and recognized Elijah, he was afraid for his own life when Elijah told him to inform Ahab that he was there. Obadiah knew that Ahab had been desperately looking for Elijah and so Obadiah was afraid that he would be punished if he could not relocate Elijah after informing the king. Elijah assured him that he would surely present himself to Ahab.
What I learn
God preserves His own in ways that we do not know. If we are faithful to Him, He will ensure that we are kept in His care. We need only to faithfully obey His word and direction.
V16-18 - When Ahab met Elijah, he accused him of being the trouble maker for the nation. Elijah was bold with God's boldness to confront Ahab and told him that it was him and his father that made trouble of Israel by leading the people astray to worship pagan gods.
What I learn
Telling someone the truth demands courage and strength. Elijah was telling a king off. He did it to obey God. When God instructs us to confront with the truth, we must just do that...confront with the truth. Shying away because the person is of higher authority or rank shows that we do not respect God nor trust Him.
V21 - Elijah challenged the people to make a stand for themselves - are they for God or for Baal. But the people were still undecided, perhaps because they were not sure, or they had enjoyed the sinful pleasures of the Baal practices so much that they were not prepared to give them up.
What I learn
It is important for us to take a stand for the Lord. We cannot waiver for our own pleasure or convenience. We are either for God or not. There is no mid-point.
V26-29 - The false prophets called and called on their gods. They even cut themselves and let blood flow to appease them to come and help. There was no response from their gods because they were false gods.
What I learn
False gods do not answer prayers. For many, their false gods include wealth, power, status, appearance, friends etc. These can become our false gods too, if we devote our lives to pursuing them. But when we need their help and cry out to them, these false gods cannot save us.
V36-38 - Elijah called for God to flash His fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice. He did this to convincingly demonstrate God's sovereignty and might. God did this to accomplish Elijah's mission.
What I learn
God will provide us with the resources needed to accomplish the mission that He gives to us. It may not be as dramatic as what Elijah saw, but still, He will surely provide the creative ways to accomplish His purposes. These include wisdom to raise a family, have a good relationship with other, courage to take a stand for Him and for His truth and so on. All we need to do is to trust and obey Him.
V46 - Elijah ran 6 miles back to Jezreel in order to give Ahab a second chance to repent before he joined Jezebel.
What I learn
God loves all sinner. He will do what is necessary to allow a sinner to repent. However, He does not make us puppets nor force repentance upon us. We all have to make our choice of obeying Him or not, but God will always give us a chance to be reconciled to Him ... Praise the Lord!
Summary
Elijah boldly stood for the truth and confronted an evil king. The false prophets paid with their lives for worshiping false gods. Only Jehovah is the true God.
Your sharings....leave them by clicking on the "Comments" link.
Up next
After a major victory and God's powerful demonstration, Elijah was frightened by Jezebel's threat to kill him and ran away, wanting to die. Sharing comes on next week on 25th...
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