Day 178- The Bible Recap

Today's reading is 1 Kings 17-19. Here's what stood out to me:

The LORD told Elijah to tell Ahab a drought was coming. The LORD continued to provide for Elijah though throughout the drought.

I thought this was interesting... I have a note in my Bible that according to Canaanite religion, Baal had authority over rain and fertility. We know, of course, that it is the LORD who is always in control. He wanted the people to see it was His authority governing them, not a pagan god.

In the LORD's provisions for Elijah, He had him stay with a widow. The widow had little, but the LORD promised more to her if she had faith to be generous. The LORD kept His word and provided more than she had to begin with. When the widow's son dies from illness, the LORD allowed Elijah to raise him back to life. It wasn't until after this miracle that the woman truly believed Elijah spoke truth.

Obadiah feared the LORD greatly and had been hiding prophets in caves, feeding and providing for them. What faith he had!

Elijah confronted Ahab. Ahab blamed Israel's calamities on him, but Elijah said, "I have not troubled Israel, but you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals."

Then we come to one of my favorite accounts of God's awesome power and authority. Through God's instruction, Elijah challenges Ahab's god, Baal, to a fire making contest. The Baal worshippers do everything they can think of to summon fire... call out to him, limped around the altar, eventually cutting themselves to no avail. Then Elijah rebuilds the stone altar they had torn down and calls for them to pour jars of water on the site, not once, not twice, but THREE times, so much that it created a trench of water. Elijah calls on the LORD to send fire so that their hearts might be turned back. This time the fire came fast and not only consumed the wood but also the stones, the dust, and the water in the trench! That's the power of our God! And then He sent the rain! Who do we need to pray for that the LORD might bring "the fire" to change their hearts?

Elijah slaughtered the prophets of Baal. Jezebel threatened his life, so he fled to the wilderness.

When Elijah found himself in a state of discouragement, the LORD called him to push ahead. He wanted him to get back to doing His work, and Elijah did.

~Ann Mays