By
Randall L. Broad
Read: 1 Kings 19:1-21; Acts 12:1-23; Psalm
136:1-26; Proverbs 17:14-15
In 1st Kings, Chapter 17, we began the
story of Elijah. He is one of the better known prophets in the Old Testament
but his story is often ‘lost’ because it is found in the narrative of the Book
of Kings, rather than in a prophetic book bearing his own name. Yet, the New
Testament makes fifteen direct references to Elijah and the events of his life
(c.f. Matthew 17:10-11; Mark 9:11-13: Romans 11:2; James 5:17; etc.). In today’s reading God speaks to Elijah in a
very significant way, but understanding the significance requires understanding
the events that led Elijah to Mount Horeb.
Elijah was born at Tishbeh, possibly in the
territory of Naphtali and first becomes prominent when he prophesizes to King
Ahab about a drought (v. 17:1). The Bible tells us Ahab … did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him (v.
16:30). The Lord sends Elijah into hiding and the drought lasted three years
just as the prophet foretold. At the end of the third year, Elijah is commanded
to reveal himself to King Ahab and to pronounce the coming of rain (v.
18:1-15). In a manner that glorifies God, Elijah challenges all the prophets in
the land, to come to Mount Carmel and sacrifice to their gods (Verse 18:19).
With the ‘vast multitude’ present, he
calls upon the people of Israel:
22 Then
Elijah said to them, “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but
Baal has 450 prophets. 23Now bring two bulls. The prophets of
Baal may choose whichever one they wish and cut it into pieces and lay it on
the wood of their altar, but without setting fire to it. I will prepare the
other bull and lay it on the wood on the altar, but not set fire to it. 24 Then
call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god
who answers by setting fire to the wood is the true God!” And all the people
agreed.
1 Kings
18:22-24
“… The 450
prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah” call on their gods first–though
they cry out with orgiastic dances, it is to no avail. Their gods are silent
and Elijah taunts the prophets and their gods.
28So
they shouted louder, and following their normal custom, they cut themselves
with knives and swords until the blood gushed out.29 they raved
all afternoon until the time of the evening sacrifice, but still there was no
sound, no reply, no response.
1 Kings
18:28-29
Only silence … Elijah then builds his own altar,
digs a trench around it, and has the people pour water on the wood three times
until the trench fills up. He then lifts his voice and calls out to the Lord.
38 Immediately
the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the
wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the
trench! 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell face
down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is
God!”
1 kings 18:38-39
After God’s awesome display of his power reigning
down fire, all the false prophets of Baal and Asherah are killed and the Lord
brings rain ending the drought. … But once again Elijah must flee. King Ahab’s
wife, Jezebel is a Baal worshiper and she seeks vengeance against Elijah.
Overcome by fear in the wilderness, Elijah prays
for death. But God sends him on a journey to Mount Horeb where he first gave
the law to Moses. The Journey takes “forty days and forty nights”, a period
often associated with trial and hardship. Once he arrives, God speaks to him:
1 “Go
out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah
stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It
was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was
not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was
not in the earthquake. 12And after the earthquake there was a
fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the
sound of a gentle whisper. 13When Elijah heard it, he wrapped
his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Suddenly
a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
1 Kings 19:11-13
He still has plans that only Elijah can carry out.
… But notice how the Lord brings all these things to bear on Elijah, and in the
end he answers him with ‘the sound of a
gentle whisper’. This is a significant phrase because it reflects the
closeness of God to us. A speaker far away does not whisper. God was near to
Elijah when he spoke. The passage makes clear God was not in the wind, the
earthquake, or the fire but in the whisper. He was not in the chaos and
confusion of the world, but in the stillness of Elijah’s spirit. One of the
most common questions believers ask me is “… how do I know the voice of
God?” Elijah knew the voice of God the way a parent
knows the voice of their child in a crowded room. We know God’s voice when we
know His love, His promises, and His purpose for us.
See to it that you do not
refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned
them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us
from heaven?
Hebrews 12:25
Seek Him; read His Word; listen when you pray; be
patient and obedient … No matter what you might be facing in your life, no
matter how hard the wind blows, the earth quakes, or the fire burns; God is
near and His saving grace and redeeming love can be found in His gentle whisper.
Walk with the Lord …
Ephesians 1:17
(RLB250618)
© Copyright 2019: Randall L Broad
Disclaimer: This commentary is written by Randall L. Broad. It is in no way affiliated with or represents any denomination, university, church, or pastor. Any errors or omissions are purely my responsibility.
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