Weekly Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 12-22

This week we read about the several of the kings of Judah and Israel that reigned after Solomon died. However, the one we read most about, was Ahab...

Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. 1 Kings 16:30

And yes, he was EVIL. In fact, some of the stories of Ahab were incredibly dark. He was wrapped up in demonic practices through the influence of his wife, Jezebel. She had all the prophets of the LORD killed (though the LORD preserved some of them) and she raised up her own prophets to worship Baal.

For so it was, while Jezebel massacred the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah had taken one hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty to a cave, and had fed them with bread and water. 1 Kings 18:4

Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” 1 Kings 18:19

As we continue reading it is not hard to see how dark these practices were, and we can also see that some elements of these practices are still around in our day.

Now Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.” So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us!” But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made. And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.” So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. 1 Kings 18:25-28

Friends, the spirit of Baal is still alive today. Much of the darkness and brokenness we see in the world is driven by the same demonic spirits that were working in Ahab's day. I'm sure all of us can think of at least one current happening (or present person in power) that is twisted and evil. It can be so easy when we see brokenness and darkness in our world to fall into despair.

When we focus on the darkness we will constantly feel defeated because we have our eyes on the darkness rather than the light.

Praise God that in our reading today, we didn't just read about evil kings who had demonic practices, we also read about a man of God who was alive during the reign of the most vile king of Israel's history. That man was Elijah. Elijah was truly fighting a spiritual battle, not a physical one. But just as the same demonic spirits that were alive in Ahab's day are still thriving today - so to, the same Spirit of God that did mighty things through Elijah is also alive and prevailing in 2020!

Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.” Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed. And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, “Fill four waterpots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood.” Then he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time; and he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time. So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water. 1 Kings 18:30-35

Wait, hold on! Did I read that right? Elijah had them pour WATER on the alter?!?!? Now I've been hearing this story since I was a kid and I always thought that was super crazy because, DUH water usually puts out a fire. So why would you drench something in water if you are about to burn it? (Unless of course you are trying to display the awesome power of God!) But today when I read it I realized that there is SO much more there!

Israel was in the middle of a drought... there had been no rain in THREE YEARS!

Elijah wasn't just making it harder for the sacrifice to be burned, he was literally offering to God the most precious resource in all of Israel, and no small amount of it either!

What would it look like if we surrendered to God

the thing that is MOST precious and valuable to us?

selah...

The story goes on...

And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!” 1 Kings 18:36-39

What an incredible victory of the LORD! But you know what happened right after this? Elijah had all the prophets of Baal killed, and when Jezebel heard about it, she swore she would kill Elijah...

Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying,“So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 1 Kings 19:2

And do you know what Elijah's response was? He went and hid in a cave and moped...

And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” 1 Kings 19:10

Oh, how easy it is to focus on the darkness rather than the light. God's response to Elijah was one that we all need to hear, because it is so true that often after our greatest victories in the LORD, comes our greatest times of loneliness and discouragement.

"...I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal,and every mouth that has not kissed him.” 1 Kings 19:18

When we focus on the darkness we will constantly feel defeated because we have our eyes on the darkness rather than the light.

Elijah was one of the greatest prophets to ever live, yet he had moments of discouragement and loneliness just like me and you. So today as we read the scripture and the LORD speaks to our hearts to encourage us, let our eyes be set on the LIGHT because Jesus is the light! And let us praise God that the Light overcomes the darkness!

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5

~Abigail Escobedo