DEVOTIONAL

Israel is about to go through a series of kings during the reign of King Asa of Judah. To keep my head from spinning as each new king is introduced to the story, I notice how Israel pulls away from following the Lord to become Baal worshippers. Hearts are divided between Baal and Yahweh. The hope is in the promise that the Lord remains faithful even when we are not. And what stands out to me probably the most is the Lord always makes a way for His people to return to Him.

Before we dive into the reign of Ahab, let’s run through the succession of kingship for Israel starting with Jeroboam. Over 38 years, Israel moves through the following kings: Jeroboam to Nadab to Baasha to Elah to Zimri to Omri & Tibni (reign at the same time) to finally, Ahab. During this revolving door for Israel, the nation of Judah is led by King Asa which we touched on last time. It is in the 38th year of Asa king of Judah that Ahab becomes king of Israel.

In 1 Kings 17, the story breaks to introduce the prophet of the Lord, Elijah. The shift feels odd because Elijah is a prophet, not a king, and the narrative of Israel is being woven by the thread of kingship. My curiosity perks up when I feel an odd shift like this one. And through Elijah, we witness the presence of the Lord in two very different settings. One is intimate and the other is a big scale moment.

Q: Does the confidence in your faith in the Lord strengthen when the Lord works in big or small moments?

First, let’s look at the intimate and maybe mis-labeled “small” moment where a widow and her son see the presence of the Lord in a healing at Zarephath. It is important for us to know Zarephath is the heart of Baal worship. Also, Baal is the god of rain and fertility. When Elijah predicts a drought, the Lord sends him to the heart of Baal worship, to Zarephath. Through a series of events, Elijah meets a widow and her son on the brink of death due to the drought. They believe in Baal, but Baal is not showing up to save them. Who shows up? The answer is in 1 Kings 17:22-24. The prophet Elijah calls on the Lord and he listens. The Lord revives the son. The ripple effect is the widow encounters an intimate, personal experience of the presence of Yahweh, the Lord God of Israel, and changes her life to follow the truth of God and not Baal. Salvation comes to one and who knows the impact to her community as she testifies of the truth of the Lord. I love how the Lord chases after the one.

In an act of obedience to the Lord, Elijah leaves Zarephath and travels west to King Ahab about 20 miles from Mount Carmel. No big deal? Well, when Elijah calls on King Ahab the context is that the king has defiantly led Israel away from Yahweh and set up worship for Baal. All the prophets of Yahweh were killed except for Elijah. Yikes. Did you ask yourself what is God up to? Keep following along to find out. Essentially, 1 Kings 18 is a showdown between Baal and Yahweh, the God of Israel, to decide who is the One true God. Elijah lays out the terms for King Ahab and the 450 prophets of Baal. Each of us will build an altar, call out, and the God to answer by fire, he is God. This sounds like clear terms and easy to follow. The prophets of Baal go first. How kind of Elijah. What happens after they call on Baal all day? It says in 1 Kings 18:29, “there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.” Brutal. Embarrassing. Would you feel hopeless? I think about the times I devout energy over and over again to be perfect, work for an accolade, or take the next step in life, and it falls through. I am left limping. Why? The little gods I poured into did not answer.

How long will you go on limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.

1 Kings 18:21

Now, Elijah gets his turn to build an altar to Yahweh. Reading all that Elijah constructs from cutting up the bull, laying the stones, digging a trench, and drenching the altar and trench with water made me tired. Have you tried to dig a hole for a shrub? It’s hard work. Anyway, Elijah has the stage set for the Lord. He calls out to Yahweh in 1 Kings 18:36-37. I loved the words Elijah includes in his prayer. He starts with praise and proclamation that Yahweh is without a doubt the covenant God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Then Elijah asks God to answer for the sole purpose to turn the hearts of Israel away from Baal and back to Yahweh. He makes it clear this display is about Yahweh, not himself. Sometimes my prayers miss that piece of humility. Then immediately, the Lord responds in a big way. The fire of the Lord consumes more than the sacrifice. He consumes every drop of water too. The presence and power of Yahweh throws Israel to their knees face down. It is a big moment. Can you imagine the unified sound of the people, “The Lord [Yahweh], he is God; the Lord [Yahweh], he is God” in 1 Kings 18:39? How long has it been since Israel worshipped Yahweh in such a way? Hearts move back to the Lord. I love how the Lord forgives and welcomes back a repented heart.

O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done these things at your word. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.

1 Kings 18:36-37

The priorities of Israel were out of place. The incense offered up to Baal blurs their vision to see Yahweh, the One true God. King after king leads Israel further and further away from the Lord, but Elijah is sent by the Lord to remind Israel the presence and power of Yahweh that has never left. We will be prone to a divided heart like Israel limping around. Personal and societal pressures are inevitable. Where’s the hope? Speak the truth of God back to yourself and your community like the widow shows us. Fall down in reverence of the power of God when He answers in big ways like Israel shows us. If the relationship of Israel and the Lord has showed me one thing it is that continual pursuit of the Lord is a pretty steady path.

Q: Who is the person in your life who walks close with God that you give permission to call out the idol worship in your life? Give thanks for the people that remind you who the One true God is.