While the other stories in this column have been focused on the kings of Israel and their impacts on history, the king and queen from this story deal specifically with one of the prophets of the Lord.
There was a severe famine and drought in the land of Samaria, where Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, reigned. The prophet Elijah is told by the Lord to go and declare himself to King Ahab for the Lord to bring rain. When Elijah arrives, he demands that Ahab take the 450 prophets of Baal to the top of Mount Carmel. On the mountain, Elijah suggests a competition between the God of Israel and Baal.
1 Kings 18:23-24 says, “ Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”
The prophets of Baal beg and plead for their god to send fire from the heavens. They dance and even begin to cut each other in an effort to gain the attention of their god. Their work is in vain, however, because Baal never responds.
When Elijah approaches the altar he pours 12 large jars of water on the wood, saturating it. He then calmly prays in verse 38 saying, “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”
After this prayer, flames fall from the sky engulfing the animal sacrifice, wood and water. The people begin to worship God and arrest the 450 prophets of Baal. According to his promise, the Lord sends a great rain upon the land.
When Ahab the king returns home to tell Jezebel about the embarrassment and arrests of the prophets of Baal, she sends a messenger to threaten Elijah’s life. Elijah is terrified and retreats to the wilderness to hide under a bush and wish death upon himself. An angel of the Lord approaches Elijah and encourages him to eat and drink. After this he journeys for 40 days until he finds a cave in which to seek shelter.
The Lord reveals himself to Elijah in 1 Kings 1911-13. “Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.”
The Lord meets Elijah where he is. God senses Elijah’s fear, and rather than reprimand him, he comforts him. The voice of the Lord commands Elijah to go back into the city and find a new prophet to continue the work of the Lord.
Even when evil rulers seek our downfall and threaten our beliefs, we can stand firm in trusting that the Lord has the final say and controls the outcomes of our life.
