“And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word”
(1 Kings 17:1).
Though we know very little of the life of Elijah, we do know he was a prophet devoted to God. He appears on the scene at a time when Ahab and his wife Jezebel were leading the Israelites away from the true God. The worship of Baal and other false gods would bring judgment upon Israel. God used Elijah to give a prophecy. Elijah could have just proclaimed this to the people. However, with boldness and courage he went straight to Ahab and Jezebel with his proclamation of judgment. There would be no rain upon the land for three years.
This came not only as a judgment against sin but also to prove to the people that their false gods could not bring rain. Coming before the king, Elijah could have been put to death, but God’s over-ruling providence stopped this from happening. He would have to flee, and God would take care of him during the famine about to happen. Tomorrow we will move one step closer to Elijah’s meeting with the widow of Zarephath.
Sue Winchester
Missouri
PRAY TOGETHER: Pray that God would raise up needed leaders within your congregation.
