I King 17:1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.
Elijah acted on that which he knew to be God’s word both written and revealed. God would bring a draught by His word, because of the sin of Ahab and those who allowed it to happen. This draught would come to everyone, children, and women and destruction until people would be brought to their knees. This was a Biblical warning long before Elijah came on the scene.
Deut 11:16-17 “Be careful or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow to them. Then the Lord’s anger will burn against you. And he will shut the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce and you will soon perish from the good land the Lord is giving you.”
Elijah was aware of Moses’ writings. He knew it was important to remember God’s Word and this blessing of the land to God’s people was conditional. The people were allowing such horrible apostasy to occur, not just in the nation but in their own homes. Elijah believed God could be counted on to keep His word both for blessing, as well as for judgment.
Israel believed Baal was the god of fertility. They believed Baal would give the harvest. He controlled the weather to allow the fruit to grow and the crops to be harvested. Elijah was already beginning the contest between false Baal and the God who lives. If Baal was the god of the harvest and the god of the weather then let’s see what he does when it doesn’t rain until Elijah says so through the spirit of God. It was a direct attack on the falsehood of Baal.
Elijah took God’s truth and prayed it into a reality according to the will of the Lord. But how do we know the will of God?
While serving as a St. Paul reserved police chaplain, there was a man who had bombed out a Shell gas station. He did so because the S on the sign was out. He read the Bible and listened to a voice that he believed was from God and acted in his emotional and psychological state that indeed was misguided. He needed to bring judgment on the _hell gas station.
will in truth and principle is revealed in the Bible. Yet, some people try to prove their point by turning to the Bible and taking passages out of context. The abuses of verses and principles in the Bible are the beginning of many cults and false teachers. Fortunately, in our age we have our Bibles and can check out so many false claims.
Do you believe God’s word? Most would say yes. But many do not act on their belief. What about keeping our promises, or tithing, or forgiving one another, or loving our enemies?
Elijah prayed earnestly. He had no power within himself. But he had a spirit that knew God lives, God is sovereign and God’s word is true. He believed that.
We are blessed in our day to have the Scriptures, have the Holy Spirit live within as our counselor, and have the avenue of prayers.
Application: Walk in the ways of God and His truth and in His promises as the days of 2024 unfold.
Prayer: Lord, keep me steadfast in Your Word, that I may KNOW Your Truth and walk in obedience.
