GOD’S RESPONSE TO AN EVIL KING

I typically try to inscribe three chapters a day in my granddaughter’s Bible. This morning it was my delight to cover I Kings 17-19.

After trudging through chapters about the early kings of Israel and Judah, these three chapters give a delightful break!

The last king mentioned is Ahab.  He is described:

Ahab son of Omri did even more open evil before GOD than anyone yet – a new champion in evil…He made the God of Israel angrier than all the previous kings of Israel put together.  [I Kings 16:30,33]

 

[All quotes from The Message Bible unless otherwise noted]

Upon reading of the continual descension of the faithfulness of israel’s kings, it would be appropriate to ask the question: HOW WILL GOD DEAL WITH SUCH AN EVIL KING AS AHAB?

The answer to that question is clearly given in chapters 17-19.

God responded to the evil king Ahab – and his even more evil wife, Jezebel – by sending an unknown prophet, Elijah, to Ahab with a message.

It’s a perfectly logical response!  Ahab is the epitome of evil!  Elijah is a picture of humility, submission and obedience to God! 

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For those who haven’t read these chapters recently, here’s a synopsis:

God sent Elijah to tell Ahab that as punishment for his evil ways, Israel would experience a three-year draught with absolutely no rain!

After delivering this message, God sends Elijah into a wilderness area near a stream and has birds bring him food to eat every morning and evening!  This sounds preposterous, doesn’t it?  But my response is one that comes from a chorus I learned when I was young:

“God said it!

I believe it!

That’s good enough for me!”  😊

When the brook dried up [due to the draught], God sent Elijah to a nearby village where he was to meet a woman.  Upon his arrival, Elijah found a woman preparing to bake a loaf of bread for herself and her son from the last of her flour and oil. Elijah asks her to first make him a bisquit and then prepare the rest for her and her son.  She explained to him that she sincerely expects that they will then die of starvation.

However, Elijah assures her that her jar of flour and bottle of oil will not run out until God sends rain on the land and ends the draught.  Elijah was cared for by the widow after that until her young son became sick and died.  She carried him to Elijah in anger that he had died.

Elijah prayed earnestly for the boy and he came back to life!

When three years had passed, God sent Elijah to talk with Ahab.  Ahab and his servant, Obadiah, had been vigorously searching everywhere for Elijah!  Obadiah was a God-honoring man who had protected a large group of prophets during the draught by hiding them away and bringing them food and water. 

AN INTERESTING FOOT-NOTE:

I find it interesting that God had planted a righteous man in close proximity to King Ahab!

I wonder how many world leaders have godly men or women in their midst as an influence?

A couple of years ago, I came across a news report about a Chinese evangelist named Zhou Jinxia who was arrested after trying to share the Gospel with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan.  ChinaAid says Jinxia frequently holds evangelistic signs outside a gate the couple regularly passes through. She is described as “an unbreakable, irrepressible Christian woman.” 

God always has a plan!  God plants Christian people near world leaders all of the time!  😉

Elijah meets Obadiah and has him deliver a message to King Ahab. Ahab is to call all of the people of Israel – including the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of the goddess Asherah together at Mt. Carmel.

When this gathering takes place, Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal to a contest to see whose God is the real god!  Elijah challenges the Baal prophets to build an altar and make a sacrifice BUT NOT TO LIGHT IT ON FIRE!  They are to pray for their god to light the sacrifice on fire!

Being a gentleman, Elijah let the prophets of Baal go first!  He teases them as they pray and cry out to their god all day long! Then, he builds his own altar using twelve stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel.  He prepares the sacrifice and then drenches the altar with buckets and buckets of precious water.  Finally, Elijah prayed:

“O God, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, make it known right now that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that I’m doing what I’m doing under your orders. Answer me, God; O answer me and reveal to this people that you are God, the true God, and that you are giving these people another chance at repentance.”

 

Immediately the fire of God fell and burned up the offering, the wood, the stones, the dirt, and even the water in the trench.

All the people saw it happen and fell on their faces in awed worship, exclaiming, “God is the true God! God is the true God!”   [I Kings 18:37-39]

 

After killing all of the prophets of Baal, Elijah prays for rain! He repeatedly sends his servant to the cliff to look out over the sea.  Repeatedly the servant returns with a report of no sign of clouds.  But finally – the seventh time – the servant returns and reports that he sees a cloud…very small, no bigger than someone’s hand, rising out of the sea,

Elijah warns Ahab to run for cover because a great storm is about to arrive.

There’s more to this story, but I’ll let those of you who are interested to pick it up and read it in I Kings 19.

 I suppose you’ve gotten the message.

 WHAT IS GOD’S RESPONSE TO AN EVIL KING?

 A RIGHTEOUS, HUMBLE AND OBEDIENT SERVANT!

Someone just like you or me!  Someone who believes and obeys God!  Someone who acts when God speaks!  Someone whose influence is impeccable!  A man or woman of courage and conviction! 

Don’t dare limit what God could accomplish through you – if you would just submit to His leadership in your life!  

RECOGNIZING GOD’S VOICE!

I’ve read that an unborn baby learns to recognize the voice of it’s mother – and even possibly it’s father. I remember getting close to Deb’s tummy and talking to each of our kids before they were born.

When I was allowed to start sitting apart from my parents during worship, I learned the sound of my dad’s finger-snap.  I could distinguish it from the finger-snap sound of every other man in the church! If I missed his signal – or ignored it – he would come and take me to the basement. You don’t want to go to the basement with my dad! 

But let’s face it, recognizing the voice of an ‘unseen other’ is a challenge!

Growing up in the church – as I did [almost literally 🙄] – I became adept even as a child at sensing the presence of God! Even while I was quite young, I frequently had a sense of my sinfulness and responded by going to the altar to pray! I was blessed to grow up in a church where we frequently experienced the presence of God!

When I responded in such a way as a seventeen-year-old senior in high school, I received my ‘call’ to ministry! Clearly, I was learning to discern God’s voice! 

I also remember the first time that God showed me something special in His Word! I was reading the book of the Acts of the Apostles. When I came to the martyrdom of Stephen in chapter 7, I felt God helping me to realize that almost everywhere in scripture, Jesus was described as being “seated at the right hand of God”. However, in verse 55 it tells us that Stephen “being full of the Holy Spirit gazed into heaven – as he was being stoned to death – and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.”  It was clear to me - in that precise moment - that Jesus was standing as a sign of welcoming to Stephen as he breathed his last breaths on earth and entered Heaven! I believed that God had directed my thinking in that moment to give me a personal insight into His Word!

Over my years as a pastor and teacher, I’ve heard many others tell similar stories of discerning God’s voice in a personal way!

Some of us were blessed to be born into homes where our thinking was directed toward God early in our lives! But fortunately God will speak to anyone who is willing to learn to discern His voice!

This process is described to us in a childlike way in the first three chapters of I Samuel.  You really need to read it for yourself to get the whole, wonderful story!

The gist of it is that Samuel is born to his mother after a direct appeal to God by a previously barren woman! In response to his birth, she dedicates him to the Lord and allows him to be raised in the temple area under the direct supervision of the high priest at that time – Eli.

Young Samuel actually slept in a bed in the Temple of God, where the Chest of God rested [3:3  -  All quotes from The Message Bible unless otherwise noted]. One night – as he slept – God called out to him: Samuel, Samuel!

Samuel answered, Yes? I’m here [v.4]. Then he ran to Eli saying, I heard you call. Here I am [v.5]. Eli hadn’t called Samuel. So he sent him back to his bed.

A second time, God called out to the young boy: Samuel, Samuel! [v.6].  Again, Samuel responded by running to Eli. Once again, Eli sent him back to his bed.

A third time, God called out: Samuel, Samuel!  And, of course, once again the boy ran to the high priest. This time, however, Eli realized that it must be God calling to the child. He sent Samuel back to bed with the instructions: Go back and lie down. If the voice calls again, say, ‘Speak, GOD. I’m your servant, ready to listen.’

When God called again to Samuel, he responded as he had been taught by Eli, and God delivered a very special message to the boy that would directly impact the high priest and his family.

The point is that Samuel – like all of us – had to learn to discern the voice of God! 

AND HE DID!

Samuel grew up to be one of the greatest judges/prophets of the Old Testament! He anointed both Saul and David as the first kings over Israel! He ministered God’s instructions and grace to the people of Israel for many years.

But like all of us – HE HAD TO LEARN TO RECOGNIZE THE VOICE OF GOD!

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This same message applied to another great Old Testament prophet named Elijah.

Now Elijah did many mighty things at the hand of God! After one of his greatest contests with King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, Elijah killed hundreds of their prophets of Baal and Ashtorah. Then, he was suddenly overcome with fear and fled into the wilderness where God comforted him.

Eventually, God directed Elijah to go to the top of Mt. Carmel with the promise that He would speak to Elijah there.

When he arrived, there was a great hurricane of tremendous wind; but God did not speak through the hurricane.

Then came a great earthquake; but God did not speak through the earthquake.

Finally, a great fire swept across the mountain as Elijah watched from his cave. But God did not speak through the fire.

When everything finally settled down, God spoke to Elijah in a gentle and quiet whisper!

When Elijah heard the quiet voice, he muffled his face with his great coat and went to the mouth of the cave [I Kings 19.13] where God gave him specific instructions about his future ministry!

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Have you heard the voice of God?

Have you learned to discern His voice?

If, indeed, it is a still, quiet voice – do you ever quiet yourself enough to be able to  hear it?

TAKE NOTE!

God loves you!

When you begin to follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit wants to direct your life too!

In spite of the fact that we have free will, we are not here simply to pursue our own agendas. We are here to serve the greater purposes of a kind and gracious God! You can be SURE that He will direct your path in a way that will positively impact others and encourage them to also serve God and His purposes.

Have you realized this yet?

GOD WANTS TO USE YOU TO IMPACT HIS WORLD WITH HIS GRACE AND PEACE!

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Now, go back to bed. And the next time God calls to you, say: SPEAK GOD! I’M YOUR SERVANT – READY TO LISTEN!

God only knows how your responsiveness and obedience might impact those in your sphere of influence!

AN OLD TESTAMENT STORY

The book of I Kings begins with a pathetic story that includes peculiar details.

Ahab had been an evil king over Israel [the northern tribes].  His wife, Jezebel, was a case-study in haughtiness and hatred!  Unfortunately, they ruled for a lengthy time – twenty-two years! Then, his son – Ahaziah – became king. 

Ahaziah apparently had a bad fall in the upper chambers of his residence.

He sent messengers and told them, ‘Go ask Baal-Zebub, god of Ekron, if I will recover from my injuries.’ 

[I Kings 1:2]

[All quotes from NCV unless otherwise noted]

God intervened by sending an angel to Elijah, the prophet, telling him to intercept these messengers.  When Elijah did so, he asked them why they were going to ask questions of Baal-Zebub, god of Ekron? 

“Is it because you think there is no God in Israel?” [v.3] 

Then Elijah told them to tell the king that he will not recover from his fall.

Upon receiving this message, Ahaziah sent fifty men to bring Elijah back to him.  When they arrived, their captain said, Man of God, the king says, ‘Come down!” [v.9].

Elijah’s response was:

“If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and burn up you and your fifty men.”  [v.10] 

That’s exactly what happened!

So Ahaziah sent another group of fifty men on the same mission.  The scene simply repeated itself!

Ahaziah sent a third group of fifty men.  Their captain was terrified and fell on his knees begging Elijah for mercy. 

God’s angel told Elijah to go with the captain.  Upon arriving, he delivered his message to Ahaziah, confronting him for ignoring the fact that there was a God in Israel!  Shortly after Elijah’s visit, Ahaziah died!

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Strange story – don’t you think?

What should we take from it?

It may simply be evidence that God desires obedience and recognition!  God will not be ignored.

After reading this chapter, I researched the kings of Israel and discovered that seven of its kings reigned for two years or less and they were all described as having displeased God!

• Nadab – 2 years
• Elah – 2 years
• Zimri – 7 days
• Ahaziah – 2 years
• Zecharaiah – 6 months
• Shallum – 1 month
• Pekahiah – 2 years

Was God trying to guide Israel back into the fold?

Many are unaware that Israel [after the kingdom divided] had nineteen kings and THE Bible clearly announces that ALL OF THEM DISPLEASED GOD!

In contrast, Judah [after the kingdom divided] had twenty-one kings and the Bible declares that twelve of them displeased God!  Of these twelve evil kings, six had relatively short terms:

• Abijah – 3 years
• Ahaziah [different from the one in Israel] – 1 year
• Amon – 2 years
• Jehoahaz – 3 months
• Jehoiachin – 3 months
• Gedaliah – 2 months

Meanwhile, kings of Judah that the Bible clearly declares as having pleased God seemed to enjoy longer terms:

• Asa – ruled 41 years
• Jehohaphat – ruled 25 years
• Joash – ruled 40 years
• Amaziah – 29 years
• Uzziah – 52 years
• Hezekiah – 29 years
• Josiah – 31 years

THIS BEGS THE QUESTION:

If Ahaziah – king of Israel – had responded to Elijah’s correction, would he have lived a longer life and enabled Israel to prosper?

My answer is implied, but you get to consider the evidence and make up your own mind!

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A TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY UPDATE:

God wants to be a part of your life!  He wants to be your first love!  He is trying to get your attention! He does not respond well to being ignored!

However, your response to God should not be one of fear.  We should not serve Him in hopes of living a long life. We serve Him to please Him and fulfill His purposes in our lives.  Serving God is a joyful expression of our love for Him and gratitude to Him! 

HOLY BOLDNESS REQUIRED

The prophet, Elijah, just pops up in the book of I Kings (chapter 17).  We are informed that he is from a village named Gilead [which was located just south of the Sea of Galilee on the eastern side of the Jordan River].

With no previous background provided, we are simply told that this prophet went directly to Ahab [king of Israel – the northern kingdom].

Essentially, Elijah delivered a threat to Ahab: “As surely as the LORD lives, no rain or dew will fall during the next few years unless I command it” (v.1).

Elijah is immediately told by the LORD: “Leave this place and go east and hide near the Kerith Ravine east of the Jordan River [Elijah would have been familiar with this place] (v.3).

Although this was a desolate place, it did have a water supply from a small stream.  This trip was apparently sudden because the LORD promised Elijah that there was water there and that He would cause the ravens to bring him food!  Yep! You read that right!  Verse 6 reports: “The birds brought Elijah bread and meat every morning and evening, and he drank water from the stream.”

Now the rest of the story is awesome, but we dare not move on without observing what has just taken place.

A relatively unknown prophet from a desolate region is instructed by God to go to the king of Israel and tell him that there will be no rain or dew in Israel without the command of the prophet. 

Now, verse 7 reports that eventually – while Elijah was in hiding – the stream dried up.  This was clearly a sign of the drought that God was imposing on the land of Israel!  Consequently, God sent Elijah to the village of Zeraphath to live with a widow who was facing her own personal crisis.  [More on that another time]. 

Israel has had a line of evil kings that sprung from the poor decisions of Jeroboam [whom God had hoped would be a strong and godly leader]. 

·         Jeroboam

·         Ahijah

·         Nadab

·         Baasha

·         Elah

·         Zimri

·         Omri

·         and finally Ahab

God is ready to rock the boat of this evil empire!  He apparently wants to get Ahab’s [and the Israelites’] attention!  He decided to use his prophet, Elijah, to accomplish this mission.  We know from the following chapters – as well as from James 5:17-18 – that it did not rain in Israel for over three years!

We can only imagine the suffering that this brought to the land!  It is likely that King Ahab sent out many soldiers to locate this flagrant prophet and bring him in for examination!  But, they couldn’t find him because God had hidden him!

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Now you can justify this away by saying that Elijah was a prophet.  But, in his age, a prophet was just a common person that God called for extraordinary purposes. 

But doesn’t that fit all of us? 

Last night, while waiting for the Cece Winan concert to begin, we sat eating and observing as the crowd slowly gathered around us. 

Suddenly, I turned to Debbie, but she wasn’t there.  That’s when I noticed her a few feet away talking to a man in front of us who was wearing a hoodie with the following words on the back of it: “My son is my Guardian Angel!”

Because of our own personal sensitivities regarding losing a son, my wife had gone to this man to inquire about his shirt.  He told her that he had lost his oldest son a while back.  And then he went on to report that they had also lost their youngest son a while ago. 

I watched as my wife had this man – with a long, straggly goatee (that I had joked about a few minutes earlier) - stand up.  She leaned over the chairs and enfolded him into her arms and prayed over him! 

Do you see why I love this woman so much? 

She’s obedient!  She’s responsive to God.

That’s HOLY BOLDNESS!  It’s also obedience! 

AND IT PLEASES GOD!  OH, HOW IT PLEASES GOD!

Lord of the Universe: Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

Many of us repent for not being obedient to Your leadings.

We have been stubborn children!

We think we can get along without obeying You – without responding to You.

Shame on us!

On some level, we know better. 

 

We have settled for comfortable Christianity!

We have come to believe that You don’t really expect much of us.

We have shaken off the command to “Go into all the world and make disciples.”

We are in and we’ve quit caring about those who aren’t!

 

Fortunately for us, You are willing to forgive us and give us a fresh slate!

We want to be effective followers!

We want to be courageous witnesses!

We want to be responsive listeners!

We want to be difference makers!

 

Only YOU can get us there!

We deliberately make ourselves soft in Your hands!

Take us and use us – FOR YOUR GLORY

And for the expansion of Your Kingdom!

Amen!