Womeninthechurch19

Women in the Bible

Lesson nineteen: by turtle

Last week lesson was cut a little short, but not for anymore reason but to introduce the
characters in the story of Queen Jezebel and King Ahab. Last week we discovered that even
though bad things were happening and God’s prophets were being killed, by the queen, God
was still in control. Some might wonder why did God not just put a top to Jezebel and allow to
even happen. Today we will see how God takes bad human choices and defeats them. Yes God
could of done it a lot simpler and just removed Jezebel from the earth, yet God in his infinite
wisdom allows humans to make choices and see the consequences of their choices. This is really
the over all picture of simple truth through out our own lives and throughout the Bible. And
God though humans do suffer, God still draws people back to Him when they see the power of
His might.

We left King Ahab with the governor Obadiah talking of the need for water. Ahab and Obadiah
would divide the land in search of water. Elijah was on his way to tell King Ahab that the
drought was over and God would provide rain.

1 Kings 18:5-7 KJV
(5) And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all
brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all
the beasts.
(6) So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by
himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
(7) And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his
face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?

Obadiah was so excited to see Elijah a great prophet that he fell on his face in reverence. This
was not unusual when meeting people of high standing. This did not make Elijah a god in no
form, but he was a man of honor. And Obadiah was paying a form of respect to Elijah. No
doubt Obadiah was shocked at seeing Elijah and even wondered if it was truly him, but when he
heard what Elijah had to say he was not pleased about the situation.

1 Kings 18:8-11 KJV
(8) And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
(9) And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of
Ahab, to slay me?
(10) As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not
sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and
nation, that they found thee not.
(11) And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

Obadiah had just left Ahab and not Elijah says go tell the king he wants to have a meeting.
Ahab and searched high and low for Elijah and no where could he be found. And now he wants
to talk to Ahab after avoiding him. He was afraid Elijah would disappear again after he told
Ahab Elijah was there. This is human instinct to fear danger. For Obadiah would be in trouble
if he lied to the King. Now Obadiah then begins to give his testimony of service to God to
Elijah. I wonder if he really thought that would change Elijah mind. No it would not.

1 Kings 18:12-14 KJV
(12) And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD
shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee,
he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.
(13) Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid
an hundred men of the LORD'S prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?
(14) And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me.

Obadiah had obeyed the Lord from his youth and not only that but hide the prophets when
Jezebel was killing God’s prophets and provide food and water for them. And now Elijah
wanted Him to go tell king he knew where Elijah the prophet was. Oh yes how the fear of Ahab
was upon governor Obadiah. I think the fear of death had capture Obadiah, and he need the
word of Elijah to confirm he would meet with King Ahab. And of course Elijah promised he
would meet with Ahab that day.

1 Kings 18:15-17 KJV
(15) And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew
myself unto him to day.
(16) So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
(17) And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that
troubleth Israel?

Ahab come to Elijah to see him and ask Elijah is it his fault for the trouble that Israel was
having. Ahab was looking at Elijah as some type of wizard or magician that could cause harm.
Giving Elijah a god like image. Fact is God was the one torment Ahab with a lack of water.
How often do we blame someone for God’s correction in our life. You might say will I never
experienced God’s correction. Then I say better began to repent now. Elijah then turns the
tables on Ahab.

1 Kings 18:18-20 KJV
(18) And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye
have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.
(19) Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of
Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's
table.
(20) So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto
mount Carmel.

Elijah quickly explains the problem is in Ahab household. That they have forsaken the God of
Israel and gone and worshipped Baal. This of course had anger God and that was why they had
had a drought. Elijah did not for Ahab to have a response but tell him to go get Baal prophets
and Israel and go to Mount Carmel. The number of prophets of Baal was 450 which is a large
number of false ministers. King Ahab goes as instructed and gathers the people at Mount
Carmel. Elijah then precedes to give the people a choice to who they will serve.

1 Kings 18:21-23 KJV
(21) And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if
the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a
word.
(22) Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's
prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
(23) Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves,
and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other
bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:

Elijah in a since made what we might consider a bet. Not something many would do today, but
nonetheless a bet that if God was not who He one prophet proclaimed then the people could
worship Baal and he would say nothing more about it. And if God was real then everyone was
going to worship God. He was laying it out to say believe or not to believe, prove God is not
real. Elijah was saying here you go your 450 prophets lets see what they can really do.

People and false prophets being what they were took up the challenge. They were provide with a
sacrifice and could not light a the fire. If Baal would light the altar of the false prophets then
Baal would win. If God would light the altar for Elijah, Elijah God would win.

1 Kings 18:24-26 KJV
(24) And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the
God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well
spoken.
(25) And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and
dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.
(26) And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the
name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice,
nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.

The prophets of Baal began to call upon their god Baal. Yet Baal did not answer. In fact Baal
continue to do nothing even until noon. Still nothing happened and the prophets began to cut
themselves. Does that sound familiar to you about what kids and young adults are doing today
by cutting themselves. Why would God have you harm yourself for Him. It not unusual for
others to oppose God’s people, but to inflict pain on yourself no God does not do. Baal is
definitely a false god. A god that means harm and not good for the people.

1 Kings 18:27-29 KJV
(27) And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a
god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth,
and must be awaked.
(28) And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till
the blood gushed out upon them.
(29) And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the
offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that
regarded.

Elijah mocks the priest of Baal, and encourages them to holler even louder. Not only did the
Baal prophets cut themselves but they also began to bleed. Beware of what your kids are
involved in today. Some are getting involved in occults that are slicing their wrist and doing
things to draw their own blood. Parents of youth look at what is happening and ask questions.
The devil is a liar and would love to cause harm to our children as will as to us. Devil has no
power and neither did Baal

Elijah then proceeds to make his sacrifice to God. He not only builds an altar with 12 stones
representing the tribes of Israel, but also digs a trench and pours on the altar. Now common
sense says water. If you want something to burn you do not use water, you use gasoline. Of
course I doubt seriously they had fuel like we do today. But yes water was pour and filled the
trench full.

1 Kings 18:30-35 KJV
(30) And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near
unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.
(31) And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob,
unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:
(32) And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench
about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
(33) And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood,
and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.
(34) And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the
third time. And they did it the third time.
(35) And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.

Not only did Elijah pour water once but three times on the altar. That altar was sod soaked.
Nothing could start the wood burning and the sacrifice but God. That evening when it was time
for evening prayers Elijah began to pray.

1 Kings 18:36-39 KJV
(36) And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the
prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this
day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things
at thy word.
(37) Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and
that thou hast turned their heart back again.
(38) Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the
stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
(39) And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the
God; the LORD, he is the God.

Elijah prayed and the fire fell an consumed the altar, the sacrifice and even the water in the
trench. This cause the people to turn to the Lord in fear and trembling. The people knew that
God was real. Elijah then had the false prophets killed, because they had not only cause Israel
to sin against God. Realize Elijah was one man, against 450. They could of easily took Him, but
they did not. God fought for His people that day with little effort.

1 Kings 18:40-46 KJV
(40) And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And
they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
(41) And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance
of rain.
(42) So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast
himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,
(43) And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and
said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.
(44) And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud
out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and
get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.
(45) And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind,
and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
(46) And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab
to the entrance of Jezreel.

Now Elijah told Ahab to go eat and drink rain was coming. And as Elijah waited on the rain, he
had his servant go seven times to the sea until a cloud appeared like a man’s hand and the
clouds rolled in and were black with rain. And Elijah depart and Ahab went to to Jezreel. At
this point one might wonder what was goin on in the mind of Ahab did he believe what he
witness that day. Was this just the first step in learning about the Lord and His power and
might. Jezebel his wife had caused sin to rule in Israel and no doubt Ahab had backed the plot.
Yet even so God began to show his might to ungodly people. That day they worshipped God
would they continue. How often after a major event we might fall on our face before God and
thank Him for deliverance and mercy, yet in a few months even a few day or weeks we back to
doing our old things. What will Ahab and Jezebel do next. God had not forgotten his people
but He had to remind them of who He was.