Tag: Elijah

The Cost of Ignoring Truth

1 Kings 21–22

Psalm 63

2 Corinthians 1

-devotion by Brian Froehlich (IL)

1 Kings ends with two powerful reminders:

God sees injustice.
And truth does not change simply because people refuse to listen to it.

Chapter 21 tells the heartbreaking story of Naboth’s vineyard.

King Ahab wanted Naboth’s land, but Naboth refused to sell it because it was part of his family inheritance under God’s law. Ahab responded like a spoiled child — sulking, pouting, and lying in bed angry because he could not have what he wanted.

Then Jezebel stepped in.

She arranged false accusations, manipulated the legal system, and had Naboth executed so Ahab could seize the vineyard.

It is one of the clearest examples in Scripture of powerful people abusing authority for personal gain.

And God saw every bit of it.

Elijah confronted Ahab with devastating words of judgment. Yet something remarkable happened afterward: Ahab humbled himself temporarily, and God delayed part of the judgment.

Even here we see God’s mercy mixed with justice.

But chapter 22 may be even more sobering.

Ahab wanted reassurance before going into battle. So hundreds of prophets told him exactly what he wanted to hear:

“Go, for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”

Only one prophet, Micaiah, told the truth.

And everybody hated him for it.

Ahab openly admitted:

“I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad.”

That sentence reveals something deeply dangerous about human nature.

Many people do not actually want truth.
They want reassurance.
Validation.
Comfort.
Approval.

They want spiritual voices that confirm their desires rather than challenge their hearts.

False prophets often become popular because they remove the discomfort of repentance.

Micaiah stood alone and spoke the truth anyway.

And he was imprisoned for it.

Ahab ignored the warning, disguised himself in battle to avoid danger, and still died exactly as God had foretold. A random arrow struck him between the armor plates.

No disguise could hide him from God.
No political power could override truth.
No amount of denial could change reality.

That is one of the major themes running throughout 1 Kings:

Human leaders repeatedly fail.
Human wisdom repeatedly collapses.
Human kingdoms repeatedly drift toward corruption.

But God remains faithful.

And despite all the darkness in these chapters, Scripture continues pointing forward to a better future — a righteous King who will judge perfectly, defend the innocent, and establish true justice forever.

Unlike Ahab, that coming King will not abuse power.
Unlike false prophets, He will speak truth completely.
Unlike earthly kingdoms, His reign will not end in corruption and death.

That is where the story of Scripture is heading.

Toward resurrection.
Toward restoration.
Toward the Kingdom of God.

Three Things to Remember
  1. God sees injustice.

Naboth’s murder was not hidden from the LORD.

  1. Truth is often unpopular.

Micaiah was hated precisely because he spoke honestly.

  1. Human kingdoms fail, but God’s Kingdom will endure.

Ahab’s reign ended in death, but God’s promises continued forward.

The end of 1 Kings leaves us with an important question:

When truth confronts us, will we humble ourselves before God…

Or only listen to voices that tell us what we already want to hear?

Reflection Questions

  1. What do you do with truth that contradicts what you want to hear? Give some examples.
  2. Where do you see injustice? How might God want you to respond?

Prayer

Dear God – Thank you for your faithfulness! Give me a discerning heart that knows truth and stands strong against lies and injustice. Thank you for your love and guidance today and your Coming Kingdom where truth and righteousness will reign forever.

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God Still Speaks in the Silence

1 Kings 19-20

Psalm 63

1 Corinthians 16

-Devotion by Brian Froehlich (IL)

Right after the incredible victory on Mount Carmel, Elijah collapsed emotionally.

That may surprise some people.

Fire had fallen from heaven.
The prophets of Baal had been defeated.
Rain finally returned after years of drought.

And yet, when Queen Jezebel threatened his life, Elijah fled into the wilderness exhausted, discouraged, and afraid.

1 Kings chapter 19 is one of the most honest portraits of human weakness in all of Scripture.

Elijah sat down under a tree and essentially told God:

“I have had enough…”

This mighty prophet felt isolated, overwhelmed, and convinced he was alone.

That truth matters because faithful believers sometimes experience deep exhaustion too.

Even people who trust God can become emotionally drained.
Even strong leaders can become discouraged.
Even courageous servants of God can feel afraid.

And notice how God responded.

Not with cruelty.
Not with mockery.
Not with condemnation.

God gave Elijah rest.
Food.
Time.
Gentle correction.

Sometimes spiritual burnout is not solved by trying harder for five more minutes. Sometimes people genuinely need rest, nourishment, and renewed perspective.

Then Elijah stood on the mountain waiting for God.

A violent wind came.
An earthquake came.
A fire came.

But the LORD was not in those dramatic displays.

Then came a gentle whisper.

And God spoke there.

There is an important lesson in that moment.

God certainly can work dramatically. Scripture contains miracles, judgments, and astonishing displays of power. But often God shapes lives quietly through His word, His presence, faithful endurance, and steady obedience over time.

Many people constantly chase dramatic experiences while neglecting the quieter ways God is already speaking.

Meanwhile, chapter 20 shifts back to political conflict as God gives Israel victory over powerful enemies despite Ahab’s wickedness. Once again we see God showing mercy and patience far beyond what people deserve.

But Ahab continued struggling with partial obedience.

God gave clear instruction, yet Ahab compromised.

That pattern appears repeatedly throughout Scripture and throughout human history. People often want God’s help while resisting God’s authority.

Yet even through flawed leaders and discouraged prophets, God continued moving history toward His greater purposes.

Elijah thought he was alone, but God revealed that thousands still remained faithful.

Sometimes we also become convinced that truth has disappeared completely, that faithfulness no longer exists, or that evil has fully won.

But God always sees more than we do.

And His plan continues moving forward even when we cannot fully see it.

Ultimately, Elijah’s story points forward to the greater hope of God’s coming Kingdom — a future where fear, injustice, idolatry, exhaustion, and death itself will finally be removed forever.

Three Things to Remember
  1. Even faithful people become discouraged sometimes.

Elijah’s exhaustion reminds us that spiritual struggles are real.

  1. God often works quietly.

The LORD spoke to Elijah through a gentle whisper, not merely dramatic displays.

  1. You are probably not as alone as you think.

God still had thousands of faithful people Elijah could not see.

Sometimes the loudest moments in life are not where God speaks most clearly.

Sometimes His voice is found in quiet faithfulness, steady endurance, and the gentle reminder:

“I am still here.”

Reflection Questions

  1. When was the last time you tried sitting in silence?
  2. When have you felt alone? How were you proved wrong? Who do you know who might feel alone right now and how can you prove them wrong?
  3. What are helpful things you can do when you feel spiritually exhausted or overwhelmed? What are not helpful things?

Prayer

Dear God – I thank You for being constant and forever faithful. When I am overwhelmed or spiritually exhausted help me see You are there. Please show me that I am not alone. And help me share Your presence with others.

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When God Speaks Through the Fire

1 Kings 17-18

Psalm 62

1 Corinthians 15

-Devotion by Brian Froehlich (IL)

The spiritual darkness in Israel had deepened dramatically.

King Ahab and Queen Jezebel aggressively promoted Baal worship, persecuted God’s prophets, and led the nation further from the LORD. Baal was supposedly the god of storms, rain, and fertility. So when drought struck the land at Elijah’s word, it was not random.

It was a direct challenge.

1 Kings chapters 17–18 introduce Elijah suddenly and powerfully. He appears almost out of nowhere and boldly announces that there will be no rain except at his word.

Then God begins teaching lessons through unlikely places.

He feeds Elijah through ravens.
He sustains a poor widow during famine.
He raises the widow’s son back to life.

Again and again, God demonstrates that He is not limited by human weakness, economic hardship, or impossible situations.

One of the most beautiful parts of these chapters is the widow’s story.

She believed she was preparing her final meal before death. Yet when she trusted God’s word through Elijah, the flour and oil did not run out.

Sometimes God asks people to trust Him when circumstances appear hopeless.

Not because He enjoys watching people struggle, but because dependence often reveals where our faith truly rests.

Then comes Mount Carmel.

It is one of the most dramatic moments in Scripture.

Elijah stands alone against hundreds of prophets of Baal and asks the people a piercing question:

“How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him…”

That question still echoes today.

Many people want spiritual neutrality.
A little truth.
A little compromise.
A little worship of God mixed with whatever else the culture values most.

But divided loyalty never leads to peace.

The prophets of Baal cried out desperately all day, yet nothing happened. No fire. No voice. No answer.

Then Elijah prayed simply and confidently.

And fire fell from heaven.

The moment was not merely about spectacle. It was about truth.

The people needed to know that the LORD alone was truly God.

Our modern world may not bow before carved idols named Baal, but idols still exist. People still worship power, pleasure, politics, money, fame, comfort, and self. Human hearts naturally attach ultimate value to something.

And whatever sits in God’s place becomes an idol.

Yet there is another important truth in these chapters: God is patient.

For years Israel drifted. For years God sent warnings. Even on Mount Carmel, Elijah’s challenge was ultimately an invitation for the people to return.

That invitation still exists today.

The God revealed in Scripture is not merely looking for outward religion or emotional moments. He desires wholehearted faithfulness and trust.

And ultimately, Elijah’s victory points forward to an even greater future day when God will fully remove false worship, injustice, and spiritual darkness from the earth.

One day His Kingdom will come completely, and truth will no longer compete with deception.

Three Things to Remember
  1. God often works through impossible situations.

The widow’s empty jars became a testimony of God’s provision.

  1. Divided loyalty leads nowhere.

Elijah challenged the people to stop wavering between God and idols.

  1. Truth will ultimately prevail.

The fire on Mount Carmel revealed who truly held power.

The people on Mount Carmel wanted visible proof before committing themselves.

But the deeper issue was never lack of evidence.

It was the condition of the heart.

Reflection Questions

  1. How did God work in and through Elijah’s life? In what ways would you like to be more like Elijah? (check out James 5:17 for some inspiration)
  2. Where have you seen God work through impossible situations?
  3. Consider your worship of God. Do you ever waver between two opinions or dilute full faithfulness? Could it ever be said of you that you displayed “A little worship of God mixed with whatever else the culture values most”? Are there any changes that need to be made?

    Prayer

    Dear God – I praise You for being a God of power, truth and patience. Thank you for all the times You have provided just what I needed exactly when I needed it. There is NO God but YOU. Give me an undivided heart that trusts and looks to You in all things, at all times. Help me to boldly proclaim You and Your way, Your Son Jesus and Your Coming Kingdom.

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    It’s Personal

    1 Kings 17-19

    I have appreciated the opportunity to read and share my thoughts with you across these seven days. We’ve traced the unfolding drama of the divided kings and kingdoms of Israel. We’ve watched the culture shift, the crowd move to and fro, and the pressure rise and fall, but through their stories, one truth rings clear: the faithful know that wisdom comes from God alone.

    “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” (1 Kings 18:21)

    Looking momentarily at my own nation, America is a nation with deep Judeo-Christian roots, as many of our founding documents demonstrate a commitment to God as the architect of the law that governs us. Our motto makes mention of our trust in God, we proclaim His work in our patriotic songs, open government functions with prayer, and swear in our presidents with their hand on His Word. I am one of many who believe the blessings we enjoy as a nation—even in today’s troubling times—can be attributed to the enduring declaration that the God of Israel and the Father of Jesus Christ reigns here.  Sadly, more and more are living on borrowed blessings as the altars of moral revision, self-importance, and political convenience are being fashioned and raised.

    Today, we look to the prophet Elijah, who lived as a lone voice for the Lord in a nation God had once richly blessed. Elijah wasn’t trendy or tribal. His conversations with God were authentic and intimate, and he took action as one who was swiftly obedient. His faith was so personal that he was often fully dependent on the Lord even for his next meal—fed by ravens and sustained by a jar of oil and flour that never ran dry. How ready would we be to fight off the enemies of God, to recite and rely on His promises, and even to expect miracles in His name, if we lived with this kind of faithfulness?

    Each of us is called to that kind of personal, committed, lived-out faith. It may seem like faith is inherited—passed down through our nation’s heritage or through family and friends—but true faith is never proximal. Hanging with a spiritual crowd, attending high-energy worship services, or serving on a ministry team are not guarantors of a relationship with the Lord.  Personal faith is born in the discomfort of repentance, in the surrendering of fear, and in the offering up of our possessions. These are the intimate things God desires from us. In the abandonment of self, we begin to hear God’s call clearly—and are emboldened because we know our Creator personally.

    “At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: ‘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.” – 1 Kings 18:36–37

    In this week’s reading, we’ve seen that change in a nation is inevitable. I pray that “In God We Trust” will continue to stand as a reminder of our nation’s steadfastness for the Lord. But however long it endures, let it always point us to something greater—our personal relationship with God, built through surrender, obedience, and faith. If the Lord is God, stand for Him—even if you stand alone. Because at the end of the day, it’s personal.

    -Aaron Winner

    Reflection Questions

    1. What character traits do you find in Elijah? Is there one you would like to have more of in your life? How would you go about adding more?
    2. What choices are before you today?
    3. Which one will you choose? Why?
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    Elijah – the Lord Jehovah is my God

    1 Kings 17

    March 13

    1 Kings 17 has so much in it, it’s almost impossible to cover it all in one devotion.  It starts with Elijah standing before King Ahab and declaring that there wouldn’t be rain for the next few years, except at Elijah’s command.  We need a little context for this.  King Ahab’s wife was Jezebel, a foreigner, who worshiped Baal.  Baal was the Phoenician fertility god that supposedly sent rain.  Jezebel was actively trying to cause Israel to worship Baal, and was trying to eliminate the worship of Jehovah, the one true God.

    God had made promises to Moses long before in Deuteronomy 11:13-14, “If you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today – to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul – then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine, and oil.”  In Deuteronomy 28, we find the curses for turning away from God.  In verses 23-24, we find, “the sky over your head will be bronze, the ground beneath you iron.  The Lord will turn the rain of your country into dust and powder; it will come down from the skies until you are destroyed.”

    Remember that God always keeps his word, whether it is the promise of blessing for obedience, or of cursing for disobedience.  And in Israel, at that time, the country had already been worshiping the two calf idols that Jeroboam had made many generations before.  Now, the Israelites were increasing their rebellion by completely turning away from God, so God sent Elijah to Ahab to punish the country, and to set up a showdown three and a half years later to prove once and for all who was the real God.

    Once Elijah had delivered his message, God sent him to a ravine, where ravens brought him food twice a day, and he drank from a brook – until it dried up.

    Then, God sent Elijah to a poor widow in a foreign country.  Elijah asked her for some water and food.  The widow told him (1 Kings 17:12), “I don’t have any bread – only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug.  I’m gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, so that we may eat it – and die.”

    Elijah told her that if she baked that bread for him, after that, she could bake some for herself and for her son – because God would cause the flour and oil not to run out until the famine was over.  If you were that widow, would you have given your last meal to a stranger?  She did, and as a result of her faith and God’s blessing, her flour and oil did not run out – just like Elijah had said.

    Eventually, the widow’s son got sick and died.  Elijah prayed, “O Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him!”  And in verse 22, we read, “The Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived.”  Incredible!

    I see several applications in this chapter to us today.  

    Elijah was a godly man.  His name meant “the Lord (Jehovah) is my God”, and his name fits.  And this was at a time when virtually everyone else had forsaken God.  It’s only because Elijah was a godly man that his prayers were so powerfully answered, and that God protected him.  We too need to be godly if we want good things from God.

    Elijah went where God told him to go, and when God told him to go there.  Presumably, God sent Elijah to Ahab.  We know that God sent him to the Kerith Ravine – and because of his obedience, God provided for him.  Then, after the brook dried up, Elijah didn’t go anywhere until God told him to go to Zarephath and meet up with the widow God had arranged.  Again Elijah obeyed, and God provided.  We need to be willing to do what God says, when he says it, if we expect God to provide for us.

    Elijah experienced hardship, even though he was obviously doing God’s will.  He certainly didn’t have a life of ease, but God did provide for his needs.  We can expect the same.

    Elijah could pray!  He prayed that there would be a drought, and it happened.  He prayed that the boy would be resurrected, and he was.  We’re told in James 5:17-18, “Elijah was a man just like us.  He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.  Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.”  Yes, these were incredible miracles, but God did the miracles, not Elijah.  Elijah was a person just like us, but he was close to God, and God answered his prayers.  If we want our prayers to be answered, we too need to be close to God.

    Everything Elijah was able to do was because of his obedience to God.  How do you compare?  

    -Steve Mattison

    Questions for Reflection and Discussion

    1. God has a way of creatively providing for those who obey Him. How did God provide for Elijah’s needs? How have you experienced God’s providence?
    2. What was the widow asked to do to help provide for the man of God? Why do you think she did it? How can God use you to help provide for His faithful people in hard times? What are you willing to sacrifice to be used by God in this way? What do you think would have happened to her if she had declined helping and fed herself and her son first? What would have happened to Elijah?
    3. What do you think of Elijah’s prayer life? What do you think of yours? What do you think contributed to Elijah’s prayer life? If you want to see your prayer life deepen and expand, what steps should you take? How serious are you about it?
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    Following Evil

    2 Chronicles 21-22

    Even though King Jehoshaphat “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.”  He was sure stupid when it came to raising his kids.  He had arranged a marriage between his son, Jehoram, and  Athaliah, Israel’s evil king Ahab’s daughter.  This was a stupid arrangement for two reasons.  First, this would virtually guarantee Jehoram would be evil and lead Judah into evil.  Second, the future of God’s plan of salvation depended on the continuation of David’s dynasty through Jehoram, and as we will see, that came into peril.

    Anyway, 2 Chronicles 21 starts with Jehoshaphat’s death, and Jehoram’s ascension to the throne.  Once he established himself as king, Jehoram killed all of his brothers and some of the princes of the land – basically, anyone who may challenge his authority.  (Presumably, he wanted them out of the way so they couldn’t oppose his promoting the worship of Baal.)  Then he proceeded to follow the evil ways of the evil King Ahab, because he had married Ahab’s daughter.  

    Jehoram received an astounding warning.  He received a letter from Elijah pronouncing judgment on him because of his sins.  This is astounding, because this is several years after Elijah was caught up to heaven in a whirlwind (as recorded in 2 Kings 2:11).  This passage in 2 Chronicles 21 corresponds to events recorded in 2 Kings 8.  Elijah had obviously written this prophetic letter and had directed it to be delivered at a particular future date.  Anyway, this letter declared a curse on Jehoram because of all of his sins and the sins he caused Judah to commit.  According to the letter, he was going to be inflicted with a disease of his bowels until his bowels came out.  And two years later, that’s exactly what happened, and how he died.

    As the story continues, Jehoram’s son, Ahaziah, became king but only reigned one year.  After his death, Athaliah (remember her from the first paragraph?) killed all her kids and grandkids so she could rule the nation.  (Remember my comment in the first paragraph about David’s dynasty being in peril?).  Athaliah was no descendant of David!  As it turned out, her infant grandson, Joash, was whisked away while everybody else was being killed.

    The main thing that jumps out at me from today’s reading is the importance of not only following the Lord ourselves wholeheartedly, but also how imperative it is to pass along a love for the Lord to our children (both physical and spiritual children).  I’m convinced Jehoram could have been a great king, who loved the Lord, and had a blessed reign, if only Jehoshaphat had stressed the importance of following the Lord, and if Jehoshaphat had chosen a godly wife for Jehoram.

    The second thing that jumps out to me is the importance of choosing a godly spouse.  This is literally the second most important decision any of us can ever make (after the decision to follow the Lord).  And this will either make it easier to live for God, or will make it harder – and the implications are eternal.

    The third thing that strikes me is how God alerted Elijah in advance, so he could write a letter to be delivered to Jehoram years later, declaring his downfall.  And then Elijah had to have someone deliver this letter on a specific future date, at just the right time.  God really does know everything.  (Maybe He knows a thing or two about how we should live, and maybe I should read His word to find that out, and maybe I should live for Him.)

    The final thing that I see is that God saved exactly one descendant of David – and that was a baby – so he could continue David’s line, and fulfill His promise to David.  Despite everything seeming to go wrong, God was still in control.  And much later, He would ultimately fulfill His promise to David through another baby, Jesus.

    I want to be on God’s side – since God can still be in control, even when everything seems to be falling apart.  How about you?


    –Steve Mattison

    Today’s Bible reading passages can be read or listened to at Bible Gateway here – 2 Chronicles 21-22 and Romans 10

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    You are Not Alone

    1 Kings 17-19

    1 Kings 19 14 NIV sgl

    Don’t you love Elijah!  The showdown at Mount Carmel is one of my all-time favorite Old Testament stories!  Elijah makes a bold, strong, fast, quick-witted hero for the LORD.  We love to see how he repeatedly stands firmly for God and how God takes care of him, over and over again.  Even though his king (Ahab), his queen (Jezebel) and his nation (Israel) are making some really bad decisions following a man-made god (Baal), Elijah doesn’t back down and his deep faith in God allows him to display God’s power in amazing and miraculous ways.  He prays and God holds back the rain for 3 and a half years. During the drought he is fed by ravens.  (Don’t worry, there are no sanitation problems when God provides the birds to bring you your daily breakfast and supper). He is the first person recorded in Scripture through which God raises the dead!  Never-before seen miracles – at the hand of Elijah!  He prays and God sends fire from heaven to burn up the absolutely drenched sacrifice, wood, stones and soil.  With God’s power he outruns Ahab’s chariot – I bet that was fun to do.  Can you imagine the face and heart of Ahab who had just been bested on Mount Carmel by his enemy Elijah, and then here comes Elijah running past his royal chariot that is trying to outrun the storm clouds that Elijah predicted?  Triple whammy!  It is like Elijah is untouchable!   A super-human spokesman and miracle maker for God.

    But no, he was not super-human.  In case anyone was wondering, James sets the record straight many years later in the New Testament that, “Elijah was a man just like us.  He prayed earnestly…”  (James 5:17).  He was a regular man like us.  But he sure knew how to pray!

    But being a regular man like us, he grew tired, too.  And fearful sometimes as well.  Ministry can be exciting and exhilarating.  And, tiring and scary.  Sometimes the results aren’t quite what you were hoping for.  Instead of a dramatic conversion – now the ones you were trying to convince of God’s majesty are trying to hunt you down to destroy you!

    When Elijah hears that Jezebel has vowed to take his life he is so ready to give up.  Maybe you have been there too, sitting under a broom tree telling God you are done.  But God provides for him again and sustains his long journey (40 days) to a safer (and holy) spot and then reveals himself in a gentle whisper.  Elijah knows he has had a special, one-of-a kind moment with God.  God asks, “What are you doing here, Elijah” (1 Kings 19:13).  Elijah answers, saying he has done so much for God, but the people still won’t listen, and now he is the only one left who speaks for God and they are trying to kill him, too.  It is a little bit of a pity party perhaps – that’s where we go when we are tired and worn out and fearful for the future.

    God could be angry.  After all that God has done for Elijah, how dare he mope?  But God doesn’t respond with anger and condemnation; instead, the loving, compassionate, faithful God gives Elijah specific action steps as well as correction.   He says – “Go Back”.  You have had your 40 day sabbatical – you have encountered me in a gentle whisper – I have provided for you – now return, your work isn’t done.

    God knows the world is broken and rough and a difficult place to speak for God.  But He says don’t give up.  Keep at it.  He still has more people for you to influence – more people for you to anoint with God’s words and purpose.  The evil king (Satan) may not be brought down in your lifetime.  That’s okay, God will still take care of him, God’s rule will prevail, and He is lining up the people (including His Son the Messiah) and the events to bring it to be.  In the meantime, it is still your job to pass along the good news and the words and power of the Almighty.  And in this way the faithful chain continues through the generations – each one doing their part to proclaim the greatness of our Heavenly Father and prepare the way for His ultimate Kingdom rule.

    And, no, Elijah – you are not alone.  Yes, you felt alone.  But you were never alone.  We know that Obadiah (a God-believer in charge of Ahab’s palace) had risked his life by saving the lives of 100 prophets of God in caves (1 Kings 18:2-4).  And God himself corrects Elijah by telling him He had personally reserved 7,000 in Israel who had not worshipped Baal.  It was far from a majority – you don’t need to be a majority to continue speaking God’s word.  But know that you are not a lonely army of one.  God sees you – and He sees all those He has given the most important task of speaking for Him.  Don’t bend your knee to evil.  Don’t give up.  God sees and provides.  Keep speaking for Him.

    Marcia Railton

     

    Today’s Bible passage can be read or listened to at https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+17-19&version=NIV

    Tomorrow’s reading will be 1 Kings 20-21 as we continue the 2020 Chronological Bible Reading Plan

    Jesus is Greater than . . .

    Matthew 17

    matthew 17 5

    In Matthew 17:1-9, Jesus takes his closest disciples, Peter, James, and John, up to a mountain privately. During this time, God was about to do something that they would never forget. As they stood talking to each other and to Jesus, all of a sudden Jesus’ appearance changed and started shining like the sun! If that wasn’t enough, the disciples saw Moses and Elijah standing there talking with Jesus! What in the world is going on, they must have been saying.

     

    This vision that the disciples saw has many truths within it that are significant for us to know. The first is that they got to see a glimpse of what the Kingdom of God is going to be like. In Daniel 12:2-3, we learn that after the resurrection, the righteous are going to “shine” like the sun and the stars. That is exactly why Jesus appeared to be shining before them; they were seeing a little bit further into the future to what it will be like after the resurrection.

     

    Moses and Elijah are significant because they represent the whole Old Covenant; Moses represented the Torah (or Law) and Elijah represented the prophets. Although these were incredible figures in Judaism, when God spoke during this vision, he didn’t address them; he only spoke in favor of Jesus by saying “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” (Matt. 17:5 NLT) This vision was making a point: Jesus is greater than both Moses and Elijah, and therefore, greater than the entire Old Covenant!

     

    Why should this matter to you? Well, if Jesus is greater than even Moses and Elijah, he is greater than whatever you are facing in your life. Any struggle that you may suffer from, whether it’s at school, work, home, or even within yourself, Jesus is greater. The best part is that he is willing to step into your life and help you, if you are willing to call on him. So, no matter what difficulties you are facing, Jesus is there and is greater; I encourage you today to call for his help. He loves you and wants the best for you; allow him to change your life.

     

    -Talon Paul

    Time in the Desert

    josh1 9

    There are several instances of people in the Bible spending time in the desert.

    Moses was raised in Pharaoh’s house but he was an Israelite. When he was a young man he killed an Egyptian who was beating one of the Jewish people. Fearing for his life, he fled to Midian, married and became a shepherd. We don’t hear from him again until God appears to him in a burning bush in Exodus 3. Moses went on to become one of the most famous leaders of the Jewish people and led them out of Egypt and to the brink of the Promised Land.

    The children of Israel were at the threshold of the Promised Land but they let fear hold them back, and so God made them wander for 40 years in the desert. In Deuteronomy 8:2 “You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.”

    Israel became a mighty nation that proclaimed the name of God to all nations on the earth. The prophet Elijah after his encounter where he defeated the prophets of Baal, feared for his life, and ran away, he was fed by an angel, then traveled 40 days and 40 nights, and ended up in a cave in Horeb. The Lord came to him in the cave and asked in 1Kings 19:9b “What are you doing here, Elijah?” This was right before the Lord showed himself to Elijah in the small whisper of wind. Elijah went on to continue being a bold prophet of God to the Israelites.

    John the Baptist was in the desert until his appointed time to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. He preached the gospel of the coming of Jesus to thousands.

    Jesus spent his time in the desert when he was going through his temptation. After this, he went on to establish a ministry that would change the world. He became the sacrifice that would save us all from our sins.

    In all of these instances, God was with them and so they had no reason to fear. Fear is a natural emotion for humans but when we give in to fear instead of trusting in God, it is a bad thing. My daughter painted this picture for me a few years ago, because she knew that Joshua 1:9 was one of my favorite verses “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord, your God, will be with you wherever you go.”

    When we feel like we are in the desert, due to circumstances in our lives, we need to relax and let God give us some rest and then get out of the desert and let God use our lives in an incredible way. In all of these instances, they came out of the desert a better person. All of these people allowed God to use them for what he had planned for their lives. I pray that we all let God use us to fulfill His plans for us. We can always rest in the knowledge of Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

    Sherry Alcumbrack

    Defeated

    Elijah

    1 Kings 19 14

    1 Kings 18:20-24 and 36-40, 1 Kings 19:9-18

    When I hear the name “Elijah” my mind fills with highlight moments from his life such as the chariot of fire whisking him away, him egging on the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel, or him bringing a dead boy back to life. This highlight reel that plays in my mind however doesn’t give the full spectrum of Elijah.

    In 1 Kings 18 we see one of these highlight moments. Elijah spent the day with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel as they tried to prove that Baal was god. Long story short is that the prophets of Baal failed but the one true God showed up. The prophets of Baal ran away but were chased and killed by Elijah and the people of Israel.

    What I find fascinating is despite this moment of faith and triumph it says in 1 Kings 19:3 that Elijah was, “afraid and arose and ran for his life” after Jezebel (the wife of the wicked King Ahab) decided that she would have him hunted down and killed since he killed all her prophets of Baal.

    Elijah finds himself in the wilderness and reaches a point to where he feels he can’t go on. God sends an angel to him to give him food to help sustain him and he then traveled for forty days and nights to the Mountain of God at Horeb.

    In Kings 19:8-18 Elijah reaches Horeb and God tells him that He is about to pass by. A rock shattering wind blows through but God was not in it. An earthquake shakes the mountain but God was not in it. A fire tore through the mountain but God was not in it. After these powerful forces comes a gentle whisper and Elijah knows that it is God. God listens to Elijah’s fears and feelings of defeat and then explains to him that He has a plan for Elijah and comforts him.

    Elijah is a bit different from the other Bible characters we have discussed so far because I wouldn’t go as far as to say that Elijah feeling defeat is a flaw. However, I think we often will see defeat in ourselves and because of it label ourselves as flawed. The beauty is that God had a plan for Elijah just as He does for you and I. He knows that we will have times that we feel completely drained and defeated but He is willing and able to replenish us.

    -Lacey Dunn