What Are You Doing Here?
Part Two

I Kings 19:13
(I Kings 17-19)

The last Studies introduced the reader to Elijah and began to look at the challenge he faced in service to his God. (See Archives) To bring Israel to repentance God caused a drought on the land. We will now look at how God provided for Elijah and the response of wicked Ahab to God’s punishment.

While the Israelites struggled with drought and famine, Elijah was sent to the Kerith Ravine where God provided both water and food for him. When the brook dried up he was sent to Zarephath near Sidon, Jezebel’s home town. There again, God took care of him, not only providing for him but also for the widow and her son with whom he was staying. Miraculously, they had all they needed to sustain them. Miraculously, when the widow’s son died, Elijah, by the power of God, raised him from the dead. (See I Kings 17:2-24)

At God’s appointed time, Elijah returned to Israel. Through the faithful prophet, Obadiah, Elijah arranged a meeting with Ahab. Ahab had been on a journey with Obadiah looking for grass to keep the horses and mules alive, each going a different direction. With some trepidation Obadiah approached the king informing him of Elijah’s location. (See I Kings 18:2-15)

The reunion was not what Ahab expected. It was what God had directed. Ahab attempted to take the offensive when he immediately charged Elijah with being the troubler of Israel. It is interesting how many times the guilty look for someone else to blame for the consequences of their actions. In the Garden, Adam was quick to blame Eve, and Eve put the blame on the serpent. Adam even indicated God as being culpable when he said, “The woman you put here with me...” (See Genesis 3) Cain, when he stood before the Lord after killing Able, went so far as to accuse the Lord of being too harsh with him. His concern was over his consequences when it should have been over his actions. (See Genesis 4)

In the spring on his way home from school Little Caden was in the habit of stopping at a local pond for a quick swim. His mother, having caught him admonished him severely out of her concern for his safety. His response that the Devil made him do it led his mother to say, “If he tempts you again, you just say, ‘Get thee behind me Satan.’” Caden went several days without so much as a quick dip in the pond, but the unusually warm ninety degree weather was too much. After a swim, he returned home later than normal. His mother questioned him. “Did you go swimming?” “No, Mom.” Mom was so proud that she put her hand on the back of his neck to hug him and felt the wetness of his hair.

“Oh, Caden, you went swimming. You were supposed to tell the Devil, ‘Get thee behind me.’”

“But I did tell him to get behind me and that’s when he pushed me in.”

As free-will beings we choose our actions. And by choosing those actions we, to some degree, choose the consequences. Elijah would not let Ahab off the hook with a feeble accusation. Ahab made choices and not only did he have a price to pay, others paid for his wickedness as well.

In our next lesson we will look at the challenge Elijah puts before Ahab and the false prophets of Baal.