Reading Portion: 1 Kings 17:1
To wait means, to stay where one is, till a particular time or until something else happens. In one’s spiritual life, waiting is of prime importance. GOD calls, anoints and equips us for the real battlefield during the waiting period. It may be for a short while or it may take years, to equip us, depending on how we behave during this period.
When we read 1 Kings 17, we see the sudden entrance of Elijah into the scene, “Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab” (Vs.1). His entry is quite abrupt, and it is with guidance from GOD. From this verse, we understand Elijah belonged to Tishbe in Gilead. The zeal, the anger and the broken heart of GOD is quite visible in Elijah from the moment he comes into the scene. The name Elijah means ‘Yah is My GOD’ and Tishbe means ‘captivity’. GOD was teaching Elijah in his ‘captivity’ that He alone is GOD.
Reasons for Elijah’s Abrupt Entry:
Israel (meaning: May GOD prevail) had become a cradle of idolatry and pagan practices with the influence of King Ahab and his wife Jezebel. When we read 1 Kings 16:28-30, we see the death of King Omri and King Ahab came to the throne, in his place. “But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, even more than any of the kings before him.” King Omri never followed the paths of GOD; instead he did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD (1 Kings 16:25).
The sins that Ahab committed are explained in 1 Kings 16:31-33. They were:
a) Marriage with Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal of the Zidonians;
b) Setting up an altar for Baal;
c) Made a grove.
Ahab found it more satisfying to sin against GOD, than to please Him. He considered it quite a light matter, to walk in sin. Many people find it ‘okay’ to commit sin! Sin takes hold of us when the Word of GOD loses importance in our life! Ahab’s initial step of sin began when he found a wife from a pagan nation. Ungodly romance can cause widespread destruction in the lives of GOD’s chosen generation. A step of sin will lead us into committing more sins, as we try to justify or cover the first sin.
In verse 34, we see that Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. Bethel was one of the wickedest places in the Northern kingdom. This was where Jeroboam had placed a golden calf (1 Kings 12:26-33). The meaning of Bethel is ‘house of GOD’ and Hiel means ‘life of/from GOD’. When sin takes hold of the house of GOD, the people who are called to spread the life of GOD act as per worldly standards. The wickedness of the people increases when they lack the fear of GOD. They find it easy to break the standards/restrictions set by the men of GOD in the past. The degree of wickedness in the land of the Highest is explained through Hiel building Jericho. When the GOD-appointed leaders fail to follow the laws of the LORD, the people will gradually break free from the restrictions set by the men of GOD.
When Israel drifted away from the track of the LORD, He needed someone to become His spokesperson. And He chose Elijah out of nowhere, to be His spokesperson. As Jeremiah 15:19 says, “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.” We can say that Elijah repented in his prayer room and took a decision to speak things that are of worth. He was bold enough to be a man with a difference, even when all of Israel went against the word of GOD. GOD chooses people who dare to be different and who stick to His commands even when they are alone. Standing alone for GOD means you are precious in the eyes of the LORD. It means that He has appointed you to be His spokesperson when none dares to even speak about Him.
In verse 1 of Chapter 17, we read “…Whom I serve,” Israel had only one GOD and Elijah was sure that he was following the only true GOD of the Israel. Elijah was bold to say that the LORD is true and that he served Him completely.
Though we do not have any account about his family or how he was raised, his life is similar in food and dressing style with John the Baptist. The training period in which GOD prepares His servants may seem odd from the outside, but the result will amaze all the people who looked on with contempt during the time of the preparation.
The preparation/waiting period includes certain elements. We will discuss this in the next post.
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