Bible Study - Elijah (1) - Serve with Courage - 1 Kings 16:29-33; 17:1-6 -July 25, 2021

Bible Study – Elijah (1) – Serve with Courage – July 25, 2021

This is lesson one in our series entitled, “Living Outside the Comfort Zone.”

Our focus scripture is 1 Kings 16:29-33; 17:1-6.

Serving GOD often calls for courage.

We just finished a series on “The Church GOD Desires.”

If you have not read it, I encourage you to do so, actsclass.blogspot.com.

A person, who is living in sin, does not remove the consequence of sin by joining a church. It is only faith in JESUS, WHO willingly shed HIS sinless blood that atones for all sin. We are all sinners saved by GOD’S Grace. When we repent of our sins and ask JESUS to forgive us, the miracle of Spiritual birth takes place through faith in JESUS.

We see in our lesson today that those who are called by GOD are often called to stand up against the evil that is present in the world. According to the teachings in scripture, many evil and false teachings are being embraced by some churches and denominations.

As Christians, we must never forget that we are to love the sinner but hate the sin. This does not mean that Christians are to call that which is sin, not sin. Doing so gives a person living in sin a false sense of security. JESUS is the only answer for forgiveness for sin. It is vital that a person confess his or her sin and repent; simply stop doing it with the help of JESUS.

Often, it is difficult and takes the power of the Holy Spirit to take a stand against sin.

Our study of Elijah is an example of a man called by GOD to take a stand against an evil king and queen. They had embraced false gods and brought them to Israel, where the One True GOD, was served.

Elijah’s name means “my GOD is YAHWEH” or “YAHWEH is my GOD.” His name translates either way. The key is that Elijah was called by GOD. Elijah may not have been a Jew by birth because he is referred to as Elijah the Tishbite. Bible Scholars believe that “tishbite” could be translated “settler” in the area called Gilead, east of the Jordan River.

There is not much about Elijah regarding his birth or his calling by GOD. In 2 Kings 1 there is an interesting read noting a physical trait of Elijah as revealed in verses 7-8:

Let’s read the account of the event: (Ahab died and his son, Ahaziah assumed the throne without a rebellion. It was a good, uneventful transition of power.)

1 After Ahab’s death, Moab rebelled against Israel. ² Ahaziah had fallen through the latticed window of his upstairs room in Samaria and was injured. So he sent messengers, instructing them, “Go inquire of Baal-zebub,^[a] the god of Ekron, whether I will recover from this injury.”

³ But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Go and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? ⁴ Therefore, this is what the Lord says: You will not get up from your sickbed; you will certainly die.’” Then Elijah left.

⁵ The messengers returned to the king, who asked them, “Why have you come back?”

⁶ They replied, “A man came to meet us and said, ‘Go back to the king who sent you and declare to him, “This is what the Lord says: Is it because there is no God in Israel that you’re sending these men to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore, you will not get up from your sickbed; you will certainly die.”’”

⁷ The king asked them, “What sort of man came up to meet you and spoke those words to you?”

⁸ They replied, “A hairy man with a leather belt around his waist.”

He said, “It’s Elijah the Tishbite.”

⁹ So King Ahaziah sent a captain with his fifty men to Elijah. When the captain went up to him, he was sitting on top of the hill. He announced, “Man of God, the king declares, ‘Come down!’”

¹⁰ Elijah responded to the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.

¹¹ So the king sent another captain with his fifty men to Elijah. He took in the situation^[b] and announced, “Man of God, this is what the king says: ‘Come down immediately!’”

¹² Elijah responded, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” So, a divine fire^[c] came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.

¹³ Then the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. The third captain went up and fell on his knees in front of Elijah and begged him, “Man of God, please let my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours be precious to you. ¹⁴ Already fire has come down from heaven and consumed the first two captains with their companies, but this time let my life be precious to you.”

¹⁵ The angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him. Don’t be afraid of him.” So, he got up and went down with him to the king.

¹⁶ Then Elijah said to King Ahaziah, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron—is it because there is no God in Israel for you to inquire of his will?—you will not get up from your sickbed; you will certainly die.’”

¹⁷ Ahaziah died according to the word of the Lord that Elijah had spoken. Since he had no son, Joram^[d] became king in his place. This happened in the second year of Judah’s King Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat.^[e] 18 The rest of the events of Ahaziah’s reign, along with his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.^[f]

Let’s explore!

Let’s read 1 Kings 16:29-33:

Israel’s King Ahab

²⁹ Ahab son of Omri became king over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of Judah’s King Asa; Ahab son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. ³⁰ But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight more than all who were before him. ³¹ Then, as if following the sin of Jeroboam son of Nebat were not enough, he married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and then proceeded to serve Baal and bow in worship to him. ³² He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he had built in Samaria. ³³ Ahab also made an Asherah pole. Ahab did more to anger the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.

It is vital for the leadership of a country or nation to be those who GOD approves. The leadership of Israel began to go astray during the rule of King Solomon when he brought in wives who followed pagan religions. Rather than introducing them to the One True GOD of Israel, YAHWEH, Solomon accommodated these worshipers of pagan religions. Beware America, compromise will lead to our destruction as a nation.

A little compromise here and there results in destruction and that was taking place as the leaders of Israel died off. Each leader was more evil than their predecessor, as we read in verses 30-33.

Ahab married Jezebel who was a dedicated worshipper of Baal. Rather than Ahab introducing Jezebel to the One True GOD of Israel, he worshipped Baal. He was all in because he “proceeded to serve Baal and bow in worship to him,” “He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal,” and “Ahab also made an Asherah pole. Ahab did more to anger the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.”

What is an Asherah pole? It is a monument to the fertility goddess, Asherah. Artwork from that time period suggests plain and carved poles, trees and even tree stumps as examples. Supposedly, Asherah gave birth to Baal.  

It is sad when people place their faith in objects such as four-leaf clovers, rabbit’s foot, so-called lucky charms, fortune tellers, horoscopes, etc.. Our faith in JESUS is not a lucky charm but a walk by faith that HE so orders our lives according to HIS will and purpose. As long as we are under HIS canopy of blessings, HE so orders our steps. Does that mean that bad things will not happen to brothers and sisters in CHRIST? NO! It does mean that GOD is in control!

Elijah was called by GOD to confront King Ahab. The key is that Elijah was called and appointed by GOD to confront the ruler of Samaria.

GOD does all He can to get our attention when we have gone astray. Therefore, GOD spoke a special message through Elijah to King Ahab, as we read on ----

Let’s read 1 Kings 17:1:

17 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from the Gilead settlers,^[a] said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, in whose presence I stand, there will be no dew or rain during these years except by my command!”

GOD called Elijah to confront King Ahab to reveal to Ahab that HE is the One True GOD of Israel WHO reigns supreme and is still on HIS Throne. Elijah told Ahab that he knew GOD personally because he stood in the presence of GOD. And to prove it, GOD had given him a message to pass onto Ahab.  

Ahab had bowed down himself and worshipped the false god Baal. Baal was touted to be the god of rain and fertility. GOD would show Ahab who was really in control. This is an example of the loving, caring GOD we serve reaching out to a king who had gone astray. GOD reaches out to all with HIS message of salvation. Do we accept or reject GOD’S love?

Baal supposedly was the god of the weather and fertility. GOD’S message through Elijah was, ““As the Lord God of Israel lives, in whose presence I stand, there will be no dew or rain during these years except by my command!””

Elijah was GOD’S messenger to Ahab. All of us who have been Spiritually born by the Spirit of GOD, stand in the presence of GOD through faith in JESUS. GOD’S message was to reveal HIS authority over the false god, Baal, by showing Ahab that HE was in control of the weather and fertility; “there will be no dew or rain during these years except by my command!”

GOD would demonstrate physically HIS power and authority over this false god.

Do we worship false gods today? YES! Some examples are power, money, things, drugs, alcohol, sex, food and the list goes on. Satan uses the good things in life to enslave us and for them to become a barrier for us being in right relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS. In some cases, being a Christian is just the hip thing to do.

Elijah was obedient and delivered GOD’S message. Elijah had to trust GOD, which he did. We have to trust GOD when HE directs our lives. Some may say, “If only GOD would do something spectacular in my life, I would serve HIM.” GOD does not work that way. Why? I used to think about challenging GOD to prove Himself to me but every challenge I thought of had flaws. In my college years I had to take a step of faith. It was a step and many years passed before I finally said, “LORD here I am, as I am, make me into the Christian, YOU want me to be.” Oh, it wasn’t long before I heard a voice telling me that I had done it now. Guess whose voice that was? Once you are serious about living for JESUS you realize that Satan is your enemy.

In whom do you place your faith?

Elijah, gave GOD’S Message to Ahab with full confidence.

What did this mean for Elijah? Let’s find out as we read on ---

Let’s read 1 Kings 17:2-6:

Elijah Announces Famine

² Then the word of the Lord came to him: ³ “Leave here, turn eastward, and hide at the Wadi Cherith where it enters the Jordan. ⁴ You are to drink from the wadi. I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.”

GOD instructed Elijah to turn eastward. The home land of Elijah as not known but speculated to be in the area of Gilead, which was east of the Jordan River.

The prophet of GOD had to hide? YES, when we upset the world run by Satan, GOD takes care of those who are called according to HIS will and purpose. GOD needed to show Elijah that HE would take care of him. This was a time to build Elijah’s relationship with GOD. GOD directed Elijah to a specific safe place where Elijah could witness the care of GOD. GOD instructed Elijah to go to “Wadi Cherith.” Wadi referred to a creek or brook. Cherith means ditch.  It is likely that there were times when the Wadi had water and other times when it didn’t. GOD knows that the human body requires water and food. GOD’S provisions build trust and that was what GOD was doing in the life of Elijah because GOD had a plan and Elijah was chosen to execute HIS plan.

So, Elijah had a choice to make. How would he choose? Let’s read on ---

⁵ So he proceeded to do what the Lord commanded. Elijah left and lived at the Wadi Cherith where it enters the Jordan. ⁶ The ravens kept bringing him bread and meat in the morning and in the evening, and he would drink from the wadi.

So, Elijah was obedient and followed GOD’S instructions. He lived at the Wadi Cherith and the ravens brough him food. Ravens are scavengers and GOD directed them to carry bread and meat to Elijah twice a day. Where did they get this food? GOD provided it.

We happen to know how GOD used Elijah and it is a beautiful picture of how GOD works in our lives. HE builds our relationship with HIM as we faithfully serve HIM. But it is a learning process with each opportunity and it is exciting.

GOD revealed to Elijah that HE can do all things. Our part is to trust and obey. Living outside our comfort zone is when GOD does HIS work in our lives and to build trust. A caution here. Do not test GOD by going out of HIS will and purpose.

Blessings!!!