Elijah – its time to confront evil
1 Kings 18:1-6
Chapter 17, to the nation of Israel, it was a time of warning and judgment due to their continued disobedience to God. To Elijah, it was a time of preparation and refining. At the brook Cherith, Elijah learned to be alone with God and to trust him for his every provision. When God moved him to Zarephath, it was a time of confirmation as to what his task was.
In chapter 18, God will reveal that the drought was not just a set of unfortunate circumstances, but divine discipline and that it is Jehovah who is God not Baal.
The timing is all of God (v1), “now it came about after many daysâ€. It is vitally important that that we recognize that it is God’s time not ours, that it is God’s plan not ours. In Isaiah 40:28-29, we find that God is inexhaustible and inscrutable (never tired, and there is not end to his understanding), therefore no matter what are circumstances are, God knows and cares.
The guidance of the Lord is based upon the Word of God (v1b). The word came to Elijah, told him what to do (show yourself to Ahab), and revealed what God would do (send rain). So it will be with us. Psalm 25: 4-5, 12, states that for those who fear the Lord, the Lord will reveal his will for our lives.
The rest of our text shows the severity of the situation and the hardness of the heart of king Ahab, who was more concerned about the welfare of his animals than the plight of the people.
Jeremiah 2:19 is a good commentary for those who continually reject the Lord. “Your evil will chastise you and your apostasy will reprove you. Know and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the Lord your Godâ€.
And for those of us following the Lord we need to just, live on day at a time resting and waiting on His leading, and to daily listen to the Word of God in the scriptures.