Podcast 69, Story of Elijah, Pt 3 1 Kings 18: 22-35

For pure drama, Elijah is the prophet to read. A true prophet has a complex mission. First his mission is to people who fall under his domain. For example, Elijah is from the Northern Kingdom. The evil king Ahab is king of the ten northern tribes. The capitol is Samaria. Relatively speaking, in a short time, they will disappear from history and become known as The Ten Lost Tribes.

The ten tribes are his immediate audience. Second, however, a true prophet speaks to all those who are under the sound of his voice. His words would reach the southern tribes which include the House of Judah, the House of Benjamin, and the rest of the House of Levi who are separated from the other priests of the north. But finally, a true prophet speaks to all the children of God regardless of where they live or when they live, for a true prophet speaks for the Lord and the Lord speaks truth; therefore, Elijah is for all time, present and future. 

In fact, we have learned that before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, Elijah will come again to earth and turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers. Christians today, thousands of years later, love Elijah, but anyone and any religion who reads the words of Elijah can benefit. Truth does not have boundaries in time or space.

Elijah understood how to communicate, not just to a poor widow but to a king, and not just to a king but to the entire house of Israel. Like Moses, Elijah is larger than life. For three years Ahab has sought Elijah’s life, yet Elijah waltzes into his throne, not as a victim but as a victor. He doesn’t wait for the king to tell him what to do. He tells the king what to do thus leading him into a trap. What better way to get their attention than gathering all the priests of Baal and slaughtering them in front of all the House of Israel. Now his audience isn’t primarily the king, his audience is the Ten Tribes of Israel who have forsaken their covenants with God and began worshiping Baal. They are in a terrible drought caused by their own wickedness. However, instead of repenting and turning to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, they turn to the pagan god of rain, Baal. Elijah managed to bring about a showdown between Jehovah and Baal. It is High Noon, brilliantly orchestrated by Elijah. 

1 Kings 18:22

Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.

This is high drama at its best. We can see the level of faith that Elijah has reached. He has already been tried by fire. But Elijah is a showman. He builds on the drama in a spectacular way, much like a gladiatorial battle in a giant arena with King Ahab and all Israel watching. Elijah literally sets up a Battle of the Gods: The Lord God Jehovah vs the Canaanite idol Baal and his thousands of worshipers. To increase the drama, we have the worshipers of Baal on one side, and we have the fearless Elijah standing alone on the other side. Elijah lays down the gauntlet.

1 Kings 18:23-24

Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.