Elijah 1 - Leaving Home

He heard God's command, confronted the priests of a false god, and when his work was done, God provided him with a successor.  The story of Elijah in 8 parts.  Written by Noel Speers. 

Produced by Commission Christian Radio

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:13

Commission presents Elijah by Noel Spears, Episode One, Leaving Home.

SPEAKER_03 0:32

Now this story is not about me. In fact, I am only a minor character in it. My name is Jazeel, and I'm, well, not really in the tale. I'm only one of the servants, a sort of butler or steward in the big house. I'll tell you all about that later. The year was BC nine hundred and twenty five. Israel was in a very sad state. It had been governed by a number of kings, many of whom valued their own ends rather than the good of the nation of Israel. This sad period was to conclude with the twenty two year reign of King Ahab. Now Ahab not only considered it trivial to continue the evils of his predecessors, but he also married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbal, king of the Sidonians. In addition, he began to serve the false god Baal, setting up an altar in the new temple that he had built in Samaria. The couple were to become a notorious husband and wife team, not only bringing Israel into international conflict, but causing the people to serve and worship Baal.

SPEAKER_02 1:46

I don't know. I really don't know.

SPEAKER_00 1:49

What do you not know this time?

SPEAKER_02 1:52

This nation? No one thinks of the important things anymore.

SPEAKER_00 1:57

We're just like everyone else. Why are you worrying?

SPEAKER_02 2:04

No one has time for God. We have become a pagan land.

SPEAKER_00 2:08

Oh, not this thing again. Every morning before you go to market, it's the same. You start on this as if I have the answer. As soon as you come home at night. You want to talk about God. Do you ever consider what we have? We have no power to change our king and his gods. It's easier and safer to follow the trends. Can't you see this and stop going on?

SPEAKER_02 2:44

I'm worried. I can't help it. We used to put our Lord God first.

SPEAKER_00 2:50

Oh, and what am I supposed to do about that? I can do nothing.

SPEAKER_02 2:57

I feel it's gone too far. You'll not believe it.

SPEAKER_00 3:02

What will I not believe?

SPEAKER_02 3:04

He has built an altar.

SPEAKER_00 3:06

Who?

SPEAKER_02 3:07

Ahab. To whom? A false god called Baal, that was brought from Phoenicia, along with Jezebel, his dear wife, and our wonderful queen.

SPEAKER_00 3:20

I know about Baal, and I know we're expected to worship it.

SPEAKER_02 3:24

Reuben on the fish stall was saying they were probably married in Ba's temple.

SPEAKER_00 3:31

We don't want this talk to get to our sons.

SPEAKER_02 3:33

We don't need to worry about Naked.

SPEAKER_00 3:35

No, he's too like his father. Likes his comforts.

SPEAKER_02 3:41

Elijah's different.

SPEAKER_00 3:43

Yes, yes. I find some.

SPEAKER_02 3:47

He's always been your favourite. Where has he been? I haven't seen him for days.

SPEAKER_00 3:53

Oh, he spends his time with Jeziel.

SPEAKER_02 3:56

You mean Jeziel or steward?

SPEAKER_00 3:59

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 4:00

He shouldn't be wasting his time with a servant. He's better things to be doing.

SPEAKER_00 4:05

And so have I. I'm going to see what he's up to.

SPEAKER_02 4:12

Do whatever you wish, woman.

SPEAKER_03 4:16

I was surprised when the lady of the house walked in unannounced into my quarters. Normally, such visits are preceded by a formal announcement.

SPEAKER_00 4:29

Jezielle, I must speak with you.

SPEAKER_03 4:32

Of course, madam. Do let me clear somewhere for you to see.

SPEAKER_00 4:36

No need. It's Elijah that I want to talk about.

SPEAKER_03 4:40

You wish to speak of your son?

SPEAKER_00 4:42

Yes. My son Elijah. I understand that he now spends all his spare time down here among the staff. And especially with you.

SPEAKER_03 4:53

Yes, he he does visit me on occasion.

SPEAKER_00 4:57

Why? Why does he come down here? Down here there are only kitchens and bedrooms used by staff.

SPEAKER_03 5:04

Indeed, madam. I cannot say why Elijah comes down here. Perhaps he is seeking companionship or the like.

SPEAKER_00 5:13

My husband and I do not approve. Be sure to tell him that his place is upstairs with us.

SPEAKER_03 5:23

Yes, madam, uh whenever I speak with him. I don't really know why Elijah did so frequently come down into the kitchens and spend so much time among the staff. But how could I instruct Elijah not to crawl into the staff rooms? After all, he was one of the family, and I merely Jezeel, the steward. As it happens, I didn't have long to wait until the opportunity to speak with Elijah presented itself to me.

SPEAKER_04 6:30

Jezielle, can you spare me a moment, please? Yes, sir, I can indeed. Good. I would like to speak with you. You may be able to help me. Yes, sir. Anything that you ask, sir. I am Elijah. Yes, I I am familiar with you, sir, but how can I help? Is there anywhere that we could speak um how shall I say in confidence? Well, of course. Um do you wish that we speak now? Yes, now would be just fine.

SPEAKER_03 7:01

If you can, that is. Well, we could speak privately in my room if that would be acceptable to you. It's down this way. I will follow you. I hadn't expected I would meet with Elijah just so conveniently. Nor did I know what the outcome of our conversation would be, but this was the very opportunity that I was seeking. There I was, under instruction to find Elijah, the son of the house, trying to think of some plausible excuse for speaking with him, when suddenly he presents himself to me and I couldn't quite believe it. But he was eager to speak. I was taken aback. I led the way and Elijah followed into the tiny little room. I gestured for him to sit down on my bed. Thank you, Jeziel. It was good of you to meet with me. Well, sir, I'm a servant in this your home, employed to undertake anything you and the other members of your family wish. I should be only too glad to assist with anything.

SPEAKER_04 8:10

I've been told that you were eager to speak with me. Well, perhaps so. Do I detect here some scheming of my crafty mother? Well, sir, you are very perceptive. Well, one doesn't need to be very intelligent to spot my mother in this. May I speak frankly to you, so that you will understand my position in my family. Well, yes, of course, but This family was not always so mixed up. Not always so eager to follow the fashionable gods of the surrounding nations. I have served here for many years, sir. Then I do think that you'll remember that once this family's motto was the Lord is my God.

SPEAKER_03 8:52

I do remember. Oh, it is sad that things have been allowed to Well, how shall I put it? Things have been allowed to slip.

SPEAKER_04 9:00

Not just slip, but rot. This house has become rotten, just as our nation, Israel, has become rotten. I dare say that I must agree with you, sir. I knew that you would agree. I couldn't leave this household before I told someone of the task that lies ahead of me. Task? Can I ask what task? I know that you are the one person in this household who will understand my call. Explain to me, sir, your call. Now listen, Jezielle, you must not share this with anyone else. But I'm about to leave here. You're about to leave? You surprise me. You don't ask why I am leaving or where I am going. But sir, I'm not in a position to ask.

SPEAKER_03 9:48

But aren't you curious? Well yes, but as a member of the household staff, I have learned not to be too curious.

SPEAKER_04 9:59

I am a son in this family, one who could inherit his father's position and all the wealth that goes with it. But I'm leaving. I cannot stay here any longer. And Jezielle, I also ask that you keep this news in confidence. But only just for a short while.

SPEAKER_03 10:18

Well when you put it like that, I think I could be excused for being curious. So why leave whenever things are in such a mess? The whole nation has chosen to break its pledge with the Lord God and show more interest in the heathen gods of our neighbors. Yes, you're right.

SPEAKER_04 10:37

But there is more. Yeah, I dare say that this family too has also broken its pledge with the Lord God. I knew that I could depend upon you, Jesiel. You have remained a man of God. But sir, that doesn't explain why you're leaving. Perhaps I should explain further. Well so I'm not in a position to seek any explanation. I know. You are a mere steward, a downtrodden member of my parents' household. Don't mock me, but I I'm sorry, Jesiel. I need you now, for I think you're the only one around this house who understands what is so wrong with this nation, and the only one I can share my concerns with. But you haven't explained anything about your coal. No, I haven't, have I? You don't need to. But I do need to. You're the only one I can share with. Can tell just what lies ahead for me. I don't understand. I don't either. But I'm going to the palace to meet with King Ahab. Have you been invited or or or summoned? No. King Ahab does not know that I am going there, nor that I want to meet with him. Oh why are you? God has instructed me to go. Sir? You have said that you agree that this nation is in a mess. What with all these foreign gods? This Bale. I did. Who has brought this Bale business about? One person?

SPEAKER_03 12:12

Maybe two? What I suppose there is one person who rules, controls this nation, and that's King Ahab.

SPEAKER_04 12:19

Exactly. And that hussy of a wife of his, Jezebel. And that is why you're going to the palace? Don't you think it's rather foolhardy of you? I mean, after all, you After all, I'm just a poor fellow from Tishby in Gilead. I I didn't mean to be rude. You're correct. Why has the Lord God of all Israel chosen this whiff from nowhere?

SPEAKER_03 12:45

Well, God has not always selected his servants from among the high and mighty. In the past, our King David was a shepherd. Yes.

SPEAKER_04 12:54

Jezeel, there you are. Don't you see why I need your companionship? I need someone to share this with. Someone like you who understands our God and his ways. But I am no high priest or even a Levite. Just someone able to listen. Thank you, Jezeel.

SPEAKER_03 13:12

And I did listen, as Elijah poured out how he had been spending all his spare time alone in a sort of little study or office he had made in the servants' quarters. There he learnt that the Lord God of Israel was displeased with the nation of Israel for turning to false gods such as Baal. All this was the responsibility of King Ahab, and Elijah was set to challenge the king on this. As I watched the younger son of the family boldly leaving home, I feared, because I was the only one who knew of Elijah's campaign.

SPEAKER_01 14:13

Other parts were by the Commission radio drama team. The programme was produced by Jennifer Hobson and recorded at Commission Studios in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Episode two is entitled Elijah Confronts the King.