Elijah Confronts Ahab

 1 Kings 18:17-19

 

July 12, 2021

 

 

Elijah Confronts Ahab

When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?”   And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father's house because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals.   Now, therefore, send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table.”

 

A word many do not like is the word “Confrontation” but often it is one of the best things that can happen.  As a person who made my living in sales, I welcome having and exchanging with the decisionmaker who told me why he was not interested in my product.  Up to that point had no place to go in explaining why my product would far exceed his reason for not considering it.  In a family where no one is sharing the reason for distrust, it will require confrontation to get the area out in the open.

 

But confrontation is not going to happen unless both parties have the right to have an exchange of thoughts and state the reason for taking a stand.  Shall we look at the example of Ahab and Elijah?  What were the first words out of King Ahab's mouth, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?”   Now that sounds like a little confrontation to this writer.  And did you notice how Elijah replied, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father's house because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals.”  

 

Elijah knew authority, and he was not about to allow a wicked man no matter of his earthly title to bully him, for he came with a word to the King from the King of Kings and LORD of lords.  He was not speaking for himself but for God, and he had no fear of man, but only of God.

 

How different it is today where very few are willing to stand up to man’s authority, whether it be mayor pastor or governor, and say we must not follow your orders for our God has said.  I wonder if in the future health crisis, and you can bet we will have one, it worked.  This is what I wonder, will the pastor of this nation once more close the doors of the Church, or will they stand on the word of God to assemble?

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice