If you didn’t check out the notes from two days ago, please go back and do so. They are very important going forward in our reading and in our lives today. Click here.

Good Morning, Siblings! 
Today’s readings are 1 Kings 18-20

Click here to ready today’s passages on BibleGateway.

Rabbit Trails – hippity hop!

We open by discovering how desperately King Ahab has been searching for Elijah. Now recall in 1 Kings 17:1 that the last interaction Ahab had with Elijah was when Elijah gave him the message that YHWH Was sending a drought over the land. After that, as far as Ahab knew, Elijah dropped off the map.

In 1 Kings 18:1 YHWH tells Elijah that it is now time for him to show himself to Ahab because YHWH is about to send rain.

When Elijah meets Obadiah and charges him with sending the message to the King that he has returned, Obadiah is immediately fearful for his life. He lets him know that folks have searched high and low on behalf of Ahab, trying to find Elijah, and that he is so sought after by the king that Obadiah dare not go to him and say he has seen Elijah because if Elijah runs off again, Ahab will surely have Obadiah killed. 1 Kings 18:7-12

We then see further insight into the fact that Obadiah is a man who fears YHWH and has proven it in his actions by living out His life in obedience. We can say we follow YHWH all day long, but our actions tell the true tale.

I find it highly ironic that Ahab addresses Elijah as the “troubler of Israel” when he is the one in power that has been leading them to worship idols. Elijah answers on point.

17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” 18 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. 1 Kings 18:17-18

Think on this a minute, take it to soul, and remember it should you ever find yourself being accused by those who lead people astray, of troubling YHWH’s people. Y’all, when people who march under the banner of our Father live their lives in line with the world instead of the Word, it is only natural that they/we be troubled. The world is an upside down and backwards place when held up to YHWH’s Truth.

By the way, when you have an opportunity to lead people, just lead them to the Father. He will take the reigns from there.

1 Kings 18:20-21 ALL of the people and the prophets of Baal are gathered together to be addressed by Elijah:

20 So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word.

1 Kings 18:22-24 Elijah makes his grand proposition to prepare two bulls for a burnt offering before Baal and before YHWH. Then, call upon both “Gods” to light them on fire. “The God who answers by fire, He is God.”

They called out all day and nothing happened to the sacrifice offered to Baal. I’m telling y’all, I think me and Elijah would have gotten along just fine because he says the kinda things I do my best to keep in my head – and friends like that are fun to have around. 1 Kings 18:27 is my prime example here. My paraphrase is “Where is YOUR god? Maybe he’s off rambling or perhaps he’s using the bathroom somewhere…” I snicker every time I read that. 

So here comes YHWH’s turn to rain down fire and you know He’s gonna show up in a big way but first, Elijah takes away any possibility of folks not seeing this as the hand of YHWH by soaking down his offering three times – even filling the trenches around the altar with water.

Hey, when YHWH says He is going to do something, won’t He do it? YES HE WILL. Numbers 23:19

1 Kings 19:3-8 demonstrates our Father’s tender loving care for those He calls. It is also Biblical proof that sometimes we really just need a nap and a snack to have a better perspective. 

1 Kings 19:11-12 1

1 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.

A great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before YHWH – but YHWH Was not in the wind…. but YHWH was not in the earthquake….but YHWH was not in the fire. Where was the Father? He was in the quietest of whispers. Remember this next time the world starts kicking up chaos all around you and you feel as if you’re being pulled into it.

1 Kings 19:18 – out of the people that were called YHWH’s own, who did He choose? What was the difference in those?

I’m going to leave rabbit trails on chapter 20 up to you. I look forward to reading them!

Test everything, hold tight to what is good.~ 1 Thess 5:21

We are saved by Grace alone: Obedience is not the root of our salvation, it is the fruit!

May YHWH bless the reading of His Word!

Print This Post Print This Post

Christy Jordan
Latest posts by Christy Jordan (see all)