November 7, 2012 Powerful Prophet

Prophet Power 1 Kings 17: 1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” ELIJAH is one of scripture’s most remarkable prophets. His life would make a compelling movie, and reality TV would have a popular show displaying the 3 years of Elijah’s’ life described in 1 Kings 17 – 18. In today’s passage, Elijah speaks to Ahab of a severe drought to come on Israel, the Northern Kingdom. Ahab and his wife Jezebel are evil people, murderous of anyone of God, living only in the grasp of evil. They have controlled Israel with evil hearts, so God uses Elijah to bring their lives to an end. He begins with a drought. Notice no rain, no dew and no moisture of any kind on the land for the “next few years”. Elijah speaks God’s severe judgment. And notice Elijah says the drought will not end “except at my word”. Remarkably, God has given to Elijah the prerogative to call upon God for rain when he feels it is the right time to do so. (Read 1 Kings 18, and you’ll see how that happens.) Immediately Elijah becomes an enemy of the state. Ahab is enraged at Elijah’s’ curse on the land, and Elijah becomes a fugitive. The remainder of chapter 17 records how God cares for Elijah with birds and nature’s elements. Then he sends Elijah to a widow’s home to miraculously provide a constantly filled flask of flour. God uses Elijah in remarkable ways, including the resurrection of the widow’s son. In the end, Elijah will resurrect the worship of God in Israel because he faithfully, powerfully followed God. It’s True! Elijah’s story tells you God is in control.