Just to recap a bit, Israel had suffered under the rule of six evil kings. Ahab, the current ruler, is the seventh King over Israel and he is the worst of the worst. His reign is filled with idolatry, wickedness and evil. So, God raised up the prophet, Elijah to prophesy against Ahab and his wife, Jezebel. He waged a campaign against Ahab, proving Elijah's God mightier than Baal and Asherah. Elijah soon had to run for his life.
1 Kings 17:2-6 (NIV)
Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: "Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there."
So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.
How disconcerting it must be, to do God's bidding, to speak up and tell it like it is, only to find oneself in a dangerous predicament. Living in the lap of luxury as we do, it is difficult to imagine a life on the run. It is healthy for us to read and study these times, for often a parallel to today will pop into view and a glimpse of oneself will surface.
It is time for self-examination this New Year's Eve. The words and actions of the prophets were warning the Israelites hundreds of years ago, but these very same words are striking this heart. What is my first love? What are the idols in my life? God called prophets to try to rescue Israel from its moral and spiritual decline. Studying and taking to heart their teachings can free us as well. Is there a valuable New Year's resolution tucked away in the Scripture Words today?
Read 1 Kings 17 here
Listen to 1 Kings 17 here
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