King Ahab wants a vineyard that Naboth owns. When Naboth refuses to sell it, citing God’s laws against selling the Promised Land, Ahab sulks. He tells his wife Jezebel about it. She hatches a plot to kill Naboth by declaring a day of fasting and having two scondrels testify that Naboth has cursed God and the king. Naboth is stoned to death.
The word of the Lord comes to Elijah for King Ahab. Since King Ahab has murdered a man and seized his property, he will die. King Ahab humbled himself before the Lord, so God postpones hid judgment till the days of his son.
14a) Ahab is childish. He pouts and storms around when he doesn’t get his way, refusing to eat.
b) Jezebel abuses her power and uses evil ways to get what she wants.
c) Naboth upholds the laws of God and refuses to go against them, even at the request of a king.
15a) He sends a word through Elijah for Ahab. He condemns Ahab and his lineage to death.
b) King Ahab tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly. He must have been sincere or God would have seen through it and followed through with His judgment. I think he was sincere at this moment, but as we’ve seen, he’ll fall back into his old ways again.
16a) He postpones Ahab’s judgment when he sees he is repentant.
b) It was a good week. I spent some quality time with my daughters and did the Lord’s work.
This is an example of how sometimes there is no end to evil people’s evil.
Every Israelite had a right to possess a piece of the Promise Land, which not even a king coule legally usurp. In fact, selling the land broke a law God had given Moses. Leviticus 25:15, 25:23, 25:25; Numbers 36:7; Ezekiel 46:18.
From 2 Kings 9:26 it is likely that the entire family of Naboth was murdered so no heirs could claim his property. Ahab seized the land anyway.
Note that Ahab is held responsible for the murder and theft since his is the head of the household. Note Elijah is sent, probably one of the few courageous enough to tell the king his judgment.
Ahab will have his blood licked, just in Samaria instead (1 Kings 22:38) Ahab’s son, Jehoram, receives this punishment 2 Kings 9:25,
The judgment was severe: his children would not inherit the thrown.
God’s judgments against us are always invitations to repent, humble oneself, and turn to God for mercy.
God always wants to show mercy and compassion on His children. He gives it freely to the undeserving when people humbly repent.
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Ben-Hadad king of Aram attacked Samaria, demanding all the silver, gold, wives, and children. At first, Ahab did not refuse. Then he did when more demands were made, so Ben-Hadad prepared to attack.
A prophet comes to Ahab to tell him that the Lord will deliver the enemy into his hands so that he will know the Lord did it. Ahab must start the battle and the young officers of the provincial commanders will defeat the army. The 7,000 remaining Israelites of faith went out while the enemy was in their tent getting drunk. The Israelites defeated the king of Aram, but the king escaped.
The prophet told Ahab that the king of Aram would attack next year. So, Ahab prepared for the attack. When it came, the prophet told Ahab that God would once again deliver the enemy into his hands so that he will know He is God. Ahab won the battle, but he ended up making a deal with the king of Aram and let him go free. A prophet tells Ahab that because he let a man go free whom he should have (the king of Aram), he would give his life for him.
10) God ensured that if an enemy attacked Israel that Israel would win. He used prophets to tell Ahab these things.
11a) Verse 13 & 28
b) Too many. Honestly, every day in some small way when He rescues me from sin.
12) He bargained with the king of Aram and let him go free.
13a) He was “sullen and angry” and retreated to his palace in Samaria. Note he was not repentant.
b) Every time He lets me know He’s in charge and not me.
I love how God never gives up on us like we give up on Him.
At first, Ahab willingly surrenders. Then, he changes his mind with advice.
A prophet appears and tells Ahab the Lord will deliver them out of His infinite mercy and love. Ahab wonders how, which is something most of us wonder when God promises to do something in our lives. God delivers Israel, but the Syrians would try again in the spring.
Saying that God was a god of the hills and valleys meant God was only a god over certain areas instead of the Lord of the earth.
The Lord delivers Israel another miraculous victory over a vastly superior army. Yet, Ahab makes a treaty with the defeated pagan king instead of completely destroying him.
These prophets mentioned here are nameless and are believed to not be Elijah or Elisha. They are presumed to be among the 7,000 faithful.
The reason for the harsh judgement of against the man who refused to strike the prophet was because that man was a fellow man of God or a son of the prophet. Thus, he should have known to follow the command of the prophet.
The prophet tells Ahab a story that is really a story of the mistake he just made — failing to guard the life of someone. Since King Ahab failed to guard what was entrusted to him, he would pay the ultimate price. God wanted the death of the king of Aram to be by the army that He had empowered.
God reached out in so many ways to Ahab. As He does to us.
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The Lord tells Elijah to go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord for the Lord is about to pass by. Wind, an earthquake, and fire passed by without the Lord in them. Finally, the Lord came in a gentle whisper. Elijah pulled his cloak over his face and stood at the mouth of the cave. The Lord repeated his question to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah repeats his answer from before.
The Lord then give Elijah instructions: Go to the desert of Damascus. Anoint Hazael king over Aram. Anoint Jehu king over Israel. Anoint Elisha to succeed you as prophet. The Lord will spare 7,000 in Israel who have not worshipped Baal.
Elijah calls Elisha to be a prophet. Elisha slaughters his oxen and fed the meat to the people.
7a) The Lord tells Elijah to go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord for the Lord is about to pass by. Wind, an earthquake, and fire passed by without the Lord in them. Finally, the Lord came in a gentle whisper. I love how the Lord comes gently in a whisper so as not to startle us or make us afraid. The Lord is kind and good, indeed!
b) To feel God’s peace and love and to learn God is gentle and wants the best for His people.
8a) God gave Elijah direct and specific instructions. God told Elijah to: Go to the desert of Damascus. Anoint Hazael king over Aram. Anoint Jehu king over Israel. Anoint Elisha to succeed you as prophet.
b) Elijah’s main complaint was that he was alone. Not anymore. God gives Elijah a companion, a friend, to help him in this desperate time he’s in. Plus, Elijah could now know someone would come after him to take on God’s work. God gives Elijah hope, too.
9) God has given me the drive and perseverance to work for Him each and every day with the goals He has given me to obtain.
I love the gentle whisper of the Lord. This will stick with me for a long time.
God know Elijah needed to encounter God, and in His goodness, God provides us with what we need.
God first shows what where he was not. Then he shows us where He is. So comforting God is gentle. God’s small voice is all we need in our desperate moments.
Elijah humbled himself when he wrapped himself in a cloak.
God gave Elijah work to do like he gives all of us. Sometimes, the best healing is in action.
God is going to punish idolaters, another complaint of Elijah’s. This encourages Elijah that punishment for sin was coming.
Elijah was not alone; there were 7,000 Israelites loyal to God still.
The cloak was a symbolic gesture that Elijah was calling Elisha to be God’s servant. Prophets were distinguishable by their cloaks.
Elijah gives us everything he owns (his plows and his oxen) as he says good-bye to his old live and enters into a new life as God’s servant.
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When Jezebel found out from Ahab that Elijah had killed all of the prophets with the sword, she threatened to kill him. Afraid, Elijah fled. He left his servant at Beersheba while he went into the wilderness. He prayed to die. He woke to an angel who fed him and gave him water. The angel appeared again telling him to eat and drink for strength.
Elijah then traveled 40 days and nights till he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. While in a cave, the word of the Lord came to him and asked him what he was doing there. Elijah said how he is afraid for his life.
3) First, he was elated and boastful. Then he was afraid for his life. He also experienced remorse and sadness over the Israelites and their worship of other gods. Frankly, he was depressed. He was physically exhausted, too.
4a) God sent an angel who fed him and gave him water. The angel appeared again telling him to eat and drink for strength.
b) Similarly, God has provided when I’ve been exhausted from the trials of life with food, clothing, shelter, friendships, and more.
5) God asked, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah replied, “I have been very jealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”
6) Elijah prays for God’s help. He listens to and for God. He obeys God and trusts God for provision.
I think many of us have reached breaking points like Elijah to the point where we wish we were dead. Note here how God is there at our weakest moments, waiting to pick us up and strengthen us in the days ahead.
Jezebel was not impressed with God’s show at Mount Carmel. Instead, she went after the instigator.
Beersheba is about 80 miles south of Mount Carmel. We are not told if God told Elijah to go there or not. All we know is God wanted to protect Elijah.
It’s ironic that Elijah prayed to die, but he’s one of the few humans that ever lived that never experienced death. Sometimes a no from God is a good thing.
Elijah was wore out, plain and simple.
We see this many times in the Bible where God provides for our physical needs before our spiritual needs.
On Elijah’s 40-day, 200-mile journey to Mount Horeb (or Mount Sinai), it is likely he gained strength physically.
Obviously, God knew the answer to why Elijah was there, but God graciously allows Elijah to explain his feelings and relieve the burdens on his heart.
Basically, Elijah is saying life is unfair here. He shouldn’t have his life threatened if he is doing God’s work (but this is usually the case). He wants an easy life like we all do. But, as God’s servant, he would not have that.
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