It’s not what you are that holds you back; it’s what you think you are not." - Denis Waitley
I’ve learned: that we should be glad God doesn’t give us everything we ask for, that money doesn’t buy class. That it’s those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular, that under everyone’s hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved, that to ignore the facts does not change them.
That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you, that love, not time, heals all wounds. That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am, that everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.
that there’s nothing sweeter than sleeping with your babies, and feeling their breath on your cheeks, that no one is perfect until you fall in love with him or her. That opportunity is never lost; someone will take the ones you miss, that when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere. That I wish I could have told those I cared about that I love them one more time before they passed away. That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them. That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.
OUR STANDING BEFORE GOD-ONE CAN MAKE A DIFFEERENCE
I Kings 17:1-7
It was a desperate hour of darkness for Israel. The Scriptures say that Ahab did more to provoke the LORD to anger than did all the kings of Israel before him 16:33. Not only was Ahab the first king to serve and worship Baal, he built a temple in Samaria dedicated to the worship of Baal. The five previous kings before Ahab were bad enough, but Ahab was the worst of the lot. Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom, made two golden calves so that the northerners would forget about their pilgrimage to the Jerusalem temple in the south. The four kings after him, including his son Nadab, Baasha, founding king of the second dynasty and Baasah’s son Elah , and Omri, the founder of the third dynasty and Ahab’s father, were no worse than Jeroboam. The charges against them were the same: they did evil in the eyes of the LORD, walking in the ways of Jeroboam and in his sin, which he had caused Israel to commit. But Samaria under the reign of Ahab and the unmistakable influence of Jezebel was the most pagan and profane place in Israel at that time. Not only was Baal worship practiced and commended by the king, the Asherah pole became a national and royal treasure. True, Baal and Asherah worship were common in the new land at the time of the Judges after Joshua’s death and the Israelites were openly practicing Asherah worship shortly before Jezebel’s arrival but now the king had sanctioned and legitimized the two religions. Idolatry was in fashion, in full swing, and in primetime.
Ahab, the northern king, did the most foolish, offensive and irreligious thing in God’s eyes. He married the Gentile, idolatrous, and evil Jezebel. No one was like Jezebel. Never in the northern kingdom Israel’s history had a queen wielded such power over the land, and such influence and sway over the king. She was a Sidonian, not a Hebrew, and through her influence, Ahab became the first king to set up an altar for Baal and to make an Asherah pole thus provoking the LORD to anger more than all the kings of Israel before him. After Jezebel had set up shop in Israel, she had a stable of 850 prophets in her service; 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah ate at Jezebel’s table. She was such a renowned prophet killer, that the prophets hid in horror at caves and ran for their lives at the mention of her name. Prophets like Elijah were so discouraged and depressed that they wanted to quit serving and living. Jezebel influenced Ahab in politics, religions, morality and ethics. This king and queen wanted the worship of Baal to be a national happening and had killed all the preachers of the good news of God’s love. There were still 7,000 that had not given up their worship of the true God but they were in hiding. The whole nation seemed to be in the sway of idolatry and shame. It seems as I read the paper on some days that our nation is in the same way. It was a desperate hour of darkness for the nation of Israel. God’s judgment would be coming if someone did not some forward who had a right standing with God. This man named Elijah had his equal in John the Baptist and Moses. It was in this time that a man came forth who knew God and that God would put a stop to the wickedness of the time. The people who were supposed to be holy needed to be challenged about the decay of their spiritual life.
Do we not see this in our day? People are crumbling and dying by the influence of wickedness. Ahab had completely rejected the way of God. He took the people away from God and now practiced worship to idols, to the gods of Baal and Ashteroth. With this came moral depravity, violence, greed and lustful living. They were to be challenged to separate from those around them and live holy lives. The problem I see in our day in time is that people have been so far away from Him that they do not even seek Him and not just that do not want God in their lives. Ahab and Jezebel were leaders and they did not want God in their lives and were not going to seek after Him. Do you know leaders in our state, county and city who not only do not know but are not even giving any thought about Him?
"The Road Not Taken,"
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. Robert Frost
So sad was the character both of the rulers and people of Israel, one might have expected God would cast off a people that had so cast him off; but, as an evidence to the contrary, never was Israel so blessed with a good prophet as when it was so plagued with a bad king. Never was king so bold to sin as Ahab; never was prophet so bold to reprove and threaten as Elijah, whose story begins in this chapter and is full of wonders. Scarcely any part of the Old-Testament history shines brighter than this history of the spirit and power of Elijah; he had the honor of all the prophets, to be translated, that he should not see death and to attend our Savior in his transfiguration. Other prophets prophesied and wrote, he prophesied and acted, but wrote nothing; but his actions cast more luster on his name than their writings did on theirs.
I. His prediction of a famine in Israel, through the want of rain (v. 1).
The history of Elijah begins somewhat abruptly. Usually, when a prophet enters, we have some account of his parentage, are told whose son he was and of what tribe; but Elijah is like Melchisedek, he were without father, without mother, and without descent, which made some of the Jews fancy that he was an angel sent from heaven; but the apostle James has assured us that he was a man subject to like passions as we are, that he was prone to the common frailty of human nature. Rough spirits are called to rough services. Elijah - The most eminent of the prophets, who is here brought in, like Melchisedek, without any mention of his father, or mother, or beginning of his days; like a man dropped out of the clouds, and raised by God’s special providence as a witness for himself in this most degenerate time that by his zeal, and courage and miracles, he might give some check, to their various and abominable idolatries, and some reviving to that small number of the Lord’s prophets, and people, who yet remained in Israel. He seems to have been naturally of a rough spirit. Said to Ahab having doubtless admonished him of his sin and danger before; now upon his stubbornness in his wicked courses, he proceeds to declare, and execute the judgment of God upon him. I swear by the God of Israel, who is the only true and living God? Whose minister I am in this threatening, which I now deliver in his name and authority. This was a prediction, but was seconded with his prayer, that God would verify it. This prayer was truly bountiful; that by this sharp affliction, God’s honor, and the truth of his word might be justified; and the Israelites might be awakened to see their own wickedness, and the necessity of returning to the true religion.
1. The prophet’s name was Elijah—"My God Jehovah is he."
2. His country: He was of the inhabitants of Gilead, on the other side Jordan, either of the tribe of Gad or the half of Manasseh. We need not enquire where people came from, but what they are. Two things we have an account of here in the beginning of his story:
I. How he foretold a famine, a long and grievous famine, with which Israel should be punished for their sins. That fruitful land, for want of rain, should be turned into barrenness, for the iniquity of those that dwelt therein. He went and told Ahab. He did not whisper it to the people, to make them disaffected to the government, but proclaimed it to the king, in whose power it was to reform the land, and so to prevent the judgment. It is probable that he reproved Ahab for his idolatry and other wickedness, and told him that unless he repented and reformed this judgment would be brought upon his land. There should be neither dew nor rain for some years, none but according to my word. The apostle teaches us to understand this, not only of the word of prophecy, but the word of prayer, which turned the key of the clouds, prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and, according to his prayers, the heavens became as brass, till he prayed again that it might rain. In allusion to this story it is said of God’s witnesses (Rev. 11:6), “These have power to shut heaven that it rain not in the days of their prophecy.” Elijah lets Ahab know, 1. That the Lord God is the God of Israel, whom he had forsaken. 2. That he is a living God, and not like the gods he worshipped, which were dead dumb idols. 3. That he himself was God’s servant in office, and a messenger sent from him: "It is he before whom I stand, to minister to him," or "whom I now represent, in whose company I stand, and in whose name I speak, in defiance of the prophets of Baal and the groves." 4. That, notwithstanding the present peace and prosperity of the kingdom of Israel, God was displeased with them for their idolatry and would discipline them for it by the want of rain, which, when he withheld it, it was not in the power of the gods they served to bestow. 5. He lets Ahab know what interest he had in heaven: It shall be according to my word. With what dignity does he speak when he speaks in God’s name, as one who well understood that commission of a prophet, I have set you over the nations and over the kingdoms. We see the power of prayer and the truth of God’s word; for he performs the counsel of his messengers.
God hid him for awhile because: 1. Providence called him solitude and retirement, when one cannot be useful one must be patient, and when one cannot work for God one must sit still quietly for him. 2. Though he could not work there, having nothing to do but to meditate and pray, yet he needed to eat, for he is in the way of his duty, in the day of famine he would be satisfied. Elijah would drink from the brook, and the ravens were appointed to bring him meat. 1. The provisions were plentiful, and good, and constant, bread and flesh twice a day, daily bread and food fitting. It ill becomes God’s servants, to be nice and curious about their food; no matter though the taste may be. Elijah had but one meal brought him at a time, every morning and every evening, to teach him not to take thought for the morrow. We need to thank God for bread this day and not worry about tomorrow. 2. The helpers were very unlikely, for they were just ravens. God could have sent angels to minister to him, as he did afterwards, but he chose to send by winged messengers of another nature, to show that when he pleases he can serve his own purposes by modest creatures as effectually as by the mightiest. If it be asked where the ravens had this provision, how and where it was cooked, and whether they came honestly by it, we must answer, as Jacob did “The Lord our God brought it to them, whose the earth is and the fullness thereof, the world and those that dwell therein.” But why ravens? 1. They are birds of prey, greedy devouring creatures, more likely to have taken his meat from him, or to have picked out his eyes. 2. They are unclean creatures. Every raven after his kind was, by the law, forbidden to be eaten, yet Elijah did not think the meat they brought was unfit, but ate and gave thanks, asking no question for conscience’ sake. 3. Ravens feed on insects and carrion themselves, yet they brought the man’s meat and wholesome food. 4. Ravens could bring but a little, and broken meat, yet Elijah was content with such things as he had, and thankful that he was fed. 5. Ravens neglect their own young ones, and do not feed them; yet when God pleases they shall feed his prophet. 6. Ravens are themselves fed by special providence and now they fed the prophet. Have we experienced God’s special goodness to us? Let us learn hence, first, to acknowledge the authority and power of God over all the creatures; he can make what use he pleases of them, either for judgment or mercy. Secondly, we need to encourage ourselves in God and never to distrust him. He that could furnish a table in the wilderness, and make ravens suppliers to his prophet and is able to supply all our needs according to his riches in glory.
If you can look at the sunset and smile, then you still have hope. If you can find beauty in the colors of a small flower, then you still have hope. If the smile of a child can still warm your heart, then you still have hope. If you can see the good in other people, then you still have hope. If the rain breaking on a rooftop can still lull you to sleep, then you still have hope. If the sight of a rainbow still makes you stop and stare in wonder, then you still have hope. If you meet new people with a trace of excitement and optimism, then you still have hope. If you give people the benefit of a doubt, then you still have hope. If you still offer your hand in friendship to others that have touched your life, then you still have hope. If receiving an unexpected card or letter still brings a pleasant surprise, then you still have hope. If you refuse to let a friendship die, or accept that it must end, then you still have hope. If you look forward to a time or place of quiet and reflection, then you still have hope. If you still watch love stories or want the endings to be happy, then you still have hope. If you can look to the past and smile, then you still have hope. If, when faced with the bad, when told everything is futile, you can still look up and end the conversation with the phrase..."yeah … BUT ..." Then you still have hope. Hope is such a marvelous thing. It bends, it twists, it sometimes hides, but rarely does it break. It sustains us when nothing else can. It gives us reason to continue and courage to move ahead, when we tell ourselves we’d rather give in. Hope puts a smile on our face when the heart cannot manage. Hope puts our feet on the path when our eyes cannot see it. Hope moves us to act when our souls are confused of the direction. Hope is a wonderful thing, something to be cherished and nurtured, and something that will refresh us in return. And it can be found in each of us, and it can bring light into the darkest of places. Never lose hope. It was a desperate hour of darkness for Israel. God sent Elijah and He sends us with hope.
