Read 2 Kings 2.
All the prophets in Judah knew that Elijah's ministry had come to a close. Elisha would become his successor as Judah's leading spiritual prophet. Elisha closely followed Elijah as he anticipated the moment of transition. The two traveled eastward to Bethel to Jericho to the Jordan River. Crossing the river proved to be no problem. Elijah just rolled up his outer garment and struck the water. The two of them walked across on dry ground. This is the second time this miracle occurred. The first took place in Joshua 3. Fifty other prophets of God, watching from a distance, witnessed the miracle.
As the mentor prepared to leave, he asked Elisha, "What shall I do for you"? Elisha wanted a double portion of Elijah's spirit. Under the Old Testament law, the firstborn could receive a double portion of the inheritance. But Elisha did not ask for an inheritance of an estate. He wanted to continue the ministry of Elisha with a double portion of God's power upon him.
Elijah is one of two men in the Bible who do not have a recorded death. In Genesis 5:24, Enoch "walked with God and was not for God took him". Many would also include Moses. However, there are several verses in the Bible that use the word dead or death concerning him.
The confirmation of God's power upon Elisha was not only in witnessing Elijah ascension into heaven, but in the actions that followed. It was not personal power but dependence upon the power of God indicating his spiritual leadership to everyone around him. Those same fifty prophets watched as Elisha also parted the the Jordan River. This marked the third time for this same miracle.
Whenever God is visibly at work, expect the Evil One to also try to counter it or destroy it. The test came almost immediately. Young men, not children, treated Elisha with contempt. This must be interpreted as verbal abuse, making fun of his appearance, but, even more, slandering the work of God and Elisha as a servant of God.
Elisha's question in verse 14 is one for us today. "Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" This was not asking for God's location. No. He anticipated God's intervention!
Monday, December 17, 2012
Saturday, December 15, 2012
The number one block to Hope
Read 2 Kings 1.
People who do not have a personal relationship with the LORD will spiritually search when they have a need.
Ahaziah was an evil king over Israel. But as he lay dying from an accident he wanted spiritual intervention. For him, he turned to the made up god called Baal-zebub. Instead, God sent Elijah.
The lesson is in the process that brought about Elijah actually being allowed by God to go. The majority of the Jews lives in the northern kingdom of Israel. They separated from the south, then known as the kingdom of Judah. The problem was that Jerusalem with the Temple was in the south. Spiritually, the north had cut themselves off from their true center of worship. Elijah's message from God in the form of question underscored the issue.
King Ahaziah thought he would display his royal power and authority by sending troops to order Elijah to appear before him. Underneath the surface of this action was the spiritual battle. It was not the king against Elijah. It was the hubris of Ahaziah and his rebellion against the God of heaven. Unfortunately, the king's pride costs the lives of many men. Finally, the third captain understood. With great humility, he pleaded with Elijah for his life and that of his men.
There was no repentance of sin on the part of Ahaziah. In his hurt, he just wanted help from any spiritual source. Here the true spiritual help he really needed and the hope he needed for eternity was right in front of him. "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 16:18
"...'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' Submit yourselves therefore to God."
James 4:6b-7a
People who do not have a personal relationship with the LORD will spiritually search when they have a need.
Ahaziah was an evil king over Israel. But as he lay dying from an accident he wanted spiritual intervention. For him, he turned to the made up god called Baal-zebub. Instead, God sent Elijah.
The lesson is in the process that brought about Elijah actually being allowed by God to go. The majority of the Jews lives in the northern kingdom of Israel. They separated from the south, then known as the kingdom of Judah. The problem was that Jerusalem with the Temple was in the south. Spiritually, the north had cut themselves off from their true center of worship. Elijah's message from God in the form of question underscored the issue.
King Ahaziah thought he would display his royal power and authority by sending troops to order Elijah to appear before him. Underneath the surface of this action was the spiritual battle. It was not the king against Elijah. It was the hubris of Ahaziah and his rebellion against the God of heaven. Unfortunately, the king's pride costs the lives of many men. Finally, the third captain understood. With great humility, he pleaded with Elijah for his life and that of his men.
There was no repentance of sin on the part of Ahaziah. In his hurt, he just wanted help from any spiritual source. Here the true spiritual help he really needed and the hope he needed for eternity was right in front of him. "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 16:18
"...'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' Submit yourselves therefore to God."
James 4:6b-7a
Friday, December 7, 2012
Examining what you Hear
Read 1 Kings 22.
This is a rare account when the king of Israel and the king of Judah sat down peaceably and planned anything together. The question at hand was whether to go to war against Syria. All of Ahab's prophets immediately supported the king's desire to go to war. But Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, was a godly man and realized that something was not right. They summoned Micaiah.
Micaiah was not like the hired prophets of Ahab at all. He declared, "As the LORD lives, what the LORD says to me, that I will speak" (v.14). This true prophet of God revealed the nature of false prophets. They "entice" (vv.20-22) the hearers who pay them with what they want to hear, not what God's word says. Therefore, they are lying when they speak (v.22). The words sound good to the undiscerning, but they are empty concerning what God wants done. They become socially acceptable and repugnant to the LORD.
As Micaiah was led away to prison for telling the truth, he delivered a prophetic word concerning Ahab. The certainty of the prophecy was that Ahab would not return from the battle in peace. Indeed, Ahab died as a result of a so-called random arrow that hit the one person in just the right place to fulfill the prophecy. This was no coincidence. God took care of the pouting, evil king and fulfilled the original gruesome prophecy of his death in 1 Kings 21:24.
Just because someone has a religious position or says they know what God wants does not make it so. There have always been false prophets who do not know the LORD, nor His word, and only go through the motions of their religion. When the Apostle Paul preached in Berea, the people who heard him even checked his message with God's written word to see if it was truthful. We should all follow their daily example.
"...they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so." (Acts 17:11)
This is a rare account when the king of Israel and the king of Judah sat down peaceably and planned anything together. The question at hand was whether to go to war against Syria. All of Ahab's prophets immediately supported the king's desire to go to war. But Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, was a godly man and realized that something was not right. They summoned Micaiah.
Micaiah was not like the hired prophets of Ahab at all. He declared, "As the LORD lives, what the LORD says to me, that I will speak" (v.14). This true prophet of God revealed the nature of false prophets. They "entice" (vv.20-22) the hearers who pay them with what they want to hear, not what God's word says. Therefore, they are lying when they speak (v.22). The words sound good to the undiscerning, but they are empty concerning what God wants done. They become socially acceptable and repugnant to the LORD.
As Micaiah was led away to prison for telling the truth, he delivered a prophetic word concerning Ahab. The certainty of the prophecy was that Ahab would not return from the battle in peace. Indeed, Ahab died as a result of a so-called random arrow that hit the one person in just the right place to fulfill the prophecy. This was no coincidence. God took care of the pouting, evil king and fulfilled the original gruesome prophecy of his death in 1 Kings 21:24.
Just because someone has a religious position or says they know what God wants does not make it so. There have always been false prophets who do not know the LORD, nor His word, and only go through the motions of their religion. When the Apostle Paul preached in Berea, the people who heard him even checked his message with God's written word to see if it was truthful. We should all follow their daily example.
"...they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so." (Acts 17:11)
Thursday, December 6, 2012
When the leader fails to lead, everyone pays a price.
Read 1 Kings 21.
This is the story of a pouting king and the consequences of selfish, evil behaviors.
Underlying principles that Ahab violated:
1. We are to respect the rights of others.
2. We are to respect the heritage of others.
3. We are never to abuse power for personal gain. That is the definition of extortion.
4. We are to take swift and decisive action when we become aware of wrong doing.
If the person responsible will not take action, someone else will fill that vacuum and the outcome may not be honorable.
Mistakes and sins to avoid committed by Jezebel:
1. She took up another's offense. She should have reminded her husband that he plenty of food and land already. She should have been an encourager to him.
2. She took responsibility and authority that were not hers. There was no crisis for her to usurp authority. She used the king's power to do evil.
3. She lied and that about an innocent man.
4. She devised an evil scheme and abused the legal system to execute an innocent man. Those in charge of such judgments became directly and knowingly involved in the corruption.
God sent Elijah to condemn these two for what they did.
1. Ahab "sold" himself to do evil. (v.20)
2. Ahab "made Israel sin." (v.23)
3. Ahab allowed Jezebel to incite him to do evil. (v.25)
Yes, Ahab repented at the news of the impending disasters. God did not change His mind. He did delay implementing a part of the judgment.
King David wrote wise words for us today-
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)
This is the story of a pouting king and the consequences of selfish, evil behaviors.
Underlying principles that Ahab violated:
1. We are to respect the rights of others.
2. We are to respect the heritage of others.
3. We are never to abuse power for personal gain. That is the definition of extortion.
4. We are to take swift and decisive action when we become aware of wrong doing.
If the person responsible will not take action, someone else will fill that vacuum and the outcome may not be honorable.
Mistakes and sins to avoid committed by Jezebel:
1. She took up another's offense. She should have reminded her husband that he plenty of food and land already. She should have been an encourager to him.
2. She took responsibility and authority that were not hers. There was no crisis for her to usurp authority. She used the king's power to do evil.
3. She lied and that about an innocent man.
4. She devised an evil scheme and abused the legal system to execute an innocent man. Those in charge of such judgments became directly and knowingly involved in the corruption.
God sent Elijah to condemn these two for what they did.
1. Ahab "sold" himself to do evil. (v.20)
2. Ahab "made Israel sin." (v.23)
3. Ahab allowed Jezebel to incite him to do evil. (v.25)
Yes, Ahab repented at the news of the impending disasters. God did not change His mind. He did delay implementing a part of the judgment.
King David wrote wise words for us today-
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)
Monday, December 3, 2012
Where is my Help?
Read 1 Kings 20.
The king of Syria with an allied force from 32 other kings mustered to conquer Ahab and the northern kingdom of Israel. When negotiations failed, the two sides readied themselves for battle.
God sent an unnamed prophet to Ahab with this message, "Behold, I will give it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the LORD" (v.13b). Amazingly, after all of Ahab's rebellion and evil, God continued to reveal Himself to Ahab. After all, these are God's chosen people and He wants them to turn to Him.
Though enormously outnumbered, Israel set themselves toward the enemy. Meanwhile, on the other side of the battle line, the advisers to Ben-hadad was to fight in the plain of the land. Why? "Their gods are gods of the hills and so they are stronger than we" (v.23). In their pagan way of thinking, they believed that a war could be won by pleasing one made up god over another.
When the LORD heard this, He sent a prophet to Ahab, "Thus says the LORD, 'Because the Syrians have said, "The LORD is a god of the hills but he in not a god of the valleys," therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD" (v.28). The battle was not Israel against Syria, but Syria against God. It was all about HIM. God wants all nations to know who He is and of His power; that included Ahab. 127,000 enemy soldiers died that day from a rout of 7,000 from Israel. Only God.
They looked the gods of the hills, instead of the God who made the hills. Many today look to the stars, instead of the God who made the stars. The Psalmist looked at the hills and asked the life changing question.
Psalm 121:1-2 "I will lift my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD who made heaven and earth."
The king of Syria with an allied force from 32 other kings mustered to conquer Ahab and the northern kingdom of Israel. When negotiations failed, the two sides readied themselves for battle.
God sent an unnamed prophet to Ahab with this message, "Behold, I will give it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the LORD" (v.13b). Amazingly, after all of Ahab's rebellion and evil, God continued to reveal Himself to Ahab. After all, these are God's chosen people and He wants them to turn to Him.
Though enormously outnumbered, Israel set themselves toward the enemy. Meanwhile, on the other side of the battle line, the advisers to Ben-hadad was to fight in the plain of the land. Why? "Their gods are gods of the hills and so they are stronger than we" (v.23). In their pagan way of thinking, they believed that a war could be won by pleasing one made up god over another.
When the LORD heard this, He sent a prophet to Ahab, "Thus says the LORD, 'Because the Syrians have said, "The LORD is a god of the hills but he in not a god of the valleys," therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD" (v.28). The battle was not Israel against Syria, but Syria against God. It was all about HIM. God wants all nations to know who He is and of His power; that included Ahab. 127,000 enemy soldiers died that day from a rout of 7,000 from Israel. Only God.
They looked the gods of the hills, instead of the God who made the hills. Many today look to the stars, instead of the God who made the stars. The Psalmist looked at the hills and asked the life changing question.
Psalm 121:1-2 "I will lift my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD who made heaven and earth."
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Time for a Break
Read 1 Kings 19.
Elijah faced down a king and 450 false prophets. He saw God answer prayer and use him in one of the great demonstrations of God's power in the Old Testament. Yet, when the evil Jezebel threatened to kill him he ran in fear.
Why would such a strong prophet of God do this? And, how would God respond to him?
It appears in verse 4 that Elijah was an exhausted man--physically, mentally, and spiritually. All he wanted to do was find a safe, quiet place to sit and, perhaps, die. He did not want to do this anymore. He wanted out. Anyone who has experienced burn-out can identify with Elijah at this point.
Notice how the LORD does not rebuke Elijah but very patiently nurses the prophet back to health.
1. He needed sleep.
2. He needed food.
3. He needed more sleep.
4. God sent him on a travel adventure to Horeb.
More than a month and a half went by without God confronting Elijah about anything.
At Horeb, the LORD delivered His message, but watch how He began. He did not start with a lecture, but a simple question: "What are you doing here?" God often used this technique. In the very first confrontation in the Bible, to Adam: "Where are you?" To Jonah: "Do you do well to be angry...?" and others. He asked questions, not because He did not know the answer, but because He wanted the person to verbalize their feelings and the problem. Elijah was afraid, discouraged, and lonely.
Elijah did not need a seminar on loneliness or counseling about discouragement. Instead, God refreshed the personal relationship and showed again His miraculous power. But the call from God to get up and get back to work did not come in the loud, powerful displays. No. It came in the quiet, whisper of God's voice.
I believe God is speaking...through the scriptures and into our spirits every day. We need daily times alone with God and listen to what He has to say to us.
Elijah faced down a king and 450 false prophets. He saw God answer prayer and use him in one of the great demonstrations of God's power in the Old Testament. Yet, when the evil Jezebel threatened to kill him he ran in fear.
Why would such a strong prophet of God do this? And, how would God respond to him?
It appears in verse 4 that Elijah was an exhausted man--physically, mentally, and spiritually. All he wanted to do was find a safe, quiet place to sit and, perhaps, die. He did not want to do this anymore. He wanted out. Anyone who has experienced burn-out can identify with Elijah at this point.
Notice how the LORD does not rebuke Elijah but very patiently nurses the prophet back to health.
1. He needed sleep.
2. He needed food.
3. He needed more sleep.
4. God sent him on a travel adventure to Horeb.
More than a month and a half went by without God confronting Elijah about anything.
At Horeb, the LORD delivered His message, but watch how He began. He did not start with a lecture, but a simple question: "What are you doing here?" God often used this technique. In the very first confrontation in the Bible, to Adam: "Where are you?" To Jonah: "Do you do well to be angry...?" and others. He asked questions, not because He did not know the answer, but because He wanted the person to verbalize their feelings and the problem. Elijah was afraid, discouraged, and lonely.
Elijah did not need a seminar on loneliness or counseling about discouragement. Instead, God refreshed the personal relationship and showed again His miraculous power. But the call from God to get up and get back to work did not come in the loud, powerful displays. No. It came in the quiet, whisper of God's voice.
I believe God is speaking...through the scriptures and into our spirits every day. We need daily times alone with God and listen to what He has to say to us.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Make up your Mind
Read 1 Kings 18.
Three years passed. The famine in Israel was so great the king had to search the land for grass to feed the animals. Meanwhile, Jezebel sat at her royal table and fed 450 false prophets of the god Baal. It was time for God to intervene again. He sent Elijah to meet with Ahab for a showdown.
This was not an ego-driven power game between Ahab and Elijah. Rather, it was a public opportunity for God to display His power and bring Israel to repent of its false worship. The challenge is in verse 21: "How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him."
The Hebrew word translated "limping" in the ESV means "to hop". It may be used of one who steps as if lame or dances. The nation claimed by heritage to be the people of God, chosen by Him from the time of Abraham. Yet, their lives and resources went to worship a made-up god of their choosing and reject any claim the God of heaven made upon them. Doing both is not possible. It was time for them to make up their minds.
The confrontation is graphically detailed for us. The prophets of Baal prepared their sacrifice, danced (ESV="limped", same word as above) around, cried out, and cut themselves in self-punishment for their sin. But after all that, "there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention" (v.29b).
So many people claim they believe in God, even believe the Bible, yet there is no evidence in the way they think, speak or live. When trouble comes, tragedy strikes, they cry out but all the stuff they lived for does not help them.
Elijah's prayer was simple: "Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back."
Three years passed. The famine in Israel was so great the king had to search the land for grass to feed the animals. Meanwhile, Jezebel sat at her royal table and fed 450 false prophets of the god Baal. It was time for God to intervene again. He sent Elijah to meet with Ahab for a showdown.
This was not an ego-driven power game between Ahab and Elijah. Rather, it was a public opportunity for God to display His power and bring Israel to repent of its false worship. The challenge is in verse 21: "How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him."
The Hebrew word translated "limping" in the ESV means "to hop". It may be used of one who steps as if lame or dances. The nation claimed by heritage to be the people of God, chosen by Him from the time of Abraham. Yet, their lives and resources went to worship a made-up god of their choosing and reject any claim the God of heaven made upon them. Doing both is not possible. It was time for them to make up their minds.
The confrontation is graphically detailed for us. The prophets of Baal prepared their sacrifice, danced (ESV="limped", same word as above) around, cried out, and cut themselves in self-punishment for their sin. But after all that, "there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention" (v.29b).
So many people claim they believe in God, even believe the Bible, yet there is no evidence in the way they think, speak or live. When trouble comes, tragedy strikes, they cry out but all the stuff they lived for does not help them.
Elijah's prayer was simple: "Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back."
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