This post is Day 21 in a series of studies about “Mountains”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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Mountains – Day 21

This exhortation from Elijah happened on Mount Carmel. It is a well known episode in the history of Israel. Ahab was a weak king allowing his strong willed wife, Jezebel, too much freedom to make decisions for him. She was a Baal worshipper and hated those who followed Lord Jehovah.

1 Kings 18:21

Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing.

The Thought

This exhortation from the prophet Elijah happened on Mount Carmel. It is a well known episode in Israel’s history. Ahab was a weak king allowing his strong willed wife, Jezebel, too much freedom to make decisions for him. She was a Baal worshipper and literally hated those who followed The Lord Jehovah.

There had been no rain for three years, and people were getting desperate. No rain meant no crops, which meant no food for people, and no food for animals! The situation was extreme!

Elijah went to see King Ahab, and on the way he met Obadiah, a faithful servant of the Lord, but one who was afraid of Ahab and Jezebel (1 Kings 18:9-14). When Elijah met with Ahab he called for a showdown on Mount Carmel (v19). That showdown was to be a humiliation for the prophets of Baal who advised Jezebel. There were 850 of them!!

They all followed Elijah’s challenge for sacrifices to be made in order for the rain to fall, but were unsuccessful! Elijah’s sarcastic comments as the Baal priests tried to make him send rain are worth studying (v27)!

Once Elijah had built his own alter with a trench around it, he called the people to fill the trench with water! That is very surprising! There had been a severe famine with no rain for 3 years, so where did the water come from? That will be one of the questions I will want answering when I get to heaven! Although I don’t suppose it will be important then!

Action

Read 1 Kings 18 today and see the end of the story. Elijah’s frustrations were not over when God answered his prayer to accept the sacrifice!

Praise Jesus that things don’t always happen in our timing, but that He does answer our prayers in His way which is ultimately the best way for us.