1 Kings 17 is the first mention of the grand prophet Elijah. There is no formal introduction as to who he is, simply that he was a Tishbite from Gilead. Notwithstanding, he is, no doubt, the most fearless, and valorous preacher of the Old Testament. His name is well known in history and is mentioned scores of times in the New Testament; albeit never in contempt or disrespect. We find something in the book of James that tells us a little of his person. James 5:17 “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.” This means that he was a man like any other man and was required to trust God as we are. There was nothing more or less required of him (within his calling) than anyone else. 1 Kings 19:4 shows us how he was indeed a man of like passion as we are. “But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I [am] not better than my fathers.” Read Romans 11:1-4.
The most important thing to note about Elijah is that he was always in the will of God. In 1 Kings 17:1-7 he is commanded to prophesy against Ahab and the people of Israel for their wickedness. He was ordered by God to report to Ahab that it was not going to rain for a period of three years and six months, according to the Lord Jesus in Luke 4:25. He did this at the risk of his life. He was directed to flee to the wilderness by the brook Cherith. Elijah was about to undergo a test of faith. There, God fed him by ravens until the brook dried up. God promised to provide for him and without question, Elijah obeyed the Lord and fled to Cherith and in verse six we see that God fulfilled His promise. God never leaves us in times of testing and trial, but in these times we are expected to trust His provision for us.
In the last few years the State of California and several other states have experienced “drought conditions.” Nevertheless, in many places in those states there has been an abundance of rain. But in Elijah’s day there was no rain, not even dew in the morning. The kingdom was suffering starvation and King Ahab could do nothing about it because it was the judgment of God. There is a drought in America today that is spiritual. Though there is an abundance of religion today, there is an enormous famine of the truth. Even in “Christian churches” all across the land the air is being polluted with a watered down version of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Instead of promulgating the whole counsel of God preachers prefer popularity with the world. Elijah was bold to tell Ahab the truth. He was not interested in gaining Ahab’s favor. Yes, he suffered for his uncompromising stand and so will you and I, if we stand for the truths of the word of God. It is time we stopped trying to make the world feel at home in the church with humanistic psychology and rap music and begin to tell people that their self-esteem is blinding them of their need for a Savior. If we stand true to the word of God we won’t need the world’s approval. Instead of relying on the power of persuasion to get people saved, we should be relying on the Holy Spirit to do His perfect work in the heart of the sinner. There is also a famine of hearing the word of God. When the truth is preached, folks are not listening. Many faithful preachers are sending out the warning of God’s impending judgment and the people are too preoccupied with the pleasures of sin and too busy with life to pay attention to the most important aspect of life which is a relationship with Christ. Dear preacher friend, we must tell sinners that they are sinners and call sin sin and tell people that the place of punishment for sin is hell. Don’t be reluctant to tell sinners the truth. Trust God, even when the brook dries up. E-mail, johnpruitt@frontiernet.net
