1 Kings 17 & 18: Will You Follow The LORD?
Verse of the Day: (18:21) And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinion? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
1. Feed (17:1-24)
And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. (17:4)
God sent His Prophet Elijah to tell the wicked King Ahab that there shall be drought in Israel for many years until they would repent their sins and turn to Him. Before God mightily used Elijah, He would have to test his faith in Him. God commanded him to go to the east to hide by the brook before Jordan, and to drink from the brook, and be fed by the ravens. By faith, Elijah went, and drank from the brook, and was miraculously fed by the ravens. God then commanded him to go to Zarephath so that a widow could feed him. By faith, he went and discovered that the widow and her son were having their last meal. He then commanded her to feed him first, and told her that God shall provide them. God miraculously provided them, as the oil and meal were never depleted, and she could use them for many days. Soon the widow’s son fell sick and died. By faith Elijah prayed to God, and her son was miraculously revived. The widow realised that Elijah was truly a man of God. Indeed, let us walk by faith in God, and never by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)
2. Follow (18:1-40)
Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. (18:38)
Elijah asked Ahab to gather Israel, and then he challenged them whether they would follow God or Baal. However Israel remained silence. He then asked them for two bullocks; one for the 450 prophets of Baal, while the other for himself, so that they would call for fire from heaven to burn the bullock. The 450 prophets called their Baal, and did everything they could, but still no fire came. Elijah then called to his God, and fire came and burnt the bullock, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. Indeed, let us thus follow the God of Elijah who is the true God. (John 14:6)
3. Face (18:41-46)
So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees. (18:42)
Elijah went to the top of Carmel casting himself on the ground and putting his face between his knees, and prayed to God for rain. He then asked his servant to keep going and looking toward the sea, and on the 7th time, the latter saw a little cloud and then a great rain. Indeed, God answers prayers as we pray earnestly in His will. (James 5:16-18)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to follow You and walk by faith and not by sight.
