6.27.10 // The LORD, He is God! 1 Kings 18

Israel was steeped in idolatry. The agricultural economy had come to a grinding halt due to 3.5 years of drought (1 Kgs 18:1-2). Famine was rampant (cf. 1 Kgs 18:5). At the helm of power was King Ahab, the most wicked king ever to reign in Israel (1 Kgs 18:30-33). Everyone knew there was a manhunt on for Elijah (1 Kgs 18:10) whose name means the LORD is God. Ahab was blaming Elijah for the climate change (1 Kgs 18:17). God smacked down the concept of Baal, the god of rain, through the drought, and yet the people were still wanting to sit on the fence and have the option to serve God or Baal depending on which one was convenient and beneficial (cf. 1 Kgs 18:21). This waffling was in clear violation of Exodus 20:3-5, and a stern warning was given for violating such law (cf. Lev 26:18-19; Deut 11:16-17; 28:23-24). God brought the economy to its knees in order to show the people the impotency and futility of Baal worship and the disastrous effects of worshipping deaf, dumb, and dead idols.

The people were still thinking after 3.5 years of dry weather, “Perhaps all of this was just coincidental, explainable by natural cause and effect. We have had droughts before and survived. If we go making waves against Baal, not knowing for sure if this is from Yahweh, we will experience the sword of Jezebel (1 Kgs 18:4)!”

Elijah’s clarion call to choice, either/or, is contrary to a societal belief in relativism. A society that revels in gray matter, avoiding black and white, no absolutes, no moral definitiveness where the individual has his or her own spin on what is true and what is false. The people were struggling with the eternal and unalterable truth that Yahweh is God, the One and only true God, as we are today. If Yahweh is God serve Him; if your god of your own making is god, serve it. Serving God is an either/or proposition. It is an all or nothing situation. We cannot have it both ways.

Whether we believe Yahweh is God or not does not invalidate this truth. How we respond to this fact determines our destiny and shapes our path of life and experiences. You can see the truth of this in the life of Elijah as well as those people of Israel struggling with God’s authority. For the fact that the LORD is God declares in the loudest of terms that God is and has the authority over all of creation. So it boils down to recognizing and acknowledging, intellectually and experientially, the authority of God in our lives. The drought was intended to bring Israel back to sensibility and reality of that truth. But they just didn’t get it. But 3.5 years of drought softened them up to be more receptive at the Mount Carmel showdown.

Last week we left Elijah at the house of the widow of Zarephath, waiting on a word from the LORD. Elijah the prophet had declared a drought to King Ahab, the representative of the Northern Kingdom, because of Israel’s idolatry. Every person in Israel was impacted in one way or another by the severity of the climate change, even Elijah. However, as we read last week, God provided an endless supply of flour and oil for Elijah, the widow, and her son. This would last until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth (1 Kgs 18:14). This day is fast approaching as we move into 1 Kings 18. Let’s read once again what Elijah declared to Ahab in 1 Kings 17 and verse 1:

And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”

Now look in 1 Kings 18 and verse 1:

And it came to pass after many days that the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth.”

If God said it, it will happen; it will come to pass.

The third year It has been three and a half years since Elijah announced a drought to Ahab (cf. Lk 4:25; Jas 5:17) because of Israel’s idolatry (1 Kgs 17:1; 18:18) and three years since he left Israel (1 Kgs 17:2-3). After 6 months of no dew or rain, it finally dawned on Ahab that the drought was for real, and Elijah’s pronouncement was true. Famine has a way of getting everybody’s attention. He started looking for Elijah, but God had already instructed Elijah to leave Israel’s territory (1 Kgs 17:2-3).

Let me again reiterate about the mark of a true prophet in the Bible. All of his predictions or prophecies were literally fulfilled 100% of the time in every detail. We are definitely in the end of times, and many today claim to have a vision from God or a word from the Lord or a prophetic utterance from God. Just remember that the litmus test of a true prophet is 100% accuracy all the time in every detail; anything less than 100% accuracy is a telltale sign this person is not a spokesman or mouthpiece for God if making a prediction based on a claim to have received a vision from God.

The reason for the drought was a spiritual problem; it was providential, not coincidental. We see this in 1 Kings 18 and verse 21. Let's look at several translations on this verse to give us some different perspectives on this truth for we struggle with this very thing today of not living life in the light that Yahweh is God, an active submission to the authority of God Almighty.

• NIV: 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.
• NAS: Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people did not answer him a word.
• The Message: Elijah challenged the people: "How long are you going to sit on the fence? If GOD is the real God, follow him; if it's Baal, follow him. Make up your minds!" Nobody said a word; nobody made a move.
• Amplified Bible: Elijah came near to all the people and said, How long will you halt and limp between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him! But if Baal, then follow him. And the people did not answer him a word.
• NLT: Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent.
• KJV: And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
• CEV: Elijah stood in front of them and said, "How much longer will you try to have things both ways? If the LORD is God, worship him! But if Baal is God, worship him!" The people did not say a word.
• ESV: And Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." And the people did not answer him a word.
• HCSB: Then Elijah approached all the people and said, "How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If Yahweh is God, follow Him. But if Baal, follow him." But the people didn't answer him a word.
• GNB: Elijah went up to the people and said, "How much longer will it take you to make up your minds? If the LORD is God, worship him; but if Baal is God, worship him!" But the people didn't say a word.
• NKJV: And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a word.

Hopefully, from these various translations you picked up on the nuances and inflections of the crux of the problem. The people were languishing in “the land of in between.” 3.5 years of drought had not convinced them there was a problem with the Baal religion. As aforementioned, Baal was the god who brought the rain for the crops to grow and provided food for his people, and this was not happening. 850 prophets of the Baal religion could not get Baal or Asherah to bring rain for the past 3.5 years, regardless of the sincerity of the cultic practices performed (cf.1 Kgs 18:28). I once had a pet rock who acted the same way; it wouldn’t come either when summoned….

In this chapter we see four spiritual positions that reveal its orientation to the authority of God. To describe these spiritual orientations I use descriptive terminology: underground, battleground, neutral ground, and above ground.

Underground (Obadiah, 1 Kgs 18:1-16) a secret saint, takes spiritual matters into his own hand (or strength), a sense of self-importance and entitlement – look what I have done for God: feared (1 Kgs 18:12) and hid (1 Kgs 18:13). Zealous in service to God and willing to take risks to do what he thinks is right, cautious but crafty, recognizes Yahweh is God but questions His commands (1 Kgs 18:9). Underground believers are not visible to the world around them, unwilling for their faith to be known that might compromise their position in the world. Man’s relationship with God is a personal matter, but it is not private (Mt 5:14-16). Being in the presence of godly men will help us to find our sufficiency in God, not in our own strength (1 Kgs 18:16). Underground believers have a higher standard than neutral ground believers, but both fall short of God’s standards. This is the orientation of the underground believer to the authority of God.

1 Kgs 18:3 Obadiah, who was in charge of his [Ahab’s] house … feared the LORD greatly Ever was there a twist of irony in the Scripture it is this. The wickedest king to have ever reigned in Israel employed a man who feared Yahweh from his youth as the governor of his house! Ahab never knew it! Obadiah did not travel to Jerusalem to worship God without fear of blowing his cover. Underground believers do not see their need to attend church and attempt to serve God apart from it. His livelihood was in service to King Ahab while trying to serve God, unlike Daniel who was open with his faith. Elijah was a separated servant of God.

1 Kgs 18:7 – Fell on his face Obadiah recognized Elijah’s authority.

1 Kgs 18:9 – How have I sinned  Obadiah needed to realize that his life was in God’s hands, not in his ability to evade Ahab and Jezebel secretly. Though he recognized Elijah’s authority, he questioned him. Elijah knew the will of God in the matter, not Obadiah (cf. 1 Kgs 18:1). Obadiah is like most of us. We recognized God’s authority (keep in mind Elijah is speaking for God) but questioned His instructions. Essentially, Obadiah’s protest was “Elijah, you are asking me to commit suicide!” Being in the presence of godly men seems to create a spirit of introspection of one’s spiritual condition – bring my sin to remembrance (1 Kgs 17:18, an unbeliever) and have I sinned (1 Kgs 18:9, a secret believer).

1 Kgs 18:12b-13 Notice Obadiah’s usage of the personal pronoun I, six times. The problem with sin has always been its middle letter – I. His thinking was “I am one of the good guys; look what I have done for the LORD” as if that gave weight to his questioning Elijah’s command.

1 Kgs 18:13 – I did The world ascribes greatness by accomplishments. God ascribes greatness by obedience to His Word. We never hear of Elijah boasting about confronting Ahab and declaring drought (1 Kgs 17:1), being fed by ravens (1 Kgs 17:7), the miracle of flour and oil (1 Kgs 17:16), or praying for a dead boy (1 Kgs 17:22). Only that which is done in the will of God will survive eternity. This is the reward of service to Him; everything else will burn up as wood, hay, and stubble. If we ever could grasp the concept that our worth our importance is found in Him, our “self-esteem” would be redirected from the things of the world to the heavenly places.

1 Kgs 18:14 – And now you say Obadiah’s was shell-shocked that this great prophet of God would ask this of him – Go tell my master Elijah is here! “Is this how the LORD repays me for all that I have done for Him?!”

1 Kgs 18:15 – Before whom I stand (cf. 1 Kgs 17:1) is always the best posturing for a believer. Elijah doesn’t rebuke Obadiah for truly Obadiah was an ally and a good man. Elijah understood his position but simply addressed his concerns by giving His word to Obadiah; he would meet with Ahab that day. If God said it, it will happen.

1 Kgs 18:16 – Obadiah went … and told This is the last we hear of him. To Obadiah’s credit he obeyed the will of the LORD by carrying out Elijah’s instructions. What’s done is done; where are we right now in active submission to God?

Battleground (Ahab, 1 Kgs 18:17-19)
Ahab is contentious, hostile, and deadly. He does not recognize and acknowledge God’s authority. He blames God and believers for all his problems (1 Kgs 18:17). Has zero ability to judge spiritual matters (1 Cor 2:14; 2 Cor 4:4). 1 Kgs 16:30-33 says it all about Ahab. The ungodly are enemy combatants of God and God’s people. We are engaged in a great spiritual warfare against dark forces. The unregenerate man or woman, moral or immoral, represents the battleground orientation to the authority of God.

1 Kgs 18:17 – O troubler of Israel unlike Obadiah who recognized and acknowledged God’s authority, Ahab does not. The word troubler [H5916] is the same Hebrew word in Psa 39:2 translated stirred – my sorrow was stirred up. Ahab accused Elijah of stirring up trouble for Israel. The ungodly has always blamed God’s people for their problems.

1 Kgs 18:18 – I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have. Here is God’s response to the world’s accusation leveled at His people.

 Here is the crux of the problem which is prevalent today:

You have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals. We are living in an age of apostasy (a turning away from the truth) and though we may not be chasing after idols of wood, stone, or metal, we are following after those things which compete for the will of God for our lives, preventing us from doing that which is right before God’s eyes. This is idolatry, gods of our own making. We worship self and tend to its every whim or some other person or thing. Idolatry can be defined as anything that competes for the will of God for our life, but here in the context of this chapter, the people of Israel were literally worshipping demons behind the Baals.

1 Kgs 18:19 Asherah considered a consort of Baal, a fertility goddess. It is possible the prophets of Asherah who ate at Jezebel’s table were not present on Mt. Carmel during the contest (cf. 1 Kgs 18:22); however, 1 Kings 19 verse 1 suggests that not only was Jezebel not present on Mount Carmel but all the prophets were executed, And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword.

Mount Carmel is a mountain range that runs from the Mediterranean Sea about 13 miles in a south southeasterly direction. Elevation is around 1,740 feet above sea level. The Jezreel valley spreads out north and east of Mount Carmel.

1 Kgs 18:20 Interestingly, Ahab doesn’t give Elijah any static about orders to gather on Mt. Carmel.

Neutral ground (the people, 1 Kgs 18:20-24)
TETO “saints” (to each their own) straddle the fence, remain neutral, and seek to have it both ways, go with the flow, silent when pressed for a commitment (1Kgs 18:21). Neutral believers pick and choose what to believe and obey. They do not see any responsibility to be accountable to all of God's counsel. Pursuing peace at all costs is more important than maintaining a moral stance. A non-judgmental position is viewed as lofty wisdom, the high road…. Yahweh is LORD when convenient, beneficial, and safe (cf. 1 Kgs 18:24, 37, 39, 40). These are the neutral ground believers, neither hot or cold, nor positive or negative; this is the orientation of the neutral ground believers to the authority of God.

1 Kgs 18:21 But the people answered him not a word

Elijah’s logic was so compelling that no one could argue against it (cf. 1Kgs 18:24). The people were double-minded in trying to stride the fence with one foot in service to Baal and one foot in service to Yahweh. This is analogous of believers having one foot in the world and one foot in church. If Yahweh let them down they would turn to the world, the flesh, or the devil for help. I recall meeting this woman in Canada who had a personal matter and asked the group to pray to whatever god we prayed to for help in her situation! This was the mindset in Israel, pragmatic and unprincipled. These are the carnal believers with spiritual issues that run the spiritual bandwidth.

Above ground (Elijah, vv 25-40)
Faithful saint, obeys the Word of the LORD at all cost. He is willing to stand alone for God, if need be, and take on the world (1 Kgs 18:22). He recognizes the authority of God. Belief and behavior reflect that Yahweh is God. Sin is confronted (1Kgs 18:18); he is unashamed of the standards of God. He offers no excuses only expectations of obedience to God’s authority (1 Kgs 18:21). He is an above ground believer, very visible to the world around him but separate, unlike Obadiah; but though separate from sinners, he has compassion on them and willing to take risks to reach them for God (1 Kgs 18:37). His message is very clear and to the point. This is the orientation of the above ground believers to the authority of God – Yahweh is God in belief and behavior, not perfect but perfecting holiness in the sight of God.

1 Kgs 18:28 Cut themselves Here we gain insight into the cultic practice of the Baal religion. Sincerity is never a test of true religion. These 850 prophets of Baal were sincerely wrong.

1 Kgs 18:39 The LORD, He is God When the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice the people fell on their faces and worshipped Yahweh. From silence to praise their hearts were turned from Baal to Yahweh!

1 Kgs 18:40 So they seized them [all the prophets of Baal] … and executed them The neutral ground believers sided with Yahweh and slaughtered 850 false prophets. This was done in accordance of the law of Moses (Deut 13:12-15).

1 Kgs 18:44 Go down before the rain stops you Ahab was to ride in his chariot to his winter palace in Jezreel approximately 25 miles away. Ahab was keenly aware that Baal worship was the cause of the drought, the people’s hearts were turned back to Yahweh, and the Baal religion was revealed to be a hoax. And it was raining!

Before man was created Yahweh was God. During Elijah’s time nearly 2,900 years ago Yahweh was God. In New Testament times Yahweh was God. Today Yahweh is God. In eternity future Yahweh is God. Yahweh is the eternal Authority in all things. Our orientation to that authority, whether underground, battleground, neutral ground, or above ground will determine our path and life’s experiences, and our destiny. Whatever orientation we choose will not alter that fact. When we fight a right orientation of a present and active submission to God’s authority is like fighting the law of gravity. The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God, and the rain of blessing fell.