Three years passed after Ahab got a glimpse into his future—years of God’s longsuffering grace. Over the next three years, the Lord held back the Syrians, Israel’s relentless foe. Then Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, came to visit Ahab. This led Ahab to wonder how Jehoshaphat could be used to Israel’s advantage. He hadn’t discovered the […]
It’s usually good we don’t know our future on earth, but very good to know our future in heaven. The final word isn’t declared on a matter until we hear from the Lord. Jezebel had sent out a forged document bearing the king’s signature and seal. Naboth had been buried, falsely charged with blasphemy. Ahab […]
“God does not always pay at the end of the week, but at the end, He pays” (Anne of Austria). At the universal level, our Lord made everything, sustains everything, and is heir to everything (see Rom 11:36). At the local level, He recognizes the right of ownership. As Peter said to Ananias concerning his […]
Saul, like Ahab, had an ill-timed showing of mercy. In Saul’s case, it almost led to the end of the Jews. Ben-Hadad means “son of Hadad.” Hadad, a West Semitic bearded god of storms, carried a club in one hand and a thunderbolt in the other—not a very nice fellow. Well, Ben-Hadad was more thunder […]
The mountaintop is the place of vision; the valley turns that vision into hard-fought reality. In our previous segment, we saw how the gracious Lord gave victory to His undeserving people over the Syrian troops. I’m amazed—and deeply grateful—at the many times the Lord has done the same for me. But, said the Lord’s prophet, […]
The retreat with God at Horeb was over. Elijah had work to do; it was now time to advance. Elijah was sent to “anoint Hazael as king over Syria…Jehu…as king over Israel. And Elisha…as prophet in your place” (1 Ki 19:15-16). It isn’t as bleak as Elijah imagines. Says the Lord, “I have reserved seven […]
Read More… from April 24, 2024 — What God & The Enemy Both Want
If we’re listening, the gentle voice of God will drown out the rantings of our wicked enemies. There’s little doubt Elijah had hit bottom, there under a tree in the Sinai wilderness: “He prayed that he might die, and said, ‘It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my […]
The fact that God shows up when we have given up is proof that He hasn’t given up on us! At Carmel, the prophets of Baal had been exposed for the criminal co-conspirators they were, and were executed beside the Brook Kishon. Seeing the evidence of the crater before them where the altar, wood, sacrifice, […]
Read More… from April 22, 2024 — A Detour Through Discouragement
The one prominence you notice on the Israeli coast is the Carmel range pushing into the sea. From Carmel’s heights on a clear day one can see the whole land. The Hebrew karmel means “vineyard,” and it was time for the Lord to tread out the vintage. Addressing the people, Elijah first makes an appeal […]