Bible reading: 1Kings 18 &19.
In the book of 1Kings 18&19 we read a story about Prophet Elijah. There was drought in Israel because there had been no rain for 3 years. The Lord then asked Prophet Elijah to present himself to King Ahab and then He will send rain (1kings 18:1). Meanwhile Jezebel the Queen was killing the prophets of Israel but Obadiah who was a governor in the palace had kept 100 prophets in a cave and was feeding them with bread and water. When Prophet Elijah eventually met with the King he did not wait for God to send the rain but instructed the king to summon all the prophets of Baal to Mount Carmel. On Mount Carmel Elijah was able to demonstrate the power of God because fire came down from heaven to consume his sacrifice. The prophets of Baal could not demonstrate any power and they became a laughing stock. Everyone in Israel feared and honoured God, they respected his prophet Elijah.
If you observe closely you will see that the Lord God instructed Elijah to show himself to the king and then God will bring rain. You will be surprised to know that by the time Elijah was summoning the prophets of Baal it was the anointing on God on him but he had lost the presence of God. This is because the idea of summoning the prophets of Baal to a contest was Elijah’s idea and not God’s. Even though fire came down from heaven at Elijah’s request, God was not in the fire. It was after the big show that Elijah remembered to announce the second part of God’s message of bringing rain. Elijah then had to pray fervently and struggled before the rain finally came. If he had done it God’s way, God would have sent the rain and Elijah wouldn't have struggled. (1Kings 18:1).
Moses was a prophet of God. He did not have to struggle before the red sea parted into two; he only did what God asked him to do and God took care of the rest. God himself turned bitter water into sweet water when Moses followed God’s instruction. God performed many miracles in the wilderness when Moses followed instructions. He even delivered Moses from all his enemies. When we follow God’s instructions, definitely his presence will be there to back us up. We struggle when we do things our own way. Miracles signs and wonders are good but God’s way is better.
When Jezebel heard that Elijah had slaughtered the false prophets she threatened to kill Elijah. Elijah the great prophet suddenly became afraid and ran into the wilderness. He then became lonely, depressed and suicidal. He finally lodged in a cave (1Kings 19:9) and the Lord asked what he was there. This implied that Elijah shouldn't have been hiding in that cave if he had followed God’s instructions. Elijah then complained to God about the people’s idolatry and how he was the only prophet in Israel who had not worshiped Baal. He had forgotten that about the 100 prophets were kept alive in the cave by Obadiah. God then made it known to Elijah that the manifestation of His power does not necessarily imply the manifestation of his presence (1Kings 19:11-13). In a sense God was saying “Elijah, fire coming down from heaven revealed my existence and power but my presence was not with you because of your disobedience.
1Kings 19:11-13: “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
The life of John the Baptist is another example that we can study. John had prepared the hearts of the people of Israel for the coming Messiah. I believe that John the Baptist should have terminated his ministry as soon as Jesus Christ started preaching the gospel. (John 1:19-26). He however continued preaching and baptizing people. For example when a guest speaker has been introduced, the person who made the introduction is expected to sit down and listen to the guest speaker. I believe that even though John was anointed, the manifested presence of God was no longer available to back him up. John later exposed the adulterous behavior of King Herod and Herodias his brother’s wife and he was imprisoned. In prison John became depressed, he lost his faith and he started doubting Jesus as the Messiah.
Mathew 11:2-3:”Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?”
The instruction of God is the most vital to us Christians and intimacy with God will make us follow God as he moves. Seeing him, hearing him, knowing his ways brings peace and joy. When we follow the Lord as a sheep following the shepherd he leads and guides us. He provides for us and restores our soul. He protects us from danger and in hardships he strengthens us and sees us through. He gives us victory over our enemies and we have favour everywhere we go. The sheep does not have to struggle; all he needs to do is follow the shepherd. We cannot understand the ways of the shepherd if we do not have an intimate relationship with him. We cannot have intimate relationship with God if we don’t desire it. We cannot desire it if we are not hungry or thirsty for it. God himself puts his thirst and hunger in us when we begin to ask him. Will you start asking the Lord today to create his thirst and hunger in you?
Enjoy the blessings of God
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