Ahab and Elijah

1Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe^a in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” ...16So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”

18“I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals. 19Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

20So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21Elijah 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.

22Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”

Then all the people said, “What you say is good.” 

Thoughts: Elijah came to Ahab after predicting a drought (and accompanying famine) and predicted rain.  The rain came at Elijah's request in a miraculous way to show the Lord alone is God.  The prophets of Baal tried to elicit the reception of the sacrifice but nothing happened.  Elijah showed who was really God.  In the end, lightning and then rain came as a sign that God had received Elijah's sacrifice.  The people proclaimed that the Lord is God. 
   However, Jezebel and Ahab tried to kill Elijah.  Proof or no proof they wanted to eliminate the one they saw as opposition.  Ahab called Elijah a "troubler of Israel" simply because he had predicted the drought.  The blame was not Elijah's but the people who had chosen to serve the Baals instead of the Lord.  Ironically no one came to defend Elijah after he had defeated the prophets of Baal with the peoples' approval. 
     When God wins a victory, we need to follow up with it and give Him glory.  

Prayer: Lord, remind me of your power.  Help me to proclaim you are God.