Ep. 135. 1 Kings 18-19 | He is Still Cool

EPISODE 135

HE IS STILL COOL: 1 KINGS 18-19

Elijah doesn't just confront Ahab, but he also destroys the false prophets/priests of Baal and calls out the crowds' weakness. Elijah meets these people on Mount Carmel and asks them, "How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, follow him." But the crowds didn't answer him with even a single word. They were not bold enough to live for the Lord, nor were they bold enough to live for Baal. They would wait to see who would win this contest of offerings. 

Elijah fully trusted in God, and God decidedly revealed himself as the one true God. That day would be the end of those false and idolatrous priests and prophets. Though the crowds would say, "The Lord he is God," they would not hold to that confession and would be in denial of God soon enough.

When Elijah fled from Jezebel, he asked God to kill him. He was scared of the wicked queen and felt sure she would put him to death. Elijah is one of three men who asks God to kill him. Moses was the first. Moses asked God to kill him when the rabble rebelled against the Lord. Jonah was the third and asked God to kill him when God redeemed the Ninevites and when Jonah's shade tree was withered. Elijah asks for death when he learns that Jezebel wants to kill him. I want to point out that God did not kill any of these three, but also that each of these men showed a distrust or distaste for what God was doing. These are certainly not examples to be followed. 

Elijah didn't die. He Met with God. He got instructions. He anointed his successor. God used him to bring about the beginning of the downfall of Ahab and Jezebel. 

ADDITIONAL READING: Numbers 11:15; Jonah 4:8