“…the children of Israel have forsaken Thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain Thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life to take it away.” 1 Kings 19:10
When the Lord called Elijah to be the principle prophet by whom He would speak to Israel at a time of great abandonment, and idolatry, Ahab was the king of Israel. Ahab was an idolater, who actively provoked the God of Israel to anger. Along with his wife Jezebel, they went and served other gods, in particular Baal. Scripture tells us that “…Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him.” (1 Kings 16:30) Later in his reign, Jezebel would be responsible for killing several of the “sons of the prophets.” It was into such a context of godlessness, and opposition, to the point of being put to death, that Elijah would come. What made him so bold, so faithful, so determined to see the glory of God revealed, and the people return to the true worship of God?
There was first his calling, a calling that was singular and specific. Elijah had a knowledge of God, and of His ways, so clear to him that conviction ran deep, and devotion was primary. Elijah was an independent man, not from the Lord, but remaining devoted to God when all others seemed to be the contrary.
Secondly, there was the very manifest working of the Spirit of God in his life. As a result, there would be great manifestations of the power and authority of God in and through him, but never without there being a clear understanding of the Word of God to him. With the calling came the enablement, and proof that the God of Israel was alive, and was speaking to the people.
But perhaps the greatest reason for which Elijah was able to plough through the resistance of unbelief and rebellion, was his pursuit of God, to know Him. Like David of old, and the Apostle Paul many years later, Elijah would taste of the Heavenly by revelation and the power of the Spirit to the point that nothing else would suffice. The revelation of God to his own heart, and through his life to the people would become paramount. He was singularly devoted to God, determined to the last ebb of his strength, to be faithful to Him, for he knew that in so doing, he would truly know this God of Israel, Creator, Redeemer, and Savior. In pursuing Him according to His call, obeying His word, and knowing His powerful presence, Elijah would reveal his intent and purpose, this driving, motivating force that propelled him forward.
Elijah did not become a man of faith in a day, but he learned well in the present moment. From learning that God would provide for him according to the Word of the Lord, by ravens bringing him food twice a day along the brook Cherith, to knowing that God would send fire out of heaven to consume a sacrifice, he learned more and more of God, experiencing His power and seeing His hand revealed. That which was key to Elijah’s growing knowledge of God was the discernment and obedience to the “Word of the Lord,” given clearly to him. It was in strict obedience to God according to this Word, that the power of God would be revealed. Such was the case in his dealings with a widow woman who was commanded by God to provide for Elijah, and who survived a famine because of her devotion and obedience. It was also true when he faced four hundred fifty prophets of Baal, in a life and death struggle. But it was also the case, even though he did not understand fully the situation at the time, when he believed that he was the only one left in Israel who had not bowed the knee to Baal. His accounting to God was, “I only am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”
Dear Father, Give us devoted hearts. In Jesus’ name, Amen.