And picking up from where we left off last time with Elijah. He was living off a little stream and the birds bringing him food everyday. Then the brook dried up, and he followed the Lord's call to go to Zaraphath where he was told a widow was going to sustain him. Turns out the widow was gathering sticks as he walked up to prepare her and her son's last meal. He told her to make one for him first, and her oil and meal wouldn't waste until the drought was over. This widow of much faith did as the prophet asked her to do and miraculously her food did hold until the drought was over. Again, are we doing what God asks of us the first time. He wants to bless us with more, but we have to prove that our wills are completely aligned with his will, and we'll do what he wants over what we want or think we need.
O.k. so this next part is actually about someone named Obadiah. (1 Kings 18) Here's the thing, Ahab kept trying to find and kill Elijah because he was angry that the drought/famine was going on, and blamed Elijah (who was the one that sealed the heavens) but not himself and the wickedness in Israel at the time. (The real reason for the famine) Ahab got so obsessed with this that he started killing anyone he found that had come in contact with Elijah but didn't bring him to himself. Isn't that awesome? So Obadiah saw Elijah, and Elijah told him that he was going to see the king and to let the king know. Obadiah was obviously terrified of this, because Elijah wasn't going to be with him, and he could very well have died on the spot.
But in 1 Kings 18:3 it says, "Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly" And usually when the old testament says someone feared the Lord it really is translated more correctly to that person respected the Lord. And in verse 4 it said he already hid a hundred prophets in a cave and fed them bread and water- probably at great personal expense or sacrifice. What with a famine going on, and Ahab being a little crazy king that liked to kill people at the drop of a hat.
So Obadiah went and talked to Ahab.
Now that is why the people of Israel were in contrast to Obadiah. In verse 21 of the same chapter 18, Elijah asks the people "How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word."
The people knew God was the one true God, but they were terrified of Ahab and what he would do if they stopped following Baal. They believed in God, but not enough to overcome their fear of what "man could do" to them. (Psalms 56:11)
However after the amazing showdown of "Elijah's God" and the 850 priests/priestesses of Baal's God, the people realized their sin, and fell on their faces: and they said "the Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God." (1 Kings 18:39)
And then the drought was over and it rained for the first time in 3 years. The Lord accepted his people's repentance, although it had been slow coming, and then mercifully gave them the water they needed. That is what the Old Testament is all about. Repentance, turning back to God when we turn away.
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