1 Kings 16:29-34 29 It was in the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Y'hudah that Ach'av the son of 'Omri began his rule over Isra'el; Ach'av the son of 'Omri ruled twenty-two years over Isra'el in Shomron. 30 Ach'av the son of 'Omri did what was evil from ADONAI's perspective, outdoing all his predecessors [in wickedness]. 31 But then, as if it had been a trifling thing for him to commit the sins of Yarov'am the son of N'vat, he took as his wife Izevel the daughter of Etba'al king of the Tzidonim, and went and served Ba'al and worshipped him. 32 He erected an altar for Ba'al in the house of Ba'al, which he had built in Shomron. 33 Ach'av also set up the asherah; indeed, Ach'av did more to anger ADONAI the God of Isra'el, than all the kings of Isra'el preceding him.
CJB 1 Kings 18:1 A long time passed. Then, in the third year, the word of Yahovah came to Eliyahu: "Go, present yourself to Ach'av, and I will send rain down on the land." 2 When Eliyahu went to present himself to Ach'av, the famine in Shomron had become severe. 3 Ach'av called 'Ovadyah, who was in charge of the palace. Now 'Ovadyah greatly revered Yahovah; 4 for example, when Izevel was murdering Yahovah's prophets, 'Ovadyah took a hundred prophets, hid them in two caves, fifty in each, and supplied them with food and water. 5 Ach'av said to 'Ovadyah, "Go throughout the land, and check all the springs and vadis; maybe we can find grass somewhere, so that we can keep the horses and mules alive and not lose all the animals." 6 So they divided between them the territory to be visited; Ach'av went one way by himself, and 'Ovadyah went another way by himself. 7 'Ovadyah was on the road when suddenly Eliyahu encountered him. 'Ovadyah recognized him, fell on his face and said, "Is it really you, my lord Eliyahu?" 8 He answered, "Yes, it is I; go, tell your master, 'Eliyahu is here.'" 9 'Ovadyah replied, "How have I sinned, that you would hand your servant over to Ach'av to kill me? 10 As Yahovah your God lives, there can't be a single nation or kingdom where my master hasn't sent to search you out; and in each kingdom or nation where they said, 'He isn't here,' he made them take an oath that they hadn't found you. 11 Now you say, 'Go tell your master, "Eliyahu is here."' 12 But as soon as I leave you, the Spirit of Yahovah will carry you off to I don't know where; so that when I come and tell Ach'av, and he can't find you, he will kill me. But I your servant have revered Yahovah from my youth- 13 wasn't my lord told what I did when Izevel killed Yahovah's prophets, how I hid a hundred of Yahovah's prophets by fifties in caves and supplied their food and water? 14 Now you say, 'Go tell your master, "Look, Eliyahu is here."' Why, he'll kill me!" 15 Eliyahu said, "As Yahovah-Tzva'ot lives, before whom I stand, I will present myself to him today." 16 So 'Ovadyah went, found Ach'av and told him; and Ach'av went to meet Eliyahu.
17 When Ach'av saw Eliyahu, Ach'av said to him, "Is it really you, you troubler of Isra'el?" 18 He answered, "I haven't troubled Isra'el, you have, you and your father's house, by abandoning Yahovah's mitzvot and following the ba'alim. 19 Now order all Isra'el to assemble before me on Mount Karmel, along with the 450 prophets of Ba'al and the 400 prophets of the asherah who eat at Izevel's table."
20 Ach'av sent word to all the people of Isra'el and assembled the prophets together on Mount Karmel. 21 Eliyahu stepped forward before all the people and said, "How long are you going to jump back and forth between two positions? If Yahovah is God, follow him; but if it's Ba'al, follow him!" The people answered him not a word. 22 Then Eliyahu said to the people, "I, I alone, am the only prophet of Yahovah who is left, while Ba'al's prophets number 450. 23 Let them give us two young bulls, and they can choose the bull they want for themselves. Then let them cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood but put no fire under it. I will prepare the other bull, lay it on the wood and put no fire under it. 24 Then, you, call on the name of your god; and I will call on the name of Yahovah; and the God who answers with fire, let him be God!" All the people answered, "Good idea! Agreed!" 25 Then Eliyahu said to the prophets of Ba'al, "Choose one bull for yourselves, and prepare it first; because there are many of you. Then call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it." 26 They took the bull that was given to them, prepared it and called on the name of Ba'al from morning till noon- "Ba'al! Answer us!" But no voice was heard; and no one answered, as they jumped around on the altar they had made. 27 Around noon Eliyahu began ridiculing them: "Shout louder! After all, he's a god, isn't he? Maybe he's daydreaming, or he's having a bowel movement, he's away on a trip. Maybe he's asleep, and you have to wake him up." 28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and knives, as their custom was, until blood gushed out all over them. 29 By now it was afternoon, and they went on ranting and raving until it was time for the evening offering. But no voice came, no one answered, no one paid any attention. 30 Then Eliyahu said to all the people, "Come here to me." All the people came up to him, as he set about repairing the altar of Yahovah that had been broken down. 31 Eliyahu took twelve stones, in keeping with the number of tribes of the sons of Ya'akov, to whom the word of Yahovah had come, saying, "Your name is to be Isra'el." 32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of Yahovah. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough for half a bushel of grain. 33 He arranged the wood, cut up the bull and laid it on the wood. 34 Then he said, "Fill four pots with water, and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood." They did it. "Do it again," he said, and they did it again. "Do it a third time," he said, and they did it a third time. 35 By now the water was flowing around the altar, and it had filled the trench. 36 Then, when it came time for offering the evening offering, Eliyahu the prophet approached and said, "Yahovah, God of Avraham, Yitz'chak and Isra'el, let it be known today that you are God in Isra'el, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Hear me, Yahovah, hear me, so that this people may know that you, Yahovah, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back to you." 38 Then the fire of Yahovah fell. It consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones and the dust; and it licked up the water in the trench. 39 When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, "Yahovah is God! Yahovah is God!" 40 Eliyahu said to them, "Seize the prophets of Ba'al! Don't let one of them escape!" They seized them; and Eliyahu brought them down to Vadi Kishon and killed them there.
41 Then Eliyahu said to Ach'av, "Get up, eat, and drink, because I hear the sound of heavy rain." 42 Ach'av went up to eat and drink, while Eliyahu went up to the top of the Karmel. He bowed down to the ground and put his face between his knees. 43 "Now," he said to his servant, "go up, and look out toward the sea." He went up, looked, and said, "There's nothing there." Seven times he said, "Go again." 44 The seventh time, the servant said, "Now there's a cloud coming up out of the sea, no bigger than a man's hand." Eliyahu said, "Go up, and say to Ach'av, 'Prepare your chariot, and get down the mountain before the rain stops you!" 45 A little later, the sky grew black with clouds and wind; and heavy rain began falling; as Ach'av, riding in his chariot, made for Yizre'el. 46 The hand of Yahovah was on Eliyahu; he tucked up his clothing and ran ahead of Ach'av to the entrance of Yizre'el.
1. Many days after the interaction between Eliyahu and the widow, he is still able to hear Yahovah's voice and to obey it. Has there been a time when your relationship with Yahovah was more active? What caused your consistency or decline? If your relationship has slid backward, what can you do to improve the situation?
2. Ovadyah was not intimidated by Izevel but he was afraid of Ach'av. Do you allow yourself to be intimidated by some people? Are your actions and reactions ever controlled by your fear of man, woman, or child? Yahovah is for you. Nothing is done by power or might, but by Yahovah. Yahovah can turn hearts and he can give favor. No where in the word are we instructed to be afraid of any person. We are told to avoid some people and to pray for others, but are never to allow ourselves to be motivated by intimidation. What scripture can you meditate on when you feel intimidation entering in your mind and heart? We have authority over all the power of the enemy and in Yeshua's name can break the power of Sa'tan over someone that he is using to intimidate us.
3. We know from this portion of scripture that there were a minimum of 101 prophets in Eliyahu's lifetime. From the Brit Chadasha, we know that even today we have prophets among us in addition to emissaries, communicators of good news, leader and teachers. Although we should be cautious of whom we accept as a prophet, an emissary, a communicator of good news, a leader or a teacher, we should not be suspicious of everyone who claims to have one or more of those callings. Have you ever known a real prophet? Surely in this day, when there are millions of true believers, there must be thousands of true prophets. Prophets are not fortune-tellers, they are servants of Yahovah sent to encourage, correct and rebuke. Has Yahovah ever used you in this way? What was the result?
4. Among the people of Israel there were a minimum of 950 prophets who were operating under the supernatural spiritual power of demonic gods. They believed in the God of Israel but they opened themselves up to demonic activity. Eliyahu said to them, "How long are you going to jump back and forth between two positions? If Yahovah is God, follow him; but if it's Ba'al, follow him!" None of them answered him. How often do we jump back and forth between two positions? Yahovah has given us his spirit. Yeshua said that we need to be hot or cold or he will vomit us out. Those are radical words, but nonetheless, a true translation. No one is perfect except Yahovah and Yeshua, but we can make a choice to yield to the holy spirit within us. What is a scripture you that use when you are under temptation? If you don't have one, find one now. Write it here and commit to memorizing it. You will be using the same type of ammunition that Yeshua himself used when confronted by Sa'tan.
5. Although Ach'av was an evil leader, he put Ovadyah, who greatly revered Yahovah, in charge of his palace. That would have meant he had jurisdiction over his safety, his treasures, and his revealed personal traits. Have you ever had an evil person in authority over you? Did they know you were a believer? Were they the person who promoted or hired you? What was the result? Did they trust you in unusual ways?
6. Eliyahu challenged, "...then, you, call on the name of your god; and I will call on the name of Yahovah." Even in the secular media, occasionally "God" is mentioned in a positive way. Remember, "Lord" and "God" are common nouns. Have you ever noticed that if you say "Lord" or "God" there is a slight reaction, but if you mention Yeshua to a non-Messianic Jewish person or Jesus to a Gentile or Jewish non-believer that there is usually a huge reaction? Why do you think that is? Do you think if believers would use the Father God's name Yahovah more often, that there would be more attention paid to him by both believers and non-believers? Do you think it would enhance your own relationship with him if you called him by his name instead the word that describes him?
7. Then Eliyahu said to Ach'av, "Get up, eat, and drink, because I hear the sound of heavy rain." We read much about prophetic dreams and visions, but here is prophetic audio! It took his servant seven trips to see even a small cloud in the natural. Would you like to be so in tune with Yahovah that you would be able to have prophetic audio? Do you stay tuned in to Yahovah's frequency during your every day activities? What can you do to keep yourself on his channel more often? We are not to seek prophetic visual or audio, but we are to seek the G-d who manifests them to us.
8. Eliyahu told the people, "Fill four pots with water, and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood." They did it. "Do it again," he said, and they did it again. "Do it a third time," he said, and they did it a third time. By then the water was flowing around the altar, and it had filled the trench. Eliyahu was actually doing what, in the natural realm, would appear to be making it more difficult for Yahovah. He was showing off his G-d. His faith appeared to be not only unwavering, but bold. Do you ever go to the opposite extreme and put limits on what you believe G-d is capable of doing or what he will do for you? We have the written Holy Scriptures to gauge his will. If our need or desire lines up completely with his will, we must believe. If it is for salvation for a non-believer or for provision of necessities for a believer, we know G-d's will. If it is for a marriage to be blessed or reconciled, we know G-d's will. Other things may be more hazy, such as what job to accept, but for that we have G-d's spirit and his word for confirmation. He can remove options. G-d is alive and he answers prayer, we need to take the limits off of what we think he will do for us. His timing is perfect. List the things going on in your heart in which you need G-d's help. Do they line up with his will? Would you like him to remove options?
9. Eliyahu the prophet approached and said, "Yahovah, God of Avraham, Yitz'chak and Isra'el, let it be known today that you are God in Isra'el, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Hear me, Yahovah, hear me, so that this people may know that you, Yahovah, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back to you." Eliyahu wanted for it to be known that Yahovah was God in Israel, so that the people would know Yahovah. He wanted them to know that Yahovah was turning their hearts back to him. What are the other reasons why Eliyahu wanted the miracle to happen? Why would it be important for the people to recognize that he was a prophet and that "he had done all those things at Yahovah's word?" What is your gift? Do you hide it or share it with people? Would you be willing to put it to the test? Do you volunteer at your congregation when there is a need for your gift?
10. We see that Eliyahu was used by Yahovah in our last lesson with two people, a widow and her son. In this lesson, he was used in front of all the people of Israel. Are you waiting for Yahovah to do something mighty through you? Are you willing to use every gift he has given you for a seemingly small obscure purpose? Are you wanting stardom in your congregation or job? How can you humble yourself more in the eyes of Yahovah, so that he and only he can lift you up? Does he have the ability to lift you up higher than you can in your own strength? What changes do you believe Yahovah would have you make that might be humbling? Would those changes have an end result of a blessing from Yahovah for your obedience? Can we always predict that if we do something Yahovah will reward us in a specific way or does Yahovah have the ability to do unexpected types of blessings?
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