The ax head floating is an interesting miracle, don’t you think? It reminds me that our God is interested in the details of our lives. Do you look for Him in the little things? There have been a number of times when I have lost something, and I have prayed for God to help me find it. I think it is a fun faith-building exercise. The most prominent memory I have of God revealing something I lost was when I could not find my kids’ school pictures. I sat down to put the photos in Christmas cards, but the pictures were not on my piano where I had left them. I prayed all day long, “God, You know exactly where these photos are, will you please tell me.” Early the next morning before I got out of bed, I prayed again, and God whispered, “They are in the dumpster. You threw them away when you sorted your mail.” I couldn’t get dressed fast enough! I quickly retrieved the bag of trash, and about a quarter of the way down, the pictures were sandwiched between a newspaper and a catalog. Jesus and I had a praise party all day long!
I love 2 Kings 6:16-17—“Don’t be afraid,” Elisha answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. Open my eyes, LORD!!! Remind me continually that “Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world!” (I John 4:4) Does the enemy have you feeling defeated today? Beg the LORD to open your eyes so you can see the protection He provides for your life.
I think it is very intriguing that Elisha prays three times in this passage about eyesight. First he prayed for his servant to see the army of God. Next he prayed that the enemy would be struck with blindness. Finally, after he has brought the enemy into captivity within the city walls, he prayed the LORD would open their eyes again. Do you realize Elisha is praying about spiritual sight? Do you have trouble seeing God at work around you? Pray that He will heal your spiritual eyes. We know that God is always at work (John 5:17). Ask God to show you where He is working so you can get on board.
In verses 22-23, Elisha chooses to treat the enemy with kindness. He prepared a feast for them, and they returned the favor by stopping the raids on Israel. When Aram did start raiding again, however, the king blamed it on Elisha (v 31). I don’t quite get why the man of God should be blamed, but I guess kings need someone to be the scapegoat when things go wrong.
Verses 26-29 describe a desperate woman in desperate times. Girls, we should be grateful each morning when we rise out of our soft, warm beds to select an outfit from a crowded closet before eating a breakfast from a full cupboard. We have never truly known desperate times. I selfishly pray that Jesus will return before we have to face such devastation. LORD, come quickly!
Did you notice that as soon as the king sent a messenger to find Elisha, then the LORD lifted the siege? That makes me ponder. Would God have lifted the oppression sooner if the king had consulted Elisha sooner? What nastiness could I avoid if I would seek guidance from the Holy Spirit sooner rather than later?
Wouldn’t you love to watch the movie of the four men with leprosy who discovered the deserted Aramean camp? I can smell their fear as they approached the camp ready to surrender their lives because of their desperation for food. Then I can feel their jubilation when it dawns on them that the enemy is scattered and the bounty is theirs. Woohoo! I am so proud of the men for deciding not to keep the secret to themselves. You know they had every right to be greedy. Their society had abandoned them as leprous outcasts. These men had every reason to hoard all the blessings. But they chose instead to be men of integrity, men who did the right thing even when it cost them everything. Let’s be people like that! Let’s be people who share the goodness of God with everyone we meet rather than keeping the best for ourselves.
I sure hope the king rewarded those guys.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
2 Kings 2
I want to say a special “Thank You” to my fabulous husband for helping me with his insight for this passage. I was making it too hard looking for hidden meaning behind the three groups of prophets. I wanted to know how the prophets knew that Elijah was leaving and why Elisha didn’t want to talk about it. Why did Elijah keep trying to convince Elisha to stay behind? Trent pointed out that the central theme of this story is the mentoring relationship between Elijah and Elisha. Aha moment for me!
Mentoring has been a recurring theme in my thoughts lately. Trent’s marriage project will focus on mentoring. The members at our new church have brought up the idea of discipleship several times. One of the most rewarding times for me at our previous church was when I read through the Bible with women who were hungry to know God’s Word. I have always been grateful for the discipleship group my pastor had for my friends and I when we were young.
Reading about Elijah and Elisha’s relationship caused me to think of other biblical examples of mentoring. Naomi and Ruth, Eli and Samuel, Jesus and Peter, Paul and Timothy. In each case, the mentor poured himself into the life of another. In each case, the student was a faithful follower of the leader. The mentor saw potential in the student, and the student loved and admired the mentor. Were any of these relationships identical? Did any of them require the completion of an extensive curriculum? No. They were open and honest relationships where both parties were transparent with one another. Were these always easy relationships? No. Sometimes one party had to confront the other to keep the relationship on track. Did both mentor and student benefit from the relationship? Most definitely.
2 Kings 2:9-10—Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise not.” I think we can gain important wisdom from this conversation between mentor and mentee.
1. The mentor needs to understand what the mentee needs from her.
2. The mentee must set specific goals for her learning.
3. The mentor must hold the mentee accountable to meet certain expectations.
4. The mentee must be faithful to do what the mentor requires.
Once a few ground rules are in place, the rest is all about relationship. Author and speaker Chris Adams says it is about “doing life together.” Author and pastor Max Lucado speaks about “being a faucet of love” in someone else’s life.
Can I challenge you to pray and ask for God’s guidance about entering into a mentoring relationship? Do you need someone to pour her knowledge into your life? Ask her to be your mentor. Has God brought someone into your life you know needs encouragement to start her journey with God? Ask her to simply read the Bible with you. Then let God build your relationship and grow it deep in His goodness and truth.
I am praying. Will you?
Thursday, October 23, 2008
2 Kings 1
As we continue our study of the prophet Elijah, I like this story much better than yesterday's. Fire from heaven is much more in line with how we typically picture God's judgment of evil, don't you think? After all, we want to worship an all-powerful God, don't we--just as long as He doesn't use any of His lightning bolts on us personally?
Poor King Ahaziah. You can read about his appointment to be king in the last few verses of 1 Kings 22. He really had no hope to succeed, what with being the child of Ahab and Jezebel and all. With mentors like that, who needs antagonists? King Ahaziah's reign is doomed from the start, and you get the feeling he was aware of this fact. He sent messengers to inquire of a foreign god to find out whether or not he would recover from a fall through lattice. Okay, who walks on lattice and doesn't expect to fall through it?? Anyway, did you notice that Ahaziah is not asking this foreign god for healing? He is just looking for a confirmation or denial of what he already dreads will be the answer.
Did Ahaziah not realize that God would know what he was up to? Come on, Ahaziah had heard the story of Elijah. He recognized Elijah from a simple description of his wardrobe in 2 Kings 1:8. ("He was a man with a garment of hair and with a leather belt around his waist." The king said, "That was Elijah the Tishbite.") If I knew my parents were defeated by the God of Elijah, I'm thinking I would figure out how to please this God and avoid His wrath. Can you tell that I don't have much patience for people who choose the wrong road in life? I just want to put a leash on them and drag them down the straight and narrow road. Okay, you're right, that doesn't really yield the results I'm looking for most of the time.
So, on with our story. After the messengers came back with confirmation from Elijah that Ahaziah would not recover, Ahaziah tried to intimidate the prophet. Should you threaten the God of the Universe with a captain and fifty men? Hmmm. Evidently not. It didn't work the first two times, but Ahaziah must have thought the third time would be the charm. "So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. This third captain went up and fell on his knees before Elijah. "Man of God," he begged, "please have respect for my life and the lives of these fifty men, your servants! See, fire has fallen from heaven and consumed the first two captains and all their men. But now have respect for my life!" (2 Kings 1:13-14) I hope the third captain got a pay raise!
So, God told Elijah to travel with captain #3 to deliver the message to Ahaziah face-to-face. "You will certainly die!" (2 Kings 1:16) "So he died. . . ." (2 Kings 1:17)
End of story.
I think you will enjoy tomorrow's story. Will you read 2 Kings 2, and we will witness the ascension of Elijah and the empowering of Elisha together!
Poor King Ahaziah. You can read about his appointment to be king in the last few verses of 1 Kings 22. He really had no hope to succeed, what with being the child of Ahab and Jezebel and all. With mentors like that, who needs antagonists? King Ahaziah's reign is doomed from the start, and you get the feeling he was aware of this fact. He sent messengers to inquire of a foreign god to find out whether or not he would recover from a fall through lattice. Okay, who walks on lattice and doesn't expect to fall through it?? Anyway, did you notice that Ahaziah is not asking this foreign god for healing? He is just looking for a confirmation or denial of what he already dreads will be the answer.
Did Ahaziah not realize that God would know what he was up to? Come on, Ahaziah had heard the story of Elijah. He recognized Elijah from a simple description of his wardrobe in 2 Kings 1:8. ("He was a man with a garment of hair and with a leather belt around his waist." The king said, "That was Elijah the Tishbite.") If I knew my parents were defeated by the God of Elijah, I'm thinking I would figure out how to please this God and avoid His wrath. Can you tell that I don't have much patience for people who choose the wrong road in life? I just want to put a leash on them and drag them down the straight and narrow road. Okay, you're right, that doesn't really yield the results I'm looking for most of the time.
So, on with our story. After the messengers came back with confirmation from Elijah that Ahaziah would not recover, Ahaziah tried to intimidate the prophet. Should you threaten the God of the Universe with a captain and fifty men? Hmmm. Evidently not. It didn't work the first two times, but Ahaziah must have thought the third time would be the charm. "So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. This third captain went up and fell on his knees before Elijah. "Man of God," he begged, "please have respect for my life and the lives of these fifty men, your servants! See, fire has fallen from heaven and consumed the first two captains and all their men. But now have respect for my life!" (2 Kings 1:13-14) I hope the third captain got a pay raise!
So, God told Elijah to travel with captain #3 to deliver the message to Ahaziah face-to-face. "You will certainly die!" (2 Kings 1:16) "So he died. . . ." (2 Kings 1:17)
End of story.
I think you will enjoy tomorrow's story. Will you read 2 Kings 2, and we will witness the ascension of Elijah and the empowering of Elisha together!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
1 Kings 21
I remember the story of Naboth's Vineyard from Sunday School when I was a little girl. It has never been my favorite story because the good guy loses to the bad guy. Let me sum it up.
Ahab has a pity party because Naboth won't sell him his vineyard. Naboth wanted to keep it because land was a very important inheritance to the Hebrew people. So Ahab's wife Jezebel had Naboth killed. I don't quite understand why she went to the trouble of declaring a day of fasting and having Naboth falsely accused by two scoundrels. But hey, Jezebel was evil, and that's the way evil people operate. After Naboth is stoned, Jezebel gives his vineyard to her wimpy husband. Then Elijah shows up and prophesies that Ahab's kingdom is doomed and that Jezebel will be fed to the dogs. Ahab humbles himself before God, and God postpones the punishment. Ahab dies in 1 Kings 22, and Jezebel meets her predicted death in 2 Kings 9.
What a pretty Sunday School story. It should reiterate to us that life on earth is not fair. The Bible never teaches that life was meant to be fair. Sometimes evil triumphs over good, but God is ultimately in control. I've read the end of the story, and our God wins!!!! His entire purpose is to bring glory to His Name, not to mine. My job is to trust Him no matter the circumstances I encounter in this earthly life. Let's keep our eyes focused on the finish line, where we will win the prize of eternity with Jesus Christ, our Savior and LORD! I'll race you to the end. :-)
Ahab has a pity party because Naboth won't sell him his vineyard. Naboth wanted to keep it because land was a very important inheritance to the Hebrew people. So Ahab's wife Jezebel had Naboth killed. I don't quite understand why she went to the trouble of declaring a day of fasting and having Naboth falsely accused by two scoundrels. But hey, Jezebel was evil, and that's the way evil people operate. After Naboth is stoned, Jezebel gives his vineyard to her wimpy husband. Then Elijah shows up and prophesies that Ahab's kingdom is doomed and that Jezebel will be fed to the dogs. Ahab humbles himself before God, and God postpones the punishment. Ahab dies in 1 Kings 22, and Jezebel meets her predicted death in 2 Kings 9.
What a pretty Sunday School story. It should reiterate to us that life on earth is not fair. The Bible never teaches that life was meant to be fair. Sometimes evil triumphs over good, but God is ultimately in control. I've read the end of the story, and our God wins!!!! His entire purpose is to bring glory to His Name, not to mine. My job is to trust Him no matter the circumstances I encounter in this earthly life. Let's keep our eyes focused on the finish line, where we will win the prize of eternity with Jesus Christ, our Savior and LORD! I'll race you to the end. :-)
Monday, October 20, 2008
I Kings 19
19:1—“Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done. . . .” Tattle-tale! I don’t think Ahab was the strong one in his marriage.
19:3—“Elijah was afraid and ran for his life.” Our Elijah? The guy we’ve been reading about? No way!
19:4—“Elijah prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, LORD,’ he said. ‘Take my life.’” What happened to our fearless prophet? I bet you’ve been there. I certainly have been. Elijah was exhausted. His mountain-top experience with God, followed by a marathon run, took every ounce of energy Elijah had. He was ready to give up, but I am so thankful God did not give up on Elijah. God gave Elijah a 40-day vacation. Then He called him back into action.
Have you ever done a study on all the 40-day stories in the Bible? Noah’s 40-days and nights in the flood, the Israelites wandering for 40 years, Moses’ 40 days and nights on Mt. Sinai, the spies in Canaan exploring for 40 days, Goliath challenged Israel every morning and evening for 40 days, Elijah and Jesus both spent 40 days in the wilderness. There are also a handful of kings who reigned 40 years, and God punished Israel for 40 years in other stories besides the Moses story. The pattern of 40 typically indicates a time of testing for God’s people, and after the testing, God shows up. Has God taken you through any 40-day experiences? I just celebrated my 40th birthday! The possibility of God doing something miraculous in my life is terribly exciting!
In verses 9-10 and 13-14, God and Elijah have the same conversation twice. “What are you doing here, Elijah?” “Poor me. I’m the only one left!” Elijah was having a major pity party, but God was not going to let him stay there in the cave of despair. Did you notice that Elijah readily recognized God’s voice? Elijah had spent plenty of time alone with his LORD, and he knew exactly what God sounded like. Can you hear God’s gentle whisper in your life? I must admit that my mind is in such a whirlwind most of the time that it drowns out what God is trying to tell me. I think that is why I am enjoying my Bible study blog so much. It lets me get alone with God, and He speaks to me through His Word, and the Holy Spirit talks to me as I write. I remind myself that whether or not anyone responds to the blog, my main goal is to sit at the feet of Jesus and to glorify His Name.
19:15—“Go back the way you came . . . .” I hate retracing my steps. It usually means I lost or forgot something. What was God’s purpose in having Elijah go back the way he came? Did he lose his faith along the journey? Did he forget his passion for communicating God’s Word to the people? Retracing our steps in our walk with God reminds us of His faithfulness in carrying us through the hard stuff of life. I encourage you to draw a timeline and let yourself remember all the times God has intervened on your behalf. How has He used you to minister to others? When has He shown up to you? Ask Him to do it again!
Elijah feels alone, but God reminds him he is not alone. God has preserved 7000 other faithful believers, and God tells Elijah to commission others to help him lead the fight against evil. Elijah is to anoint Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha. Do you want to feel like you are making a difference in God’s kingdom? Then become a mentor to someone. Pass on your faith to the next generation of leaders. The enemy is so good at isolating us and telling us we know nothing about God. The way to prove him wrong is to pour your life into someone else. Elijah became Elisha’s mentor, and what a powerful duo they were! Will you pray today about who you could mentor? Ask God to bring someone to mind, and then be obedient to approach that person and invite them to study the Bible with you. If you need ideas, please email me at tydyd_89@yahoo.com.
Verses 19-21 tell the story of Elisha’s call. Only three short verses. Have you written your testimony of answering God’s call on your life? Will you post it on the blog? I would love to hear your story!!! What I love about Elisha’s response is that he completely destroyed his oxen and his plowing equipment. There was no turning back. Wow! That challenges me.
Looking forward to your responses!
Love ya! Dana
19:3—“Elijah was afraid and ran for his life.” Our Elijah? The guy we’ve been reading about? No way!
19:4—“Elijah prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, LORD,’ he said. ‘Take my life.’” What happened to our fearless prophet? I bet you’ve been there. I certainly have been. Elijah was exhausted. His mountain-top experience with God, followed by a marathon run, took every ounce of energy Elijah had. He was ready to give up, but I am so thankful God did not give up on Elijah. God gave Elijah a 40-day vacation. Then He called him back into action.
Have you ever done a study on all the 40-day stories in the Bible? Noah’s 40-days and nights in the flood, the Israelites wandering for 40 years, Moses’ 40 days and nights on Mt. Sinai, the spies in Canaan exploring for 40 days, Goliath challenged Israel every morning and evening for 40 days, Elijah and Jesus both spent 40 days in the wilderness. There are also a handful of kings who reigned 40 years, and God punished Israel for 40 years in other stories besides the Moses story. The pattern of 40 typically indicates a time of testing for God’s people, and after the testing, God shows up. Has God taken you through any 40-day experiences? I just celebrated my 40th birthday! The possibility of God doing something miraculous in my life is terribly exciting!
In verses 9-10 and 13-14, God and Elijah have the same conversation twice. “What are you doing here, Elijah?” “Poor me. I’m the only one left!” Elijah was having a major pity party, but God was not going to let him stay there in the cave of despair. Did you notice that Elijah readily recognized God’s voice? Elijah had spent plenty of time alone with his LORD, and he knew exactly what God sounded like. Can you hear God’s gentle whisper in your life? I must admit that my mind is in such a whirlwind most of the time that it drowns out what God is trying to tell me. I think that is why I am enjoying my Bible study blog so much. It lets me get alone with God, and He speaks to me through His Word, and the Holy Spirit talks to me as I write. I remind myself that whether or not anyone responds to the blog, my main goal is to sit at the feet of Jesus and to glorify His Name.
19:15—“Go back the way you came . . . .” I hate retracing my steps. It usually means I lost or forgot something. What was God’s purpose in having Elijah go back the way he came? Did he lose his faith along the journey? Did he forget his passion for communicating God’s Word to the people? Retracing our steps in our walk with God reminds us of His faithfulness in carrying us through the hard stuff of life. I encourage you to draw a timeline and let yourself remember all the times God has intervened on your behalf. How has He used you to minister to others? When has He shown up to you? Ask Him to do it again!
Elijah feels alone, but God reminds him he is not alone. God has preserved 7000 other faithful believers, and God tells Elijah to commission others to help him lead the fight against evil. Elijah is to anoint Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha. Do you want to feel like you are making a difference in God’s kingdom? Then become a mentor to someone. Pass on your faith to the next generation of leaders. The enemy is so good at isolating us and telling us we know nothing about God. The way to prove him wrong is to pour your life into someone else. Elijah became Elisha’s mentor, and what a powerful duo they were! Will you pray today about who you could mentor? Ask God to bring someone to mind, and then be obedient to approach that person and invite them to study the Bible with you. If you need ideas, please email me at tydyd_89@yahoo.com.
Verses 19-21 tell the story of Elisha’s call. Only three short verses. Have you written your testimony of answering God’s call on your life? Will you post it on the blog? I would love to hear your story!!! What I love about Elisha’s response is that he completely destroyed his oxen and his plowing equipment. There was no turning back. Wow! That challenges me.
Looking forward to your responses!
Love ya! Dana
Friday, October 17, 2008
I Kings 18:23-46
Even though Elijah felt like he was the only prophet of God left, it did not keep him from challenging the 450 prophets of Baal. He set up a contest, and the winner would be "the god who answers by fire." (vs. 24) How did Elijah know what would happen? Did God give him the game plan, or was Elijah following God with blind faith?
Something that has really leaped off the page at me is Elijah's faith in what God had promised He would do. For example, God told Elijah there would be a drought, and Elijah went and told King Ahab about it. Then God told Elijah the ravens would take care of him and that the widow's flour and oil would not run out. Now in this chapter, God promised to consume Elijah's sacrifice with fire, and after that God said the rain was coming again. I want to know how Elijah could be so sure-fire certain of what God said. Truly, if God told you there would be no rain or that you would never have to put flour and oil on your grocery list, how would you respond? Would you ever dream of challenging your antagonistic co-workers to a sacrificial BBQ Throwdown? Do I even slow down long enough to hear God say anything like that to me? Do I recognize His voice when He does speak? Do I have enough faith to share the word with anyone else, or am I too afraid they will think I'm looney?
We don't see Elijah's kind of faith in our society, girls. Will you share your thoughts on why you think this is the case?
The humor in this Mount Carmel story is fabulous. Elijah has a great time taunting the prophets of Baal! And then Elijah adds insult to injury when he douses his sacrifice with 12 large jars (4 jars x 3 times) of water. No way was that gonna burn, the prophets thought. "Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench." (vs. 38). Ha. Guess I showed you, boys. My God is way bigger than your god!
Elijah's prayer in verses 36 & 37 should be a pattern we follow. What did Elijah ask for? Did he ask for fire? Did he ask for fame for himself? Did he ask God to put the prophets of Baal to shame? No, those would have been selfish requests. Instead, Elijah asked God to prove Himself so that the people would come to believe that He is God. I believe the Bible teaches that God is willing to answer this type of prayer. This prayer of faith does not dictate our wishes to God; it invites Him to display His power in our lives. Asking God to prove Himself in the midst of our difficult circumstances means that we are willing to accept His answer even when it doesn't match our expectations. It means we offer ourselves as a vessel God can use however He pleases. It means we make ourselves available so that God can shine His light into the lives of other people. The outcome we should desire most is for people all around us to fall prostrate and cry out, "The LORD--he is God! The LORD--he is God!" (vs. 39)
In verse 41, Elijah told Ahab "there is the sound of a heavy rain." What? Elijah's spiritual ears are far more keen than mine. It wasn't until after Elijah prayed 7 times that "a cloud as small as a man's hand" rose from the sea. (vs. 44) Was Elijah grasping at straws, or did He really have a promise from God that the black clouds and heavy rain were on the way? At any rate, God's power falls on Elijah, and he runs 20 miles down Mount Carmel to Jezreel.
Will you join me in praying that God will display His power in our lives? It will take a true commitment on our part to be still and wait on His answer. We can't throw a fit when He does not answer on our time schedule or according to our wishes. I'm not certain what to look for, but I'm pretty sure we will know it when our God shows up!
Something that has really leaped off the page at me is Elijah's faith in what God had promised He would do. For example, God told Elijah there would be a drought, and Elijah went and told King Ahab about it. Then God told Elijah the ravens would take care of him and that the widow's flour and oil would not run out. Now in this chapter, God promised to consume Elijah's sacrifice with fire, and after that God said the rain was coming again. I want to know how Elijah could be so sure-fire certain of what God said. Truly, if God told you there would be no rain or that you would never have to put flour and oil on your grocery list, how would you respond? Would you ever dream of challenging your antagonistic co-workers to a sacrificial BBQ Throwdown? Do I even slow down long enough to hear God say anything like that to me? Do I recognize His voice when He does speak? Do I have enough faith to share the word with anyone else, or am I too afraid they will think I'm looney?
We don't see Elijah's kind of faith in our society, girls. Will you share your thoughts on why you think this is the case?
The humor in this Mount Carmel story is fabulous. Elijah has a great time taunting the prophets of Baal! And then Elijah adds insult to injury when he douses his sacrifice with 12 large jars (4 jars x 3 times) of water. No way was that gonna burn, the prophets thought. "Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench." (vs. 38). Ha. Guess I showed you, boys. My God is way bigger than your god!
Elijah's prayer in verses 36 & 37 should be a pattern we follow. What did Elijah ask for? Did he ask for fire? Did he ask for fame for himself? Did he ask God to put the prophets of Baal to shame? No, those would have been selfish requests. Instead, Elijah asked God to prove Himself so that the people would come to believe that He is God. I believe the Bible teaches that God is willing to answer this type of prayer. This prayer of faith does not dictate our wishes to God; it invites Him to display His power in our lives. Asking God to prove Himself in the midst of our difficult circumstances means that we are willing to accept His answer even when it doesn't match our expectations. It means we offer ourselves as a vessel God can use however He pleases. It means we make ourselves available so that God can shine His light into the lives of other people. The outcome we should desire most is for people all around us to fall prostrate and cry out, "The LORD--he is God! The LORD--he is God!" (vs. 39)
In verse 41, Elijah told Ahab "there is the sound of a heavy rain." What? Elijah's spiritual ears are far more keen than mine. It wasn't until after Elijah prayed 7 times that "a cloud as small as a man's hand" rose from the sea. (vs. 44) Was Elijah grasping at straws, or did He really have a promise from God that the black clouds and heavy rain were on the way? At any rate, God's power falls on Elijah, and he runs 20 miles down Mount Carmel to Jezreel.
Will you join me in praying that God will display His power in our lives? It will take a true commitment on our part to be still and wait on His answer. We can't throw a fit when He does not answer on our time schedule or according to our wishes. I'm not certain what to look for, but I'm pretty sure we will know it when our God shows up!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
1 Kings 18:1-22
"After a long time, in the third year . . . . The famine was severe . . . ."
You and I have never known such extreme drought in our lifetime. Even if you live in the desert Southwest US, you see close to 8 inches of rain a year. Elijah's declaration resulted in zero rainfall for three whole years. Keep in mind that the people in Elijah's day did not have the benefit of water storage or electric pump wells. Even when our nation experiences drought, we have access to water. You would think God had Israel's attention after three years! However, Scripture does not record King Ahab seeking relief from God. Sure, he sent people looking for Elijah, but he wanted to take his life, not seek his wisdom. Baal worship was prevalent because of King Ahab's wife Jezebel, but God was setting the stage for a grand display of His glory.
Obadiah. Can anybody identify with the role he played? Obadiah was hiding prophets in caves, but at the same time, he was servant to the evil king. He was between a rock and a hard place. Obadiah was a man of God, but he worked a secular job. He wanted to stand up for his faith, but he also wanted to maintain his lifestyle. I'm not judging Obadiah, because I've been there. Often times God uses Christians in the work place to be living examples of His love. At the same time, I see a contrast between the lives of Obadiah and Elijah. Obadiah was careful. Elijah was radical. Obadiah hid his faith. Elijah made his public. Obadiah is a little-known prophet. Elijah's legacy lives on. During the Passover, the Jews set an extra place at the table in hope of the return of Elijah. Which of these prophets does your life resemble?
In verse 15, before Obadiah would agree to tell his master that Elijah was there, he made Elijah promise he wouldn't disappear. Once again, Elijah proves to be a man of his word. Let's agree to be people like that, men and women who do what we say we are going to do. If there is anything that gets on my nerves, it's having someone promise they will be there, but they never show up.
Verses 16-17 give us a snapshot of the great debate between Ahab and Elijah. "I'm not the troubler of Israel, you are." "No, you are." "No, I'm not, you are." Sounds like a certain couple of US senators in a recent debate, don't you think?
I like the challenge Elijah gives the people in verse 21. "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. Oh, this is so similar to our current presidential election, I can hardly stand it. Everyone is still undecided. We are all standing around waiting for the fireworks display before we will cast our vote. Pray, dear people. Pray as if your future depended on it, because it does. Pray for God's mercy on our nation. Pray that He will hear our cries and forgive our land. Pray that God will raise up godly leaders rather than hand us over to the evil leaders we deserve. God used pagan kings to bring Israel back into line with His will. What makes us think that America deserves anything better? The LORD disciplines those He loves. People get ready!
Verse 22--Elijah thought he was the only prophet of God left. That was not true, but you and I know exactly how Elijah felt. One of satan's best tools against us is isolation, the feeling that we are the only person out there fighting God's battles. He separates us from the herd like a lone calf on the prairie. Look around, sister, God is gathering His army. You are not alone. Do not live a life of defeat.
Ooops. It looks like I only made it halfway through this chapter. Is it okay if I post here and come back later? Have a fab day, ladies! I'll see you tomorrow at the Challenge on Mount Carmel.
You and I have never known such extreme drought in our lifetime. Even if you live in the desert Southwest US, you see close to 8 inches of rain a year. Elijah's declaration resulted in zero rainfall for three whole years. Keep in mind that the people in Elijah's day did not have the benefit of water storage or electric pump wells. Even when our nation experiences drought, we have access to water. You would think God had Israel's attention after three years! However, Scripture does not record King Ahab seeking relief from God. Sure, he sent people looking for Elijah, but he wanted to take his life, not seek his wisdom. Baal worship was prevalent because of King Ahab's wife Jezebel, but God was setting the stage for a grand display of His glory.
Obadiah. Can anybody identify with the role he played? Obadiah was hiding prophets in caves, but at the same time, he was servant to the evil king. He was between a rock and a hard place. Obadiah was a man of God, but he worked a secular job. He wanted to stand up for his faith, but he also wanted to maintain his lifestyle. I'm not judging Obadiah, because I've been there. Often times God uses Christians in the work place to be living examples of His love. At the same time, I see a contrast between the lives of Obadiah and Elijah. Obadiah was careful. Elijah was radical. Obadiah hid his faith. Elijah made his public. Obadiah is a little-known prophet. Elijah's legacy lives on. During the Passover, the Jews set an extra place at the table in hope of the return of Elijah. Which of these prophets does your life resemble?
In verse 15, before Obadiah would agree to tell his master that Elijah was there, he made Elijah promise he wouldn't disappear. Once again, Elijah proves to be a man of his word. Let's agree to be people like that, men and women who do what we say we are going to do. If there is anything that gets on my nerves, it's having someone promise they will be there, but they never show up.
Verses 16-17 give us a snapshot of the great debate between Ahab and Elijah. "I'm not the troubler of Israel, you are." "No, you are." "No, I'm not, you are." Sounds like a certain couple of US senators in a recent debate, don't you think?
I like the challenge Elijah gives the people in verse 21. "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. Oh, this is so similar to our current presidential election, I can hardly stand it. Everyone is still undecided. We are all standing around waiting for the fireworks display before we will cast our vote. Pray, dear people. Pray as if your future depended on it, because it does. Pray for God's mercy on our nation. Pray that He will hear our cries and forgive our land. Pray that God will raise up godly leaders rather than hand us over to the evil leaders we deserve. God used pagan kings to bring Israel back into line with His will. What makes us think that America deserves anything better? The LORD disciplines those He loves. People get ready!
Verse 22--Elijah thought he was the only prophet of God left. That was not true, but you and I know exactly how Elijah felt. One of satan's best tools against us is isolation, the feeling that we are the only person out there fighting God's battles. He separates us from the herd like a lone calf on the prairie. Look around, sister, God is gathering His army. You are not alone. Do not live a life of defeat.
Ooops. It looks like I only made it halfway through this chapter. Is it okay if I post here and come back later? Have a fab day, ladies! I'll see you tomorrow at the Challenge on Mount Carmel.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
1 Kings 17
1 Kings 17:1--"Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead." I almost skipped this. Elijah was from the middle of nowhere, from a town nobody ever heard of, but God used him mightily. How many times have you said, "But I'm just a nobody from nowhere special"? God wants to use willing people to be mouthpieces for His Kingdom. Let's accept the challenge!
We don't have any background info on Elijah. He just shows up in King Ahab's court one day and swears that there will be a drought. Wow! That's a lot of confidence in what Elijah believed about God. Then Elijah gets the word from God that all his needs will be met if he will trust God and go live in the wilderness. Any takers on this challenge? Elijah's unquestioning life is in stark contrast to mine.
My heart breaks for the widow at Zarephath. She is just waiting for her family to die in the famine. You and I do not know this kind of heartache. We are so totally spoiled in America. We are worried about our retirement accounts, and this poor widow was worried about keeping her child alive another day.
Elijah challenges this woman to take the path of faith when he asks her to take him into her home and provide for him. Selfish people that we are, we never take in strangers, and we have food, clothing, and shelter in abundance. Sadly, we don't see God work miracles for us because we keep hoarding all the things He provides for us.
Verse 14 blows me away. "The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land." How did Elijah know that? How could he be so confident of God's promise to provide? Sorry, but you and I panic when the paycheck doesn't come a day early. I am fairly certain that a semi trailer load of flour and oil did not show up at the doorstep the next morning. Every meal the widow prepared for her little household of three was an act of faith. Every time she measured out the flour and the oil was an act of obedience to this new God Elijah had introduced her to.
Verse 18--Can you hear the fury in the words of the widow? I don't suppose she intended the phrase "man of God" as a compliment toward Elijah. She was bitterly angry at the death of her only son, her only remaining family member, her only hope for survival in her old age.
Verses 19-22--By faith Elijah resuscitates the boy. Is this the first resurrection story in the Bible? I can't think of any others before this. Do you know of one? Cool. Elijah, the guy from nowhere, is a pioneer in CPR. Again, I am simply amazed at Elijah's trust in God's promises. Did he know that God would bring the child back to life? Elijah stretched himself out and prayed three times for the boy. Would I have given up after the first try?
"Look, your son is alive!" JOY, JOY, JOY, JOY!!!! Verse 24--"Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a "man of God" (maybe it's complimentary now), and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth." Dear LORD Jesus, please provide opportunities for others to witness in my life that Your Word is Truth. May my life never contradict the message you have commissioned me to share with others. You are the Living God. You are the God who works miracles. You are the Giver of all good things.
I glory in Your Holy Name! Amen.
We don't have any background info on Elijah. He just shows up in King Ahab's court one day and swears that there will be a drought. Wow! That's a lot of confidence in what Elijah believed about God. Then Elijah gets the word from God that all his needs will be met if he will trust God and go live in the wilderness. Any takers on this challenge? Elijah's unquestioning life is in stark contrast to mine.
My heart breaks for the widow at Zarephath. She is just waiting for her family to die in the famine. You and I do not know this kind of heartache. We are so totally spoiled in America. We are worried about our retirement accounts, and this poor widow was worried about keeping her child alive another day.
Elijah challenges this woman to take the path of faith when he asks her to take him into her home and provide for him. Selfish people that we are, we never take in strangers, and we have food, clothing, and shelter in abundance. Sadly, we don't see God work miracles for us because we keep hoarding all the things He provides for us.
Verse 14 blows me away. "The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land." How did Elijah know that? How could he be so confident of God's promise to provide? Sorry, but you and I panic when the paycheck doesn't come a day early. I am fairly certain that a semi trailer load of flour and oil did not show up at the doorstep the next morning. Every meal the widow prepared for her little household of three was an act of faith. Every time she measured out the flour and the oil was an act of obedience to this new God Elijah had introduced her to.
Verse 18--Can you hear the fury in the words of the widow? I don't suppose she intended the phrase "man of God" as a compliment toward Elijah. She was bitterly angry at the death of her only son, her only remaining family member, her only hope for survival in her old age.
Verses 19-22--By faith Elijah resuscitates the boy. Is this the first resurrection story in the Bible? I can't think of any others before this. Do you know of one? Cool. Elijah, the guy from nowhere, is a pioneer in CPR. Again, I am simply amazed at Elijah's trust in God's promises. Did he know that God would bring the child back to life? Elijah stretched himself out and prayed three times for the boy. Would I have given up after the first try?
"Look, your son is alive!" JOY, JOY, JOY, JOY!!!! Verse 24--"Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a "man of God" (maybe it's complimentary now), and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth." Dear LORD Jesus, please provide opportunities for others to witness in my life that Your Word is Truth. May my life never contradict the message you have commissioned me to share with others. You are the Living God. You are the God who works miracles. You are the Giver of all good things.
I glory in Your Holy Name! Amen.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
2 Chronicles 14-16
Did you enjoy studying the lives of King David and King Solomon? I sure did. Now we are going to hop, skip, and jump through some of the other kings. We will start with Asa, King of Judah.
Asa was a good king (in the beginning), and his country enjoyed a time of peace because Asa worked to please God. He recognized that victory would come to Judah because of God's power. "Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, "LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. O LORD, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you."" (2 Chronicles 14:11) Did you notice the last word? Asa understood that the battle was God's. When I face a battle, do I pray like this? Do I ask God to use His power to save me? Do I realize that He wants to take my place in the battle? There is a big difference between asking God to give me strength in times of trial versus asking God to be my substitute in the trial. Hmmm. What are your thoughts here?
1 The Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded. 2 He went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. 7 But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." 8 When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded the prophet, he took courage. (2 Chronicles 15:1-2, 7-8a) I am so thankful for the Azariahs in my life, the people who listen to the Spirit and speak the Word of God to me when I need encouragement to stay the course. Who can I encourage today? Have I listened to God's voice closely enough to hear a Word to share?
Do you remember our study of 1 Kings 11? God was angry with Solomon because he had turned away from Him. God promised He would divide Solomon's kingdom. 2 Chronicles 15:9 shows the results of the division. Asa was king over the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and some of the people from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon had come over to his side as well.
The remainder of 2 Chronicles 15 showcases Asa's glory years. He led the people to enter a covenant to seek the LORD. "They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them." (vs. 14) King Asa even had the gall to depose his grandmother because of her idol worship. Now that is one gutsy guy! Do any of you want to mess with your grandma?
Chapter 16 introduces us to Baasha king of Israel. I knew Israel was a divided kingdom, but never before in my study had I realized that Israel and Judah actually fought against one another. That's what I love about studying the Bible. I notice different things each time I read its truth. God is such a detail Man!
Wow! What happened between year 35 and year 36 for King Asa? He trusted and sought after God's wisdom for 35 years. Did he just suddenly choose to seek help from other armies? Probably not. If you listen to K-Love radio, you have heard the song Slow Fade by Casting Crowns. Our journey away from God does not happen in a day. It happens as a result of daily choices we make. Just like I was disappointed in Solomon in 1 Kings 11, I was disappointed that Asa did not stay true to his faith in the One True God. My expectation of godly people is that they will become more and more godly as they grow older. Sadly, this is not the case. Just because I seek God wholeheartedly today does not guarantee that I will seek Him when I am old and gray. It is so much easier to get out of the habit of worshiping God than it is to maintain the discipline. Being a God-follower is a daily choice I make. I can make the choice today, but if I do not make the choice again tomorrow and the next day, then I will wander farther and farther from God's wisdom. I think that's what happened to Asa. He enjoyed peace for so long that he forgot what it was like to chase after God. He became so comfortable in his palace that he forgot it was God who placed him there. He stopped praying to ask God to fight his battles. Instead he paid off a neighboring pagan king to fight his battle. "Oh be careful little feet where you go."
"For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." (2 Chronicles 16:9a) God, keep me fully committed to You!
Asa was a good king (in the beginning), and his country enjoyed a time of peace because Asa worked to please God. He recognized that victory would come to Judah because of God's power. "Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, "LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. O LORD, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you."" (2 Chronicles 14:11) Did you notice the last word? Asa understood that the battle was God's. When I face a battle, do I pray like this? Do I ask God to use His power to save me? Do I realize that He wants to take my place in the battle? There is a big difference between asking God to give me strength in times of trial versus asking God to be my substitute in the trial. Hmmm. What are your thoughts here?
1 The Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded. 2 He went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. 7 But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." 8 When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded the prophet, he took courage. (2 Chronicles 15:1-2, 7-8a) I am so thankful for the Azariahs in my life, the people who listen to the Spirit and speak the Word of God to me when I need encouragement to stay the course. Who can I encourage today? Have I listened to God's voice closely enough to hear a Word to share?
Do you remember our study of 1 Kings 11? God was angry with Solomon because he had turned away from Him. God promised He would divide Solomon's kingdom. 2 Chronicles 15:9 shows the results of the division. Asa was king over the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and some of the people from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon had come over to his side as well.
The remainder of 2 Chronicles 15 showcases Asa's glory years. He led the people to enter a covenant to seek the LORD. "They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them." (vs. 14) King Asa even had the gall to depose his grandmother because of her idol worship. Now that is one gutsy guy! Do any of you want to mess with your grandma?
Chapter 16 introduces us to Baasha king of Israel. I knew Israel was a divided kingdom, but never before in my study had I realized that Israel and Judah actually fought against one another. That's what I love about studying the Bible. I notice different things each time I read its truth. God is such a detail Man!
Wow! What happened between year 35 and year 36 for King Asa? He trusted and sought after God's wisdom for 35 years. Did he just suddenly choose to seek help from other armies? Probably not. If you listen to K-Love radio, you have heard the song Slow Fade by Casting Crowns. Our journey away from God does not happen in a day. It happens as a result of daily choices we make. Just like I was disappointed in Solomon in 1 Kings 11, I was disappointed that Asa did not stay true to his faith in the One True God. My expectation of godly people is that they will become more and more godly as they grow older. Sadly, this is not the case. Just because I seek God wholeheartedly today does not guarantee that I will seek Him when I am old and gray. It is so much easier to get out of the habit of worshiping God than it is to maintain the discipline. Being a God-follower is a daily choice I make. I can make the choice today, but if I do not make the choice again tomorrow and the next day, then I will wander farther and farther from God's wisdom. I think that's what happened to Asa. He enjoyed peace for so long that he forgot what it was like to chase after God. He became so comfortable in his palace that he forgot it was God who placed him there. He stopped praying to ask God to fight his battles. Instead he paid off a neighboring pagan king to fight his battle. "Oh be careful little feet where you go."
"For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." (2 Chronicles 16:9a) God, keep me fully committed to You!
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