Today’s Devotion
Topic: A Passionate Prophet Vrs His Evil King (Part 1)
(Self Assessment 201)
Background: In the thirty-eighth year of Asa, king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel for twenty-two years.
Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam, son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship it. (1 Kings 16- 29- 33).
During his reign, there was a very passionate and anointed man of God. He was more than determined to exalt righteousness and turn the hearts of people back to God.
How did these two get along? What are the various situations that occured in their struggle to win Israel either for Baal or for Jehovah?
For answers to these and more, let’s get straight into our weekly Bible discussion.
*Text*: 1 Kings 17:1
1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word. Amen.
Questions:
1. In a land where all knew about Jehovah and His long standing relationship with Israel, Ahab remained so evil and even went on to marry an evil woman, while Elijah revered God and was not ashamed to let all see the greatness of our God. How do we explain the disparity between the two men?
2. Kindly read and meditate on 1 Kings 17:1 again:
a) Why do you think Elijah begun his declaration with “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve”?
b) “there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” In your opinion, what does “EXCEPT AT MY WORD” imply?
c. Are questions ‘A’ and ‘B’ not contradictory, espercially when Elijah appears to situate his invocation in God and then conclude that the reversal of it will be at his word?
d) Why, in your opinion, did Elijah make such a declaration before Ahab in the first place?
3. James 5:16b-18 says:
The prayers of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are.He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
a) What does it mean to say, “the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective”?
b) Why do you think Apostle James started by saying, Elijah was a human being, even as we are? What is the significance in that for us?
4. What have you learnt from today’s Bible study?
NB: 17 DAYS TO THE “FOR JESUS BAND” (4JBAND) *SHIBAH* CONCERT AND *THE OUTDOORING OF THEIR LATEST TESTIFY ALBUM.* Date: Boxing Day, 26th Dec 2017. Venue: ICGC ADONAI TEMPLE, Westlands (Behind HAATSO junction) ACCRA. 3PM… Jesus is waiting.
*Read more about SHIBAH from GEN 26: 12- 33*
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