Today’s Devotion
Topic: A Passionate Prophet Vrs His Evil King (Part 8)
(Self Assessment 208)
Background:
You may recall from last week’s assessment, that the famine in Samaria got so severe that Ahab decided to go searching for fresh grass with Obadiah his palace administrator. Each of them going a different directions.
Obadiah encoutered Elijah on his way who sent a message through him to Ahab. The message simply said, “Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’”
Would Obadiah send this message inspite of his fears that Elijah may disappear and get him in trouble with the king? What is Elijah going to do or say once He meets Ahab? How is this meeting to help the famine situation plaguing Israel at the time?
For answers to these and more, let’s get straight into our weekly Bible discussion.
Text: 1 Kings 18: 16- 21
16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17 When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”
18 “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals.
19 Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
20 So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah went before the people and said, “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.
Questions:
1. From verses 16 to 17 we see that Elijah proved commited to the assignment God had given him and to his promise to Obadiah that he will not hide away but face Ahab. However, why do you think Ahab called him the “troubler of Israel”?
2. Elijah stated emphatically in verse 18 that He had not made trouble for Israel:
a) Who did the prophet insist were rather the troublers of Israel and why?
b) In what ways do you agree or disagree with Elijah and why?
3. When Elijah ask Ahab to summon the people from all Israel to meet him at Mount Carmel, he also said the king should bring with him prophets of baal and Asherah who “eat at Jezebel’s table”. What do you think the expression “eat at Jezebel’s table” mean?
4. What did Elijah mean in verse 21 when he asked the people, “How long will you waver between two opinions”?. Secondly, does this question relate with the situation of some modern day Christians?
5. Kindly explain the expression: “If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”
6. In your opinion, why did the people say nothing when Elijah proved how necessary it was for them to choose to serve either the Lord or baal; and not rather waver in two opinions?
7. In our present day, what would “saying nothing” to the opportunity to choose to serve either God or the world imply?
8. What have you learnt from today’s disscussion?
Kindly share your answers with us through this same social media platform (WhatsApp/Facebook). We also learn a lot from what you share.
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