Today’s Devotion
Topic: A Passionate Prophet Vrs His Evil King (Part 18)
(Self Assessment 218)
Background: Last week we learnt that after the Lord asked Elijah to stand before Him on the mountain, the elements rolled. Yet the Lord was not in them. Until in a gentle whisper, the Lord asked Elijah what he was there for.
Well, the prophet of God went on to complain the same way he had done earlier. His conviction was that he had been zealous for God, Israel had rejected their covenant with the Lord, killed His prophets and now, they want to kill him.
What would the Lord say to these things? Are Elijah’s claims true from God’s perspective? If they aren’t, what will be the Lord’s reaction to them and to Elijah?
For answers to these and more, let’s zoom straight into our weekly bible study.
Text: 1 Kings 19: 15-18
15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” Amen
Questions:
1. Wow! The Lord’s response to Elijah, tells us the seriousness of our Lord to His calling and assignments. What does “Go back the way you came”, represent in this context?
2. Why is the Lord choosing new leaders for the assignment ahead right now? And why is He choosing a successor for Elijah already and not as assistant or helper? Has Elijah’s complain of being tired and wanting to die necessitated this action?
3. How does verse 17 reveal God’s strategic plan when choosing leaders to serve His purpose. How come as christian leaders and family heads etc, we hardly realise that our efforts ought to compliment each other’s?
4. Kindly read verse 18 again. How should the Lord’s final response to Elijah’s claims, both caution and inform us, in our walk and work with the Lord?
5. What have you learnt from today’s discussion?
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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