“I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” (1 Kings 19:10, 14)
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Samaria – Queen Jezebel’s Chief Spokesperson today confirmed that a nationwide pursuit is underway for fundamentalist terrorist Elijah the Tishbite, who led the massacre of 450 prophets of Baal at the Brook Kishon yesterday.
Elijah committed this atrocity after a bizarre exhibition on Mount Carmel. At this event, he appeared to call down fire from heaven and then presented, without any evidence, false claims that this “miracle” confirmed his long-discredited preaching. (Experts later debunked the display as a simple act of sorcery.)
Elijah likely carried out the killings in retaliation for the Crown’s policy of executing insurgents who, like he, claim to be prophets of Yahweh but commit sedition, spreading dangerous and hate-filled misinformation about the worship of Baal.
“This terrorist claims to follow Moses, but Moses was against sorcery and murder,” observed a local noble. “A true prophet would not defame and oppose Baal, especially at a time when we need more worship in this country — not less.”
Sources in Crown Intelligence say they are seeking a document tied to Elijah’s cult that may help locate him; it bears the odd codename “1 Kings 19”.
-Wire Services (December 1, 854 BC)
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Wow — that was some fake news! Sadly, most of Israel’s Northern Kingdom probably would have agreed with it. This culture was the one in which Elijah prophesied — and the one he flees in 1 Kings 19.
1 Kings 18 sets the record straight about the above events; it also sets up our text on Sunday: chapter 19. As you read 1 Kings 19, consider the following questions:
1. In verses 5-7, how does God respond to Elijah’s flight? Does verse 8 sound like Elijah is running away from God, or to Him?
2. Imagine prophesying to a people as obstinate as Elijah describes in verse 10! Do you think He could have done anything differently to change them?
3. “Horeb” (v. 8) refers to Mount Sinai, where Moses received God’s Law. How does Deuteronomy 4:11-14 clarify verses 11-13 and the “still, small voice” Elijah hears?
4. In 15-18, God reveals to Elijah that He has ordained two kings, a prophet, and 7,000 faithful believers for the next stage of His global plan.
Are your household, Bread of Life, and other faithful churches just as much a part of God’s overall plan as heads of state? If so, how does this inform our prayers and our labors for Him, wherever we are?
5. In verses 19-21, Elijah follows God’s command to appoint Elisha as his successor. How could you benefit from and strive to offer more personal support in the local body?