Elijah is one of my favourite Prophets. I love that we see his courage when he challenges the false prophets and their god Baal. 1 Kings 18:20-46 takes place during the reign of King Ahab who married Jezebel, daughter of King Tyre. Queen Jezebel imposed the cult of Baal and ordered the extermination of the Prophets of Yahweh but it was Elijah who rose up against her. Two sacrifices were prepared; one to Baal and one to Yahweh without setting fire to the offerings. Each group called on the name of their god and the one who sent fire to consume the offering, was the true God. Of course it was Yahweh! The 450 false Prophets were seized and taken to the Kishon River in Jezreel Vally near Mount Carmel where they were slaughtered. We had the wonderful opportunity of visiting Mount Carmel which is close to Haifa on the west coast of Israel and visit a site known as El-Muhraqa where this story is believed to have taken place.
Of course this place was also very special for our own precious Elijah who was named after this great Prophet!
The views are spectacular!
Jeff shared from God's word as we drank in the splendour.
41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, 43 and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.”
So he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.”
44 Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’”
45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. 46 Then the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
It was quite a wonder to stand there knowing that thousands of years ago, Elijah stood upon this very Mountain and in faith, cried out to God that He would bring the rain once again. As a family there are many prayers that we are lifting to God in this time but I wonder if we have that same faith to never never never give up until we see the answer. Perhaps there are many tonight who feel as though their prayers are ineffective. It says in James 5:16-18;
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
I pray that we shall be all remember that the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man and woman, avails much!
great photos. Ross taught this exact story on Sunday Morning!
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