The Simple Life

And a man of God came near and said to the king of Israel, "Thus says the LORD, 'Because the Syrians have said, "The LORD is a god of the hills but he is not a god of the valleys," therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.'" 1 Kings 20:28 The prophet's goal is to point out that the Lord is God. On this day, a day of battle, God will prove that He is God. I find it interesting that God demonstrates He is God when He does not need to do so to be God. Whether or not He makes Himself known does not determine His "Godness." The Bible clarifies that if I seek God, I will find Him, which lays the responsibility of seeking on me. God has already demonstrated who He is in creation. I need to pay attention to what He has done to show Himself to me, and eliminate the need for wars and other disasters that prove the same more dramatically. https://www.podbean.com/relate365

And they went out  at noon , while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the booths, he and the thirty-two kings who helped him. The servants of the governors of the districts went out first. And Ben-hadad sent out scouts, and they reported to him, "Men are coming out from Samaria." He said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive. Or if they have come out for war, take them alive." So these went out of the city, the servants of the governors of the districts and the army that followed them. And each struck down his man. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them, but Ben-hadad king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen. 1 Kings  20:16-20 Pride often comes before the fall. Ben-hadad was powerful, but not more powerful than God. Kings frequently began to believe the press clippings they wrote. They are so used to having people worship them that they think they are invincible. It's not just kings who struggle with such thoughts. Often, people in pos...

And behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel and said, "Thus says the Lord, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will give it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the Lord." And Ahab said, "By whom?" He said, "Thus says the Lord, By the servants of the governors of the districts." Then he said, "Who shall begin the battle?" He answered, "You." Then he mustered the servants of the governors of the districts, and they were 232. And after them he mustered all the people of Israel, seven thousand. 1 Kings  20:13-15  (ESV) Ahab had to learn that God was God. We all need to realize that God is God. In fact, all of the circumstances of life are in place so that we might know that God is God. Sometimes, I marvel at the fact that a student refuses to learn. They are given facts,  opportunities, and slick presentations, and have no real idea of the concepts presented. When God speaks, it would behoove us to...

He said, "I have been very jealous of 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." And the Lord said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him." 1 Kings  19:14-18  (ESV) Those who love and serve God often feel alone because their humble brothers and sisters work quietly and point to ...

There, he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He said, "I have been very jealous of 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." And he said, "Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord." And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 1 Kings 19:9-12 (ESV) God often speaks in a whisper. Those waiting for a loud proclamation can be easily fooled. Elijah knew that God could demonstrate Himself ...

But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, "It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers." And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, "Arise and eat." And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, "Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you." And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. 1 Kings 19:4-8 (ESV) When you struggle to see things clearly or are at an emotional low, ignoring your physical needs is not the answer. Drinking water, eating responsibly, and exercising are all part of a healthy thought process. https...

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow." Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 1 Kings 19:1-3 (ESV) Life can twist and turn in ways we do not expect. We can be strong, faithful, and willing to take on the world in one moment. The next, we can be weak, lonely, afraid, and depressed. For every "high" in life, there is a "low." We try to live in a constant "high" state, yet that is impossible to maintain. When we have gone through a high point in life, we should expect a low and prepare accordingly. Often, those who get into trouble isolate themselves after a great victory. Pastors who live for Sundays and the opportunities frequently get...

And in a little while, the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. 1 Kings 18:45-46 (ESV) There are moments in the lives of those who love and walk with God that are beyond our imaginations, for God is beyond our imaginations. Those who love God and walk with Him are not always in the middle of the unexplainable, but they have moments. We forget that Elijah lived many ordinary, perhaps mundane, days, waiting for these incredible moments. Because the extraordinary moments are recorded, we tend to think that his life was one amazing moment after another. Elijah likely got up most days, followed a routine, went to bed, and started again the next day until he and history were ready for the "showdown." We need to be steadfast in life's daily, mundane tasks if we are ever to be positioned to enjoy ...

And Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain." So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. And he said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." And he went up and looked and said, "There is nothing." And he said, "Go again," seven times. And at the seventh time, he said, "Behold, a little cloud like a man's hand is rising from the sea." And he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.'" 1 Kings 18:41-44 (ESV) Confidence and dependence go together--confidence in God and dependency upon God. Confidence in the flesh will destroy you. Confidence in a gift God has given you will leave you sorely disappointed. Dependency upon money, family, friends, plans, nation, and so forth while ignoring God will prove fut...

Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, "The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God." 1 Kings 18:38-39 (ESV) People who did not know God was God now knew God was God. God can use the circumstances of our lives to reveal Himself to the worlds we live in, or they can be circumstances that seem unrelated and unremarkable. Circumstances directed by God are incredible opportunities. Circumstances controlled by us are often futile. God always has a plan. We frequently fail to plan, exclude Him from our thinking, and blame Him for our lack of understanding. Our lack of understanding comes from our lack of connection with God. Elijah, unlike many modern-day Christians, was not afraid of the enemy. You do not fear when there is nothing to fear. It is not incredible that God demonstrated Himself to people. It i...

And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, "O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back."  1 Kings 18:36-37 (ESV) Elijah did not want power. He did not want fame, fortune, or revenge. He wanted to clear the confusion of those who were truly confused. He wanted to live in a way that proved God's existence. He wanted to use his current situation to demonstrate God's power unequivocally. This is not a goal that only Elijah could accomplish. Anyone living at any time in history could do the same. Circumstances often confront those who need conviction, affirm those who are convicted, and condemn those who resist conviction. The Godless will always be willing to debate. The Go...

Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been thrown down. Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, "Israel shall be your name," and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs of seed. And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, "Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood." And he said, "Do it a second time." And they did it a second time. And he said, "Do it a third time." And they did it a third time. And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water. 1 Kings 18:30-35 (ESV) It seems like Elijah wanted to make the hard harder. This is a great model for ministr...

And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention. 1 Kings 18:28-29 (ESV) Sincerity is a prison for those who believe lies. Nothing may be more tragic than those who are sincere yet wrong. I have heard those who are wrong try to soften the blow by declaring, "At least I was sincere." Sincerity is a good quality when coupled with humility and truth, but it becomes a travesty when associated with ignorance. Sincerity can cause great harm in that you can combine it with stubbornness and then one day feel abandoned, for your trust has been in your faith or your sincerity rather than in God. The real influencers in your life have been the people around you, not God in you, and the price you ultimately pay is sudden and devastating. Before you are sincere, you must en...

Then Elijah said to the people, "I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal's prophets are 450 men. Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. And you call upon the name of your God, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God." And all the people answered, "It is well spoken."   1 Kings 18:22-24 (ESV) The majority does not determine right or wrong. Insinuation, intimidation, power, or position in this life does not determine right or wrong. God alone determines right and wrong; those who obey Him are right, and all who do not will one day be proven wrong. Elijah is a hero to many, yet he acted like anyone who knows God and loves people should act. He positioned himself in a manner that God could and would use him to reveal Himself....

So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. And Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." And the people did not answer him a word. 1 Kings  18:20-21  (ESV) How often do we challenge a Godless world? How frequently have you told those who doubt God to watch you and learn who He is? How often have you prayed that God would put you in an impossible position so that His name might be known? A pragmatist may argue that God gave us logic, natural laws, and so forth, and that we should respect those laws and expect those laws to dictate everyday life. Yet, we see that true pragmatism is rooted in the truths of God's Word and our faith in Him. It makes perfect sense to challenge the Godless with God, and to do it in a way that allows them no "wiggle room" in their conclusion. Those who know Him ...

"Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table." 1 Kings 18:19 (ESV) There are epic moments in history. This is one of them. There will be 850 prophets who worship Satanic forces against one who worships God. This is not a showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal and Asherah. It is a showdown between Satan and God played out among their faithful. This story easily illustrates this epic battle, yet this is the same battle that takes place today in places worldwide. Those who are faithful to God will find themselves in a fight because of their faithfulness to God. This fight is not about their viewpoints and ability. It is a fight between God and the forces of evil--the multitudes of evil who think that a majority opinion can and should sway the single declarations of God. They were wrong in Elijah's day, and they are wrong today. The fight continues, the s...

When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, "Is it you, you troubler of Israel?" And he answered, "I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father's house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals. 1 Kings  18:17-18  (ESV) Ahab sins, and Elijah gets blamed for the fruit of his sin. This makes no sense to the disconnected onlooker, yet it is common. To be free from sin, we need to admit our sin. If we blame our family, our nation, our church, our make-believe god, our government, or any other entity, we will never be free. The disastrous events in our lives are due to sin. Our acknowledgment of the problem positions us to solve the problem, and without the acknowledgment, we have no way to find a solution. Personal responsibility is the critical ingredient to problem-solving. Those continually blaming others for their problems will always be powerless victims flailing through life. There are problems in this life that stem f...

After many days the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, "Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth." So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria. And Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly….) 1 Kings 18:1-3 (ESV) After three years of drought, Ahab blames Elijah, and God wants Elijah to go and present himself to Him. It sounds like an assignment destined for failure. However, this is an assignment given by God and will be guided by Him. Anyone who pushes fear aside and listens to God will not be disappointed. Fear happens when we focus on the unknown, the probable, and the enormity of the details we do not control. Courage, however, is the fruit of focusing on God. Elijah was positioned well to show the world who God was. The most powerful players of his day were no match or threat to God and Elijah. All Elijah had to do was remain faithful, and he becam...

And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, "See, your son lives." And the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth." 1 Kings 17:23-24 (ESV) There is often a strange clarity found in the tragedies of life. The helpless moments frequently guide us to the only place we can find help, usually a place we have been avoiding. Our goal is to show the world who God is. These challenging moments give us ample opportunities. When the process of finding food, losing food, finding life, losing life, and regaining life was finished, Elijah, the widow, and her son were in a much better position to know and trust God than before these incidents took place. To better understand reality, we often need to be struck by reality. Our necessities do not provide for themselves. They are, as life is, a gift from God, and we need...

After this, the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill. And his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. And she said to Elijah, "What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!" 1 Kings  17:17-18  (ESV) Sometimes, things do not make sense. We are limited in the scope of our understanding. We forget that God is at work to conform us to the image of His Son. It would have been normal and easy for Elijah to have trusted the brook for water and the ravens for food. It would have been expected to think that a widow could not and should not supply your food. It would have been expected for the widow to begin to trust the oil and flour to keep her son alive. The joy in life does not come from trusting the things of life but trusting in the giver of life, and those things that keep us from Him, keep us from life.   https://www.podbean.com/relate365

And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, "Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." And she said, "As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die." And Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son." 1 Kings  17:11-13  (ESV) It sounds as if Elijah is rather self-centered. It sounds as if God wants to care for His servant at the expense of a widow and her son. Yet, like most things, the surface reporting is just that--surface. There is often so much more involved in the story than in the part that we see. God is working to demonstrate His faithfulness, as He always does, not to destroy someone. This is always His purpose in the...

"You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." So he went and did according to the word of the Lord. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.  1 Kings 17:4-7 (ESV) We often depend upon the provisions God has supplied and forget God. This is foolish and causes much strife. It would be easy for Elijah to trust the brook and the ravens for his provision, while forgetting the miraculous occurrence that is taking place in the very provision. God is a giver and loves to give to those He loves. When we repay His gift with abandonment, we prove we are degenerates, and will ultimately be sorely disappointed with life's outcomes. All good is from the hand of God, and for us to truly enjoy it, we must continually acknowledge...