Day 314 – Abundance of Rain

1 Kings 18:1 It happened after many days that the word of JEHOVAH came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth.”

 2 Then Elijah went to present himself to Ahab; and there was a severe famine in Samaria.

 3 Ahab had called Obadiah, who oversaw his house. (Now Obadiah feared JEHOVAH greatly. 4 For so it happened, while Jezebel massacred the prophets of JEHOVAH, Obadiah had taken one hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty to a cave, and had fed them with bread and water.) 5 Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go into the land to every spring of water and to every brook; perhaps we may find grass to keep the horses and mules alive, so that we will not have to kill any livestock. 6 Then they divided the land between them to explore it; Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.

 7 As Obadiah was on his way, Elijah met him; and he recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”

 8 He answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’”

 9 Then he said, “How have I sinned, that you are delivering your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me? 10 “As JEHOVAH your Elohiym lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to hunt for you; and when they said, ‘He is not here,’ he took an oath from the kingdom or nation that they could not find you. 11 Now you say, ‘Go, tell your master, “Elijah is here”’! 12 It will come to pass, as soon as I am gone from you, that the Ruwach of JEHOVAH will carry you to a place I do not know; so, when I go and tell Ahab, and he cannot find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared JEHOVAH from my youth. 13 Was it not reported to my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of JEHOVAH, how I hid one hundred men of JEHOVAH’S prophets, fifty to a cave, and fed them with bread and water? 14 Now you say, ‘Go, tell your master, “Elijah is here.”’ He will kill me!”

 15 Then Elijah said, “As JEHOVAH of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will present myself to him today.”

 16 Then Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.

 17 Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, O troubler of Israel?”

 18 He answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you forsook the commandments of JEHOVAH and followed the Baals. 19 Now, therefore, send and gather everyone in Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

 20 Then Ahab sent for the children of Israel and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel.

 21 Elijah came to the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If JEHOVAH is Elohiym, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” However, the people answered him not a word.

 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of JEHOVAH; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 23 Therefore, let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. 24 Then you call on the name of your elohiym, and I will call on the name of JEHOVAH; and the Elohiym who answers by fire, He is Elohiym.”

 Then the people answered and said, “It is well spoken.”

 25 Now Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your elohiym but put no fire under it.”

 26 Then they took the bull given to them, and prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us!” However, there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar they made.

 27 Thus, it happened, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a elohiym; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.”

 28 Then they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them.

 29 When midday passed, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. However, there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.

 30 Then Elijah said to the people, “Come near to me.” Then the people came near to him. He repaired the altar of JEHOVAH that was broken down. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of JEHOVAH had come, saying, “Israel will be your name.” 32 Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of JEHOVAH; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed. 33 He put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, “Fill four waterpots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood.” 34 Then 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. 35 The water ran around the entire altar; and he also filled the trench with water.

 36 It happened, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “JEHOVAH Elohiym of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are Elohiym in Israel, and I am Your servant, and that I have done these things at Your word. 37 Hear me, O JEHOVAH, hear me, that this people may know that You are JEHOVAH Elohiym, and You turned their hearts back to You again.”

 38 Then the fire of JEHOVAH fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water in the trench.

 39 Now when the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “JEHOVAH, He is Elohiym! JEHOVAH, He is Elohiym!”

 40 Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape!” Then they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon and executed them there.

 41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.”

 42 Then Ahab went up to eat and drink. 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.” Then he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” Seven times he said, “Go again.”

 44 Then it happened the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!”

 Then 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 heavy rain. Then Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.

 46 Then the hand of JEHOVAH came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

God’s names:

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Elohiym – Supreme God

Ruwach – Violent wind, Breath, Spirit

Yeshuwa – Jesus

Theos – Supreme Divinity

God’s character:

Sovereign

Many countries of the world face severe drought and famine. People die of starvation while they do everything, they can to keep their livestock alive.

Ahab approached Obadiah to search for water to keep the livestock and mules alive. While they searched for water, Elijah appeared to Obadiah and told him to let Ahab know he wanted to talk to him. When Ahab came to Elijah, he called him the troubler of Israel, which Elijah refuted and put a proposal before Ahab to prove to the children of Israel who the Elohiym of Israel was Baal or JEHOVAH. Ahab agreed to his proposal and gathered everyone in Israel along with the prophets of Baal and Asherah. Then Elijah set the terms of proof and the prophets of Baal and Asherah began to pray and plead with their elohiym, but nothing happened. Only when Elijah prayed to JEHOVAH did fire fall from heaven to burn the sacrifice, the water, the rocks and dirt surrounding the altar. When the people acknowledged JEHOVAH as their Elohiym, Elijah had the prophets of Baal killed at the Brook Kishon. With that accomplished, Elijah told Ahab to leave, eat, and drink because he heard the sound of the abundance of rain.

As Christians, you committed your life to Yeshuwa, to honor Him and give Him the reverence He deserves. Yet too often Christians put idols in front of Yeshuwa. They work instead of going to church, take vacations, enjoy leisure activities, and forget their commitment to put Yeshuwa first before they engage in activities that take their focus away from Elohiym.

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of Theos and His righteousness, and everything will be added to you.

Your leisure activities and work aren’t bad unless they take your focus away from Yeshuwa. When you put Yeshuwa first and then work and enjoy leisure activities, Yeshuwa will bless you.

Israel no longer believed in JEHOVAH. They allowed their kings to lead them astray. Only when Elijah confronted them with proof of their JEHOVAH, did they acknowledge Him. You need to confront the truth of their commitment to Yeshuwa. When you acknowledge Him, put your faith and trust in Him again, He will send an abundance of rain, blessings, into your life.

Let’s pray: Father, my life is in chaos. My focus is on what I want and not what You want from me. Change my focus, Father. Bring me back to You. Help me put You first before those other things I enjoy. Let Your blessings flow in my life like abundant rain. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 28 November 2024 by Valerie Routhieaux