August 26 Instruct

1 Kings 18:19 "Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table."

AHAB is the king of Israel. He has all authority to do as he pleases. He'll even allow Jezebel to kill to get a vineyard (1 Kings 21). Obadiah, his chief administrator feared Ahab's wrath. But even to a fearful enemy Elijah goes to instruct the king. Is something backward here?

           No. Actually it is another step forward in Elijah's faith journey toward God. As surely as God prepared the ravens to care for Elijah in the wilderness (1 Kings 17:3-5) and the widow at Zarephath to welcome Elijah into her home (1 Kings 17:15), God has moved Ahab's heart to listen to the prophet's instructions.

           Elijah then commands Ahab to a big task. Get the Israelites to Mount Carmel. Gather 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah. Elijah will be alone against hundreds, perhaps thousands of Israeli citizens who have been worshiping the devil (Idolatry is devil worship.) and confronting 850 false prophets. Through Elijah, God raised the widow's boy from his deathbed. God is about to use the prophet to again be the instrument of his life-giving power.

           Now consider this. For this confrontation and demonstration to happen, Elijah needed to instruct the king. If Elijah had kept quiet to say to himself, "I don't want to offend anyone."Or if he had been afraid of the king, the confrontation we are about to witness would not have happened. God's name would not have been glorified. Hearts would have remained empty and evil. To help people know of God, our fear of God must be greater than our fear of others.

           How many times in a week do you meet people who need to truly know God? How many need to be told that Jesus is the way to life? How many have heard this life-giving truth but do not believe the truth? Perhaps you even live with one or more who are rejecting Jesus. What do you do? What do you say?

           You keep speaking and keep living for the Lord. You never hold back. You never stop. Let God show up in your voice, your emotions, your demeanor and your love. Be a person intimately engaged with God, and you will help others come closer to the Lord. Being faithful to God means we are faithful to instruct others in his life-giving truth.

Prayer: Lord, open my mouth to speak for you. In Jesus' name, amen.