Retribution, Rain, Retreat (Decision Day Postscript)

I Kings 18: 40-45

The aftermath to the victory at Mt. Carmel is, in part, difficult to accept. However, we would be remiss if we just ignored. So, let’s take a look.

When the matter was clearly settled, Elijah turned immediately and called the people to seize the prophets of Baal – who may have been yet stunned in defeat. All of them were taken to the foot of the mountain and slain by the Brook Kishon (trap, ensnare, winding). It does seem hard to grasp that Elijah himself executed them all, but we accept what is there.

We all believe that God is loving, merciful and quick to forgive all who turn to Him. We might keep in mind here that these rulers showed no interest in seeking God’s mercy and forgiveness. “Ahab did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all who were before him …. And he went and served Baal and worshipped him. …  Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel before him” (I Kings 16:30-33). Likewise, “Jezebel massacred the prophets of the Lord” (18:4) before Obadiah could hide 100 of them.

Looking closer for some meaning … remember that those prophets were lying to the people, rejecting God Himself, misguiding the young people and generally propagating a false view of life itself; all meant to lead them into a trap without the understanding or will to escape. They had been twisted into giving up their freedom for the promise of a life that would never be. So, Elijah took them to a trap themselves.

Likewise, the Brook Kishon flows through an area known as the Valley of Jezreel from Mt. Tabor to the Mediterranean Sea. This area was the scene of many decisive battles in Israel’s history and is attached to the name Armageddon – prophetically, the final battle of human history.

Lying, entrapment and warring against God are also acts attributed to that evil one we know as Satan and his demons. Even our Lord was quick to resist them, cast them out and destroy their wicked words and deeds. A lake of fire has been prepared for them.

Moving beyond the discomforting massacre, we can certainly see the necessity of seizing the sins and vices in our lives that rob us of our freedom, slaying them through the power of God and sending them away to the sea of forgetfulness.

We must then return with Elijah to the mountain and order Ahab (no longer our ruler) away. In earnest prayer, Elijah bowed down on the ground with his face between his knees. This time, a prayer for rain instead of fire – seven times without giving up. “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah …… prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit” (James 5:16-18).

Yes, the rain is coming and we shall drink of the water of life. Now with open hearts and thirsty souls let us receive the showers of blessing from heaven. The Lord, He is God!

We rejoice but Ahab is in retreat. Resist the devil and he will flee. “There was a heavy rain …. So Ahab rode away” (vs. 39).

Fr. Andrew and Kh. Dannie