Trouble maker

[dddoo7]

Elijah was a great, Old Testament prophet of God. Elijah was known for doing many amazing things by the power of God in order to convince the people of the truth of his prophecies. 1 Kings 18 was one such case. Elijah confronted the hundreds and hundreds of prophets of Baal and gave them a challenge. They were to take an altar, prepare the sacrifice, and pray to their “god” to light the sacrifice. The hundreds of prophets of Baal prayed from morning until night and Baal did not light the sacrifice. The prophets of Baal screamed, yelled, cut themselves in petition to their “god” and Baal did not light the sacrifice.

Through the whole day, Elijah watched and questioned them about their “god”. Maybe their god was sleeping and couldn’t hear them. Maybe their god had gone on a trip and wasn’t available for them.

When it came time for the evening sacrifice, Elijah repaired the altar for sacrifice to God that had been broken down, he prepared the sacrifice and laid it on the altar. Then, just so the people would know the power of God, Elijah doused the altar, sacrifice, and wood three times with water to the point that water was running out of the altar and filled the trench around it.

Then Elijah prayed a simple prayer to God asking Him to reveal Himself to the people. God sent a fire from heaven that consumed the animal, the wood, the water, and even the stones of the altar!!! Israel saw first hand a small taste of the power of God and many of them turned back to God that day.

Elijah, according to the law of God, took the prophets of Baal out and put them to death.

One would think that the king of Israel would be excited about this. One would think that the king of Israel would have been looking for an opportunity such as this to get the nation back on track and following God once again. However, when the King (Ahab) ran into Elijah, Ahab asked Elijah, “Art thou he that troubleth Israel?”

How had Elijah troubled Israel? All Elijah did was proclaim that which was right in a way that it could not be argued with!!! Yet here, Elijah is viewed by Ahab as the one who was causing great trouble for Israel.

Elijah understood the truth of the matter and turned it right back around on Ahab. Elijah told Ahab that Ahab was the one troubling Israel because he refused to obey God and instead worshipped Baal (1 Kings 18:18).

Ahab’s failure to understand this simple point did not change the fact that Elijah was doing that which was right. Ahab’s view that Elijah was “troublesome” did not mean that Elijah was a troublemaker in the matter.

While God provided for Elijah and took care of him, Elijah was still troubled by Ahab and his wife. Ahab’s wife issued a proclamation seeking the life of Elijah. Ahab’s wife wanted Elijah dead because she despised and hated the truth that Elijah presented. Ahab’s wife was a woman that we know as Jezebel.

Love truth even when it is inconvenient.
Love truth even when it demands change.
Love truth even when you don’t like the messenger.
Truth is not the troubler...the lies are the troublers.

1 Kings 18:17-18 says, "And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim."