I Kings 16:29-17:7
“And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.” (I Kings 16:29-30)
Three years before Asa’s death, Omri died and his son Ahab became king of Israel. Jeroboam had deliberately turned Israel away from God. In the thirty years since his death five kings have led Israel even further away, but Ahab’s twenty year reign would be even worse than any of them.
“And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. ” (I Kings 16:31-33)
Baal was one of the most common gods of the region, worshipped by the Midianites, Moabites, and many other groups. Time after time Israel had gotten into trouble for worshipping Baal. Ahab married Jezebel, the Daughter of Ethbaal (with or worshipper of Baal). He began to worship Baal and actively promoted the religion, building a temple and altars to him. In addition, he planted groves of trees for worship of nature and did everythin possible to dilute any belief in Jehovah. He went way beyond what any king before him had done.
“In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.” (I Kings 16:34)
Sets the example for what is acceptable in a group, as Proverbs 29:12 declares. “If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.” A leader who is willing to put up with lies and corruption will be surrounded by wickedness. Joshua and Israel had destroyed Jericho by God’s command. For almost seven hundred years it had not been rebuilt, as a testimony of God’s promises to Israel, and Joshua had prophesied that any one who rebuilt it would pay with the life of his oldest and youngest sons.
Under Ahab, a concerted effort to destroy that testimony by rebuilding Jericho was made. Archaeologists found the remains of Hiel’s eldest son, Abiram in the foundation of the walls, and of his youngest, Segub, encased in the gate, proving the prophecy. God would not ignore such open rebellion. Since it was the nation, not just the leader, all would be affected.
“And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.” (I Kings 17:1)
God sent Elijah to warn that there would be no fain for the next three years unless Elijah asked for it. Clearly, provision was made so they could be forgiven and have the drought stopped any time they repented, but no effort was made.
“And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. “ (I Kings 17:2-4)
Like everyone else, the drought cut off Elijah’s food supply, and Ahab was seeking to kill him, blaming him for it. God directed Elijah to go into hiding by the brook Cherith, because it was still flowing and no one would look for him there. He would have water to drink, and the ravens would provide for him.
Philippians 4:19 promises, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Under Jewish tradition, they would never have touched what the ravens brought, but God had chosen them to provide for Elijah.
“So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.” (I Kings 17:5-6)
Since a raven can carry only a small amount of food, and no one knew where they got it, Waiting for the ravens must have been a little tedious, and sometimes what they brought might not have been exactly what Elijah would have preferred, but he just trusted God to supply his needs, and accepted it with thanksgiving While many will not eat certain things, I Timothy 4:4 states, “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:” Once again we are reminded of the difference between the intent of the law, which was to preserve life, and the effects of keeping it exactly which would have resulted in starvation.
“And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.” (I Kings 17:7)
Eventually, the water table dropped as a result of the lack of rain, and the spring that fed the brook stopped flowing. Even people who serve God are affected by the results of other people’s sin. Elijah no longer had water to drink.
“And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.” (I Kings 16:29-30)
Three years before Asa’s death, Omri died and his son Ahab became king of Israel. Jeroboam had deliberately turned Israel away from God. In the thirty years since his death five kings have led Israel even further away, but Ahab’s twenty year reign would be even worse than any of them.
“And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. ” (I Kings 16:31-33)
Baal was one of the most common gods of the region, worshipped by the Midianites, Moabites, and many other groups. Time after time Israel had gotten into trouble for worshipping Baal. Ahab married Jezebel, the Daughter of Ethbaal (with or worshipper of Baal). He began to worship Baal and actively promoted the religion, building a temple and altars to him. In addition, he planted groves of trees for worship of nature and did everythin possible to dilute any belief in Jehovah. He went way beyond what any king before him had done.
“In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.” (I Kings 16:34)
Sets the example for what is acceptable in a group, as Proverbs 29:12 declares. “If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.” A leader who is willing to put up with lies and corruption will be surrounded by wickedness. Joshua and Israel had destroyed Jericho by God’s command. For almost seven hundred years it had not been rebuilt, as a testimony of God’s promises to Israel, and Joshua had prophesied that any one who rebuilt it would pay with the life of his oldest and youngest sons.
Under Ahab, a concerted effort to destroy that testimony by rebuilding Jericho was made. Archaeologists found the remains of Hiel’s eldest son, Abiram in the foundation of the walls, and of his youngest, Segub, encased in the gate, proving the prophecy. God would not ignore such open rebellion. Since it was the nation, not just the leader, all would be affected.
“And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.” (I Kings 17:1)
God sent Elijah to warn that there would be no fain for the next three years unless Elijah asked for it. Clearly, provision was made so they could be forgiven and have the drought stopped any time they repented, but no effort was made.
“And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. “ (I Kings 17:2-4)
Like everyone else, the drought cut off Elijah’s food supply, and Ahab was seeking to kill him, blaming him for it. God directed Elijah to go into hiding by the brook Cherith, because it was still flowing and no one would look for him there. He would have water to drink, and the ravens would provide for him.
Philippians 4:19 promises, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Under Jewish tradition, they would never have touched what the ravens brought, but God had chosen them to provide for Elijah.
“So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.” (I Kings 17:5-6)
Since a raven can carry only a small amount of food, and no one knew where they got it, Waiting for the ravens must have been a little tedious, and sometimes what they brought might not have been exactly what Elijah would have preferred, but he just trusted God to supply his needs, and accepted it with thanksgiving While many will not eat certain things, I Timothy 4:4 states, “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:” Once again we are reminded of the difference between the intent of the law, which was to preserve life, and the effects of keeping it exactly which would have resulted in starvation.
“And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.” (I Kings 17:7)
Eventually, the water table dropped as a result of the lack of rain, and the spring that fed the brook stopped flowing. Even people who serve God are affected by the results of other people’s sin. Elijah no longer had water to drink.
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