1 Reis 18

1 Reis 18

Chart from recommended resource Jensen's Survey of the OT - used by permission 1 Kings Chart from Charles Swindoll THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL (NOTE: Many consider Amaziah and Hezekiah as "good" kings) SEE ALSO: ESV chart - kings of Israel - more information ESV chart - kings of Judah - more information Another Chart with Variable Dates for Reigns of Kings 1 Kings 18:1 Now it happened after many days that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the face of the earth.” Now it happened after many days : Lu 4:25 Jas 5:17 Rev 11:2,6 in the third year: 1Ki 17:1,7,15 Lu 4:25 Jas 5:17 Go: 1Ki 18:2,15-40 I will send rain: Lev 26:4 De 28:12 Ps 65:9-13 Isa 5:6 Jer 10:13 14:22 Joe 2:23 Am 4:7 Related Passages: Luke 4:25 “But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; James 5:17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Now it happened - Of course it did not just "happen," but in the providence and omnipotence of God, He withheld rain from Samaria. After many days that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year How many days? Here we read 3 years, Jesus and James tell us it was 3.5 years (Luke 4:25, James 5:17) Saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the face of the earth - While going to Ahab may have been an intimidating thought, God linked it with a promise that should have encouraged Elijah. Earlier God had commanded Elijah "Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself." (1Ki 17:3) Now go and show yourself! Where was Elijah at this time? We cannot be dogmatic but presumably he was still at Zarephath. God's commands are accompanied by a clear prophecy that He would send rain. Recall that 1Ki 17:1 said "there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” Which is true? Both are true. God clearly is sovereign over the rain, but mysteriously He uses the words of Elijah to bring the promise to fruition. THOUGHT - Elijah prayer "tapped into" (so to speak) the will of God, so that God's will would be done on earth as it is in heaven. The better we know His Word, the better equipped we will be in our prayers to "tap into" His will. God Moves in A Mysterious Way (Play this hymn - a variation) (Or Listen to a chorale arrangement) God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm.