Strength to Stand Against the Enemy

Most everybody has heard of Jezebel, the wife of Ahab, king of Israel. In fact, her name has become synonymous with a scheming, evil woman. According to  Webster’s dictionary, a jezebel is “an impudent, shameless, or morally unrestrained woman.” And she was Ahab’s wife. She raised many temples to her gods, Baal and Asherah, and either killed God’s prophets or caused them to go into hiding.

But God raised up the prophet, Elijah, to try to get Ahab, and by extension, the kingdom of Israel, to turn back to him. Elijah went to Ahab and told him it wasn’t going to rain for three years. And for three years, it didn’t. At the end of that time, Elijah went back to Ahab and challenged him to a duel of prophets. He told Ahab, meet me with all your prophets of Baal on the top of Mount Carmel and we’ll see who is the true God.

Four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and four hundred of Asherah showed up. All the people of Israel came to witness the challenge. Elijah gave instructions: “Let two bulls be given to us and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” 1 Kings 18:23,24. Ahab’s prophets went first. They danced and yelled and prayed to their god half the day. Nothing. No fire from their god to consume the sacrifice. They even cut themselves to get his attention. After a while, Elijah started making fun of them. “Maybe you’re not yelling loud enough. Maybe he’s sleeping or going to the bathroom.”

When it was Elijah’s turn, he set up an altar to God, placed the pieces of the bull on it, dug a trench around the altar and poured water on the offering several times so the trenches were filled. Elijah prayed and asked God to show the people that he is God. “Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust and licked up the water that was in the trench.”   1 King 18:38 Elijah ordered the people to take all the prophets of Baal and put them to death. Definitely an overwhelming demonstration of God’s power. But also, of the effectiveness of Elijah’s prayers. Remember, he had prayed there would be no rain for three years. And there wasn’t. He had also prayed raised to life the son of a widow who had provided him a room. And now this, praying for fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice.

But he wasn’t done. He told Ahab to hurry home because it was going to rain. Elijah prayed. And the rain came.

When Ahab told Jezebel what Elijah had done, and that he had killed all her prophets, she didn’t do what you might expect—become fearful and afraid of Elijah and his God. No, no. She went full fury against him. She sent him a message: “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 1Kings 19:2 Elijah had demonstrated how powerless her gods were but she’s still praying to them?!?

I don’t like to say it but you really have to admire her boldness to issue such a furious proclamation. She had just heard that this man had made fools of her prophets, that her gods had not been able to answer the pleading of their prophets, and then he had had all the prophets killed. And now she’s threatening to kill him?

Elijah, having proved beyond all possible doubt that God hears—and answers—his prayers, you’d think he would have broken out laughing hysterically at this threat. No, he freaked out and ran away, hiding himself in a cave.

Two lessons I see in this story. (Undoubtedly more, but let’s stick with two.) One, if God is your God, trust him. Always and in all things, regardless of what those who want to do you harm threaten you with. Put the outcome in his hands. And two, be bold. KNOW who your God is, know his strength. Jezebel had just witnessed the incompetence and powerlessness of her gods and still she threatened to kill Elijah. God’s children/warriors need that kind of boldness, regardless how strong the enemy appears. Ephesians 6:13 “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”

There’s no reason we shouldn’t be as bold as Jezebel, or even more so. Her gods were incompetent, powerless, and above all, not real. Ours is real, all powerful, and will always, always care for us.