Survey Bible Reading Plan Day 15

Today we are going over 1 King's 17-19, 21 and you can click right here to read it if you haven't already.

In Chapter 17 we read about Elijah the Tishbite being fed by ravens that the LORD had ordered to feed him (Elijah).  Wow, the LORD ordered or instructed the ravens to feed Elijah, that is pretty amazing in my book, no matter how you look at it.  When the brook dried up the LORD provided again for Elijah by the widow at Zarephath.  She was on her last bit of meal and oil but Elijah instructed her to make him a loaf of bread first and then to make her and her son a loaf, explaining to her that the God of Israel said, "The jar of flour will not be used up, and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land."  Just the fact that she so willingly believed what Elijah said is amazing to me, that she would use seemingly the last of her meal and oil to make a loaf of bread for Elijah based on what he said, shows that at least some people had faith in what the LORD could do, or had done in the past.

We then read about Elijah and Obediah, and how the word of the LORD came to Elijah to go present himself to Ahab and the LORD would bring rain to the land.  So Elijah goes and presents himself to Ahab.  Remember the famine was severe in the land at the time.  So Ahab and Obediah go and gather grass to try to keep the horses and mules alive, each one went in the opposite direction of the other.  While Obediah was walking along Elijah met up with him and tells him to go tell his master Ahab that he was here! Well this does not really go over well with Obediah because of what Elijah had done earlier, hiding 100 prophets from Jezebel who was out killing prophets. Obediah was like after that you want me to go tell Ahab that you are here, how do I know you will present yourself to him?  Of course we know that he did go tell Ahab and Elijah did present himself to Ahab just like he said he would.

It then goes on to tell about Elijah and the Mount Carmel "incident" where Elijah tells the people that he is the last prophet of the LORD and to go and get two bulls and settle who is God once and for all, their god Baal, or his The LORD.  We all know how it went down, the prophets of Baal were humiliated and God was proven right and true as we know He aways is, and of course there was the sound of heavy rain to quench the thirst of the land that had been under severe famine.

We then read how Ahab tells Jezebel everything that Elijah had done, and so in fear of Jezebel, Elijah flees to Horeb the mount of God.  He leaves his servant in Beersheba and travels a days journey into the desert, comes to a broomtree and waits to die there.  After all he had seen God do and been through himself, he says, "I have had enough God, I am no better than my ancestors, Take my life."  Wow, is about all I can say...I have gone through some difficult times in my life, and I have given in to worry, only to be reminded of what God has done and can do still. 

The last thing I want to go over is Naboth's vinyard in chapter 21.  Ahab tells Naboth to let him have his vineyard, saying he will exchange it for one of his, or even pay Naboth for it.  Naboth of course will not give Ahab the inheritance of his fathers, so Ahab goes home and pouts.  Jezebel comes to him, finds out the problem, and says, "Get up, eat, I'll get you the vinyard of Naboth."  Jezebel goes and writes letters in Ahabs name and sends them to the elders and nobels in Naboth's city.  Here is what the Bible says, 9 In those letters she wrote:

"Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 10 But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death."  Can you believe this? What gumption she had.  We know what happens next, Naboth is stoned to death and Ahab takes possession of the vineyard.  But, I love what happens next, Elijah gets a word from the LORD about what has happened, and goes and confronts Ahab.  Here is what happens next:

 17 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite: 18 "Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is now in Naboth's vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. 19 Say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?' Then say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth's blood, dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!' "


20 Ahab said to Elijah, "So you have found me, my enemy!"


"I have found you," he answered, "because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD. 21 'I am going to bring disaster on you. I will consume your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or free. 22 I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked me to anger and have caused Israel to sin.'   And that is exactly what happened.  The End! Today's reading assignment is 2 King's 1-2, 6-7, 11-12 and you can read that here if you'd like.


Today's inspirational quote is...

I would rather walk with God in the dark than go alone in the light.

~Mary Gardiner Brainard

© 2010 Shannon M. King.

 I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when I feel it not. I believe in God even when He is silent. *Written on a wall in a concentration camp*