Effie Darlene Barba

        Sometimes when we read of all that God has done and plans to fulfill, it seems as though we are part of a mystifying story that is absolutely marvelous as well.  Each part of the story is filled with such wonder.  There are moments of great joy, and sometimes sorrows which leads to the next joy being even more exuberant.  Then there are the moments of fear, which press us ever forward reaching for that which will steady through the storm.  Each step, the way of God leading us to a greater faith and hope.  Finally, there are glimpses of greater joy that we have ever seen before lying just before us.  We know it deep within our hearts.  Hearts born to live in perfect harmony with Him, always searching and moving forward.

        Perhaps it was that vision of blazing horses pulling a blazing chariot to sweep up Elijah from this earth into heaven that gave Elisha special courage and faith.  He could see the spiritual beyond the mundane tasks of this earth.  Yet, that too caused him great sorrow.  He could see the impending doom.  The futility of all those around him that sought after earthly treasures and idols who promised them.  He had seen glory and how absolutely marvelous that was.  The warmth and beauty of God’s grace and love kept Elisha strong.  He saw the spiritual battle around him and was overwhelmed with sorrow because of all those who did not believe. Knowing their fate, made him very sad. 

Absolutely Marvelous

In 2 Kings 4 (NET) we read:

Now a wife of one of the prophets^[a] appealed^[b] to Elisha for help, saying, “Your servant, my husband is dead. You know that your servant was a loyal follower of the Lord.^[c] Now the creditor is coming to take away my two boys to be his servants.” ² Elisha said to her, “What can I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She answered, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a small jar of olive oil.”

³ He said, “Go and ask all your neighbors for empty containers.^[d] Get as many as you can.^{[e] 4} Go and close the door behind you and your sons. Pour the olive oil into all the containers;^[f] set aside each one when you have filled it.” ⁵ So she left him and closed the door behind her and her sons. As they were bringing the containers to her, she was pouring the olive oil. ⁶ When the containers were full, she said to one of her sons,^[g] “Bring me another container.” But he answered her, “There are no more.” Then the olive oil stopped flowing. ⁷ She went and told the prophet.^[h] He said, “Go, sell the olive oil. Repay your creditor, and then you and your sons can live off the rest of the profit.”

Marvelous, Yet Mystifying the Miracles of God

Then, he met a very gracious Shulamite woman who made certain he had a private room to sleep in with food provisions each time he passed through the providence.  She had been baron.  Elisha prophesied that she and her husband would have a son.  She could hardly believe; yet God gave her a son.  That son died; however, by faith she placed him in the room where Elisha stayed.  Then with her husband’s permission she left with the carriage and drivers to find Elisha.  Through Elisha, God restored her son’s life. 

This was the life of Elisha.  Absolutely marvelous miracles all around him.  He directed the leprous Syrian general to wash in the Jordan 7 times and he was healed.  But nothing was more miraculously absolutely marvelous more than in Chapter 6. 

A Vision Beyond Man’s sight.

The King of Syria wanted to kill the King of Israel; but each time his attempts were foiled.  He determined someone was spying and betraying him.  But his men told him that it was a prophet who could hear everything he whispered though many miles away.  So, the King of Syria sent troops to surround Elisha’s little school of theology.  (For he had a great school teaching others of God’s wonderful absolutely marvelous glory).  Well, his servant was frightened when he saw the army surrounding them. 

¹⁵ The prophet’s^[r] attendant got up early in the morning. When he went outside there was an army surrounding the city, along with horses and chariots. He said to Elisha,^[s] “Oh no, my master! What will we do?” ¹⁶ He replied, “Don’t be afraid, for our side outnumbers them.”^{[t] 17} Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he can see.”

The Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw that^[u] the hill was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. ¹⁸ As the army approached him,^[v] Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike these people^[w] with blindness.”^[x] The Lord^[y] struck them with blindness as Elisha requested.^{[z] 19} Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the right road or city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you’re looking for.” He led them to Samaria.

²⁰ When they had entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open their eyes, so they can see.” (2 Kings 6 NET).

The army found themselves in the center of Samaria, surrounded by the Samaritan army.   Elisha commanded that grace be given them as prisoners of war.  He advised the King to feed them then send them home.  Elisha was the one whom they came to kill, and he spared their lives.

How Mystifying Is the Way of God

For a time, there was peace for Samaria, but that did not last long for they failed to turn to God.  As they and their King continued to sin against God, the Syrian army once more came and encircled them cutting them off from all food and supplies.  A horrid famine had presented and now with no roads to find food they were in a dire state of affairs.  Instead of pleading to God, the King determined this was God’s fault and the fault of Elisha as God’s man.  He sent a lynch man to kill Elisha. But of course, Elisha saw him coming long before he arrived.  Then, God spoke through Elisha to the people.  He told them that by tomorrow morning, food would be plentiful and the prices reasonable.  The horrid inflation they were enduring would end suddenly. 

² So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, “Look, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” And he said, “In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it.” 2 Kings 7 (NKJV)

Not a good idea to mock God, but such are the foolish of the world who hold fast to their ideas as being greater than Gods.

What happens next is Absolutely Marvelous; yet Mystifying

³ Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die? ⁴ If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die.” ⁵ And they rose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians; and when they had come to the outskirts of the Syrian camp, to their surprise no one was there.

⁶ For the Lord had caused the army of the Syrians to hear the noise of chariots and the noise of horses—the noise of a great army; so they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us!”

⁷ Therefore they arose and fled at twilight, and left the camp intact—their tents, their horses, and their donkeys—and they fled for their lives. ⁸ And when these lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried from itsilver and gold and clothing and went and hid them; then they came back and entered another tent, and carried some from there also, and went and hid it. (2Kings 7: NKJV)

Think of this. 

4 Lepers who believed there was no hope went to surrender to the Syrians.  At least then they would die quickly rather than slowly of starvation.  For if there was no food for the other people.  These who lived off the scraps thrown them out of charity had no hope.  But when all hope is gone, but God.  Well, He is all you need.

The Most Unlikely News Bearers

At first, they reveled in their fortune only to then to realize they must share in this news with all the others.  Perhaps these 4 lepers were more noble that many of the people in the city.  It is funny how God does absolutely marvelous things in such mystifying ways.  They ran to town to tell everyone.  At first the King refused to believe it so.  It must be a trap.

However, in the end, he sent out a scouting troop who confirmed the absolutely marvelous miracle.  There was an abundance of food which could be sold at a very reasonable price for all to eat.  And the naysayer we read of before? Well, he went out to see and got trampled by the crowd, just as foretold.  He would see it, but not live to enjoy it. 

So what do all these stories have to do with us? 

 God Is the Same Yesterday, today and tomorrow

“God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Numbers 23:19 NKJV

Furthermore,

God is Absolutely Marvelous Yet Mystifying, there is none like HIM

 ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance ^[b]incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been ^[c]grieved by various trials, ⁷ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸ whom having not ^[d]seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. I Peter 1

• Therefore, though famine, pestilence or trials come, we have nothing to fear because we can trust Him.  Even though his ways are mystifying to us, we can rest in His promises.  He has always completed all that He has foretold and He isn’t about to stop being the absolutely marvelous, sovereign God who can calm our hearts and give us peace, joy and love today. 

Isaiah 55: (NKJV)

Seek the Lord while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
⁷ Let the ^[b]wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.

⁸ “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
⁹ “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

¹⁰ “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
¹¹ So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me ^[c]void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

¹² “For you shall go out with joy,
And be led out with peace;
The mountains and the hills
Shall break forth into singing before you,
And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
¹³ Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree,
And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree;
And it shall be to the Lord for a name,
For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

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One Way of Salvation and only One way, which is God and God Alone

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New English Translation (NET)

NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

What happens when you feel that you have done your very best.  Still the world collapses around you?  You have prayed night and day for your country, your family, your friends as you watch everything going up in flames.  All your labor you see as inconsequential.  So many miracles realized.  God’s glory displayed as never before.  You ran with excitement, knowing this would be the moment.  Surely, everything would be wonderful.  But alas, the thing you had most wanted does not happen. Not the way you thought it should.  Depression Overwhelms your heart.  Is there anyplace to turn where you can find hope?  Did you fail?  Was it your fault?

Elijah did as God commanded.  The Glory of God shown forth with brilliance as the sacrifice was lit with fire from God.  All the people and King Ahab witnessed this.  They had witnessed God’s power and resolve when the rain stopped for 3 years and six months.  And then returned as promised when Elijah prayed.  God used Elijah to show forth the Sovereignty of God and the powerlessness of the fake other gods they worshiped.  Their useless gods were symbols of their imaginations, fed by their own sinful desires and the wish to justify their depravity of spirit and life. 

As the rainstorm began, Elijah ran alongside the Kings Chariot. Can you imagine His heart beating with glee?  After all this, surely a revival would break out.  All the evil priests were dead.  God was fully vindicated.  Certainly, they would all turn from their sins to follow God.  The King and Israel would be saved at last.

But instead, Queen Jezebel threatened Elijah’s life.  He ran in fear.   Sorrow gripped his heart.  Elijah cast aside his shield of faith, as depression shot its darts deep within his heart. 

When Depression Overwhelms Your Heart

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, including a detailed account of how he killed all the prophets with the sword. ² Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah with this warning,^[a] “May the gods judge me severely^[b] if by this time tomorrow I do not take your life as you did theirs!”^{[c] 3} Elijah was afraid,^[d] so he got up and fled for his life to Beer Sheba in Judah. He left his servant there, ⁴ while he went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He went and sat down under a shrub^[e] and asked the Lord to take his life:^[f] “I’ve had enough! Now, O Lord, take my life. After all, I’m no better than my ancestors.”  I Kings 19 (NET). 

Notice: he plead for God to take his life because he saw himself to be “no better than those who had rejected God.”  This was the first time we are told he went anywhere without it being by God’s direct command.  Yet here he was in the depths of depression.  Did he see his own sin of either pride, fear, or faithlessness? Did he believe the lack of revival was because of hidden sin in his own life?

What About Us When Depression Overwhelms?

How easily one falls after some amazing miracle.  High from the “glory” we cast aside our shield of faith. Heart wide open to Satan’s arrows we take a hit.  Then depression overwhelms and we withdraw to a place of solitude.  Why is that?  Does pride seep in from all the victories?  Or fear driving us away, when just for a second, we do not hear God’s voice directing us? It is that way, when faith fades and fears rise within us, we cannot hear God’s clear voice.  Even if this is only for a split second in time, we run away.

There Is A Time When Running Stops

There is only so far one can run before it becomes necessary to stop for a while.  

⁵ (Elijah) stretched out^[h] and fell asleep under the shrub. I King 19

 Point 1 When Depression overwhelms your heart—take time for rest and nourishment.

The Kindness of God Brings Hope and Rest

Suddenly an angelic messenger^[i] touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” ⁶ He looked and right there by his head was a cake baking on hot coals and a jug of water. He ate and drank and then slept some more.^{[j] 7} The angel of the Lord came back again, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, for otherwise you won’t be able to make the journey.”^{[k] 8} So he got up and ate and drank. That meal gave him the strength to travel forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.  I Kings 19 (NET)

Notice, God did not rebuke him for his fear.  Instead, God sent an angel to feed him and to watch over him.  God realized that he was tired and needed nourishment and rest before he would be ready to go on.  Then he traveled for forty days and forty nights.  Some believe this was symbolic of the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the desert near Horeb because of their disobedience.  However, I rather see it as God’s grace presenting a picture of Christ who would go for forty days and forty nights in the desert without food or drink while being tempted by Satan.  Do note the one meal gave him “the strength to travel forty days and forty nights to reach the mountain of God.” 

Also of note, where did Elijah head?  To the mountain of God to seek refuge there.  God has not yet spoken to him.  His despair is real still; but he is seeking to find God’s voice again. 

So, point 2 when Depression overwhelms your heart—seek God with all your being.  Go to a place you know He is present.

God Speaks  to His servant

⁹ He went into a cave there and spent the night. Suddenly the Lord’s message came to him, “Why are you here, Elijah?” ¹⁰ He answered, “I have been absolutely loyal^[l] to the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies,^[m] even though the Israelites have abandoned the covenant they made with you,^[n] torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.”^[o]

Notice: “I Alone Am LEFT”—Wow!  Have you ever felt that way?  It is a deeply lonely place to be when Depression overwhelms your heart.  I wish I could say, I have never been there.  But I have too often and usually after I have majorly failed God.  Caught in my own self’s pity party.  It is good to know that God responded with such grace.  He did begin first with a command that was not even adhered to. 

¹¹ The Lord^[p] said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord. Look, the Lord is ready to pass by.”  I Kings 19.

He did not go at first.  Was he ashamed or afraid or still just depressed?

A very powerful wind went before the Lord, digging into the mountain and causing landslides,^[q] but the Lord was not in the wind. After the windstorm there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.  ¹² After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.  After the fire, there was a soft whisper.^[r]

Point #3: When Depression Overwhelms Your Heart:  Do not get distracted by all the chaos around you—Remember God is on your side.

If God is for us, who can be^[i] against us? Romans 8:31

The Gentleness of God

 Psalm 103 (NKJV)

As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
¹⁴ For He ^[a]knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.

¹⁵ As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
¹⁶ For the wind passes over it, and it is ^[b]gone,
And its place remembers it no more.
¹⁷ But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,

And so, it was for Elijah.  When he heard God’s whisper, he remembered His grace.

After the fire, there was a soft whisper.^{[r] 13} When Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his robe and went out and stood at the entrance to the cave. Suddenly^[s] a voice asked him, “Why are you here, Elijah?” ¹⁴ He answered, “I have been absolutely loyal^[t] to the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies,^[u] even though the Israelites have abandoned the covenant they made with you, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.”^[v]

Point #4:  When Depression Overwhelms You—be honest with yourself and with God.  He knows what you are thinking anyway, so just say it out loud so you can hear it yourself.

God Recommissions His Prophet to a New Area

¹⁵ The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came and then head for the wilderness of Damascus. Go and anoint Hazael king over Syria. ¹⁶ You must anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to take your place as prophet. ¹⁷ Jehu will kill anyone who escapes Hazael’s sword, and Elisha will kill anyone who escapes Jehu’s sword. ¹⁸ I still have left in Israel 7,000 followers who have not bowed their knees to Baal or kissed the images of him.”^[w]

New commission, you will go out and anoint the King of Syria (the one who will attack Israel).  It was Hazael who fought against Israel and Judah, taking possession of all of Israel east of the Jordan.  Although he does not take over as King until well after Elijah’s death; yet, he was anointed to become King against a lot of odds.  But God always accomplishes what He determines to do. 

Furthermore, God told Elijah that he was not alone.  He was to train his predecessor and there were 7000 Israelite who were faithful to God.

Point #5:  When Depression Overwhelms Your Heart:  God loves you so much He will not leave you here one second beyond the last task He has for you to do on this earth. 

God Takes Elijah Home

There were some other missions that Elijah carried out including his foretelling of Ahab’s death and the death of Ahab’s son as well.  Then God called him home. 

Ahab knew it was nearing time as God ordered him to Gilgal, to Jericho and then to Jordan.  Each step of this journey, he told Elisha to stay behind.  But Elisha refused to leave his side.  At each stop they spoke with other Godly prophets who also told Elisha, God is going to take your master home soon.  Then they came to the Jordan.  Elijah dipped his rod in and the waters parted just as they had for the Moses long before.  He walked across with Elisha at his side (since Elisha refused to leave him).

⁹ When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” ¹⁰ And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” ¹¹ And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. ¹² And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more.

Point #6: When Depression Overwhelms Your Heart:  God has gone to prepare a place for you and I where we will live forever with Him.  Just a little while longer and we will see His face.

POINT #7:  When Depression Overwhelms Your Heart:

Never ever forget! This life regardless of how long you may live is but a blink of the eye compared to eternity.

⁷ But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power^[o] belongs to God and does not come from us. ⁸ We are experiencing trouble on every side,^[p] but are not crushed; we are perplexed,^[q] but not driven to despair; ⁹ we are persecuted, but not abandoned;^[r] we are knocked down,^[s] but not destroyed, ¹⁰ always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus,^[t] so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible^[u] in our body. ^... ¹⁴ We do so^[ab] because we know that the one who raised up Jesus^[ac] will also raise us up with Jesus and will bring us with you into his presence.

¹⁵ For all these things are for your sake, so that the grace that is including^[ad] more and more people may cause thanksgiving to increase^[ae] to the glory of God. ¹⁶ Therefore we do not despair,^[af] but even if our physical body^[ag] is wearing away, our inner person^[ah] is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our momentary, light suffering^[ai] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison ¹⁸ because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.  (2Corinthians 4) NET

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

PREVIOUS

How to Really Experience a Faith Evidencing Truth Beyond Sight

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New English Translation (NET)

NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

        Now faith is the ^[a]substance of things hoped for, the ^[b]evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV).  Faith is believing beyond what our human eyes can see.  Substance is defined as “the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists and which has a tangible, solid presence.”[1] Therefore faith is the solid, tangible reality of our greatest hopes.  It is there that we see beyond our human eyes and ears to recognize the truth of God. His truth rises within our hearts and minds presenting inexpressible joy.  That undeniable exuberance of joy, however fleeting it may be, points us to a faith evidencing truth beyond sight.  How else could it be possible to experience love that lifts us higher than can be imagined. Or joy that goes beyond our imagination with the simplest of pleasures. 

        It is precisely that kind of faith Elijah experienced.  He was a simple man of whom we are given little introduction.  We first hear of him in I Kings 17: 1 KJV

And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”

That is it.  We are not given a genealogy.  He most likely was either from the tribe of Manasseh or Gad.  Still, he was God’s chosen man who remains a part of the future prophecies as well.  He it is that stood with Jesus and Moses on the mount of transfiguration in Luke 9.  So, what was it about this simple prophet’s faith evidencing truth beyond sight that we may learn from.

Elijah Boldly Speaks to the King

        We begin with Elijah telling King Ahab that a severe drought was coming, and God had placed Elijah in charge of pronouncing it’s beginning and it’s end.  Although this came as direct judgment from God on the sins of Israel, one can imagine how King Ahab took this.  King Ahab is known as being one if not the most evil King of Israel. 

³⁰ Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the sight of^[ag] the Lord than all who were before him. ³¹ As if following in the sinful footsteps of Jeroboam son of Nebat were not bad enough, he married Jezebel the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians. Then he worshiped and bowed to Baal.^{[ah] 32} He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal he had built in Samaria. ³³ Ahab also made an Asherah pole; he^[ai] did more to anger the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him. I Kings 16: (NET)

Deuteronomy 16:KJV  ²¹ Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the Lord thy God, which thou shalt make thee.²² Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the Lord thy God hateth.

In direct disobedience to God’s commands in the law

¹¹ “Obey^[w] what I am commanding you this day. I am going to drive out^[x] before you the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. ¹² Be careful not to make^[y] a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it become a snare^[z] among you. ¹³ Rather you must destroy their altars, smash their images, and cut down their Asherah poles.^{[aa] 14} For you must not worship^[ab] any other god,^[ac] for the Lord, whose name^[ad] is Jealous, is a jealous God.

¹⁵ Be careful^[ae] not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for when^[af] they prostitute themselves^[ag] to their gods and sacrifice to their gods, and someone invites you,^[ah] you will eat from his sacrifice; ¹⁶ and you then take^[ai] his daughters for your sons, and when his daughters prostitute themselves to their gods, they will make your sons prostitute themselves to their gods as well. ¹⁷ You must not make yourselves molten gods.  Exodus 34: (NET)

God had even given them the why for this. Take no prisoners, for they may defile you.    There are times we too must be very careful.  We cannot believe that in the name of Christ we must go forth and compromise with the truth just to get along. 

Psalm 1: (NKJV)

Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ^[a^]ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
² But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he ^[b^]meditates day and night.
³ He shall be like a tree
Planted by the ^[c^]rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

⁴ The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
⁵ Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

⁶ For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Who Was Baal?

Baal was the god of Fertility who also controlled the weather, particularly rain and rainstorms.  He was the one whom the people presented their babies to be burned as sacrifice.

A Faith Evidencing Truth Beyond Sight from the Beginning

Now back to Elijah.  It was into this backdrop that God sent Elijah.  Remember all the Levite priests had gone south to Judah.  The true believers had departed to the caves.  Yet God asks Elijah to go and tell Ahab it will not rain, nor dew until I say so, thus saith the Lord God Almighty.  No wonder God then immediately told him to leave.

² And the word of the Lord came to him, saying, ³ “Go from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan [River]. ⁴ You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to sustain you there [with food].” ⁵ So he went and did in accordance with the word of the Lord; he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. ⁶ And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he would drink from the brook. ⁷ It happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land. I Kings 17

Sometimes God tells us to stand and sometimes He tells us to go. 

Elijah listened well to God’s instructions. 

⁷ And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.⁸ Then the word of the Lord came to him, ⁹ “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” ¹⁰ So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” ¹¹ And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” I Kings 1:17 (ESV).

James said,

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 land for three years and six months. James 5:17 (NKJV)

As we examine his faith, perhaps it is comforting to know he was a man with a nature like ours.  He had his moments of doubt; yet, in spite of them he did whatever God instructed him to.  It was God teaching him how to experience Faith evidencing truth beyond sight. 

Sharing His Faith with Another

¹² And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.”

¹³ And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. ¹⁴ For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” ¹⁵ And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. ¹⁶ The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.

When Faith Is Shaken

Then the widow’s son died.  Such heartbreak! Had she not listened and obeyed God’s words through the prophet?  Then why?  Well for Elijah it was another step of faith required to prepare him for the next step of the journey.  He took the child upstairs into a room where he prayed earnestly.  Three times he pleaded with God.  He did not waiver when it appeared that God was not answering.  Instead, he continued constant in prayer.  The boy’s life returned.  Both the widow and Elijah were strengthened in a faith evidencing truth beyond sight.  Sight said, the boy is dead.  Truth was God had not spoken yet. 

Then, God told Elijah to go confront Ahab.  Now remember there has been a drought and famine throughout the land.  King Ahab had been searching for him to kill him.  But now Elijah with God on his side went to see King Ahab

¹⁷ When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” ¹⁸ And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals. ¹⁹ Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” I Kings 18 (ESV)

A Hope in That Which Is Not Real

So, he did.  Everyone gathered at Mount Carmel where Elijah and God were about to have a throw down with all these false prophets.  The stage was set.  God against Baal.  As a gentleman, Elijah let the 850 false prophets go first.  The challenge was whose God could burn the sacrifice and therefore had the power to restore the rain. 

They went first.  The calf was cut to pieces and laid on the altar.  All they had to do was to call out to Baal to light the fire. 

²⁶ And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. ²⁷ And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” ²⁸ And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. ²⁹ And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered, no one paid attention. 

And so, it is when we humans trust in false idols, trusting them to be our hope.

Faith Evidencing Truth Beyond Sight

Then it was Elijah’s turn.  Now the people who were watching were the Israelites.  He instructed them to pour water on the sacrifice Elijah prepared and the wooden altar.  Not just once but twice, he instructed them to cover it with water.  Additionally, he built a trough around the altar and filled it with water.  Now water was a scarcity, but the crowd had waited all day to see a miracle.  They did as told and poured drenched the sacrifice and the wood.  I guess in a sense this too was an act of faith if not one of desperation.   

³⁶ And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. ³⁷ Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” ³⁸ 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. ³⁹ And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.” I Kings 18

And the false prophets?

⁴⁰ And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape!” So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon and executed them there.  I Kings 18 (NKJV)

Perseverance in prayer.

Elijah had no doubt that God would answer and restore the rain to the land; but again, had to have a faith evidencing truth beyond sight.

⁴¹ Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” ⁴² So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, ⁴³ and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.”

So he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.”

⁴⁴ Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ^[j]‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”

⁴⁵ Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain.  So, Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. ⁴⁶ Then the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah; and he girded^[k] up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.  I Kings 18:

Concluding thoughts:

Faith evidencing truth beyond sight comes from trusting in a Sovereign God who rules with righteousness, justice, sprinkled with mercy and love.  God had shown His Glory, and Elijah trusted him.  Although as we see next week.  Even the greatest of believers can at moments fall into moments of despair. 

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[3] https://truthingrace.com/2009/02/16/baal-worship-then-and-now/

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

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How To Cross the Finish Line with Glory When Broken?

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New English Translation (NET)

NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

        Last week we compared the leadership of Jeroboam and Rehoboam.  One humbled himself before God and the other did not.  Because Rehoboam listened to God, Judah lived in peace and prosperity.  That is for the most part of his reign.  But as is the case with us humans, when surrounded by earthly prosperity, we become complacent.  Why is that?  Why do we forget the very one who has provided our peace?  Well, it did happen to Rehoboam as well.  So how can we cross the finish line with Glory even though we are so broken?

When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him. ² In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, because they had been unfaithful to the Lord, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem ³ with 1,200 chariots and 60,000 horsemen. And the people were without number who came with him from Egypt—Libyans, Sukkiim, and Ethiopians. 2 Chronicles 12: 1-3 (ESV)

So, despite having started so well, Rehoboam at one point abandoned God.  Was that the end?  What about us?  How often do we get distracted and turn away from God? 

Example of Faith to Cross the Finish Line with Glory

Martin Luther had written his thesis.  The Catholic church of his day wanted him dead, destroyed.   Yet he said, “I am more afraid of my own heart than of the pope and all his cardinals. I have within me the great pope, Self.”[1]

The same is true of me.  Their deep within my heart lies a rebellious self-absorbed heart screaming out desires, demands, and anger at times.  That deep broken part that cannot love anything so much as my own pitiful wants which do not even then satisfy.  But such are we.  Broken and somewhat pitiful.  But what about God’s response?

2 Chronicles 12:5-8 (ESV)

⁵ Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and to the princes of Judah, who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Thus says the Lord, ‘You abandoned me, so I have abandoned you to the hand of Shishak.’” ⁶ Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is righteous.” ⁷ When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah: “They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. ⁸ Nevertheless, they shall be servants to him, that they may know my service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.”

A bittersweet ending note was that right before the recording of his death, God’s words read.

“¹⁴ And he did evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 12:14

Have you set your heart to seek the Lord?  Firmly fixing your eyes on God, the author and finisher of your faith.  Well Rehoboam’s life example most likely affected his son to follow him: because we read.

To Cross the Finish line with Glory or not?

Abijam began to reign over Judah. ² He reigned for three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. ³ And he walked in all the sins that his father did before him, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father. ⁴ Nevertheless, for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, setting up his son after him, and establishing Jerusalem, ⁵ because David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.  1 Kings 15: 1-5.

But then, despite his not following after God, his son Asa did.  Men of true faith interweave throughout all of history.  Thereby fulfilling God’s ultimate purpose of salvation for all who would seek Him. 

Finding the Strength to Do What is Right

⁹ In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa began to reign over Judah, ¹⁰ and he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. ¹¹ And Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as David his father had done. ¹² He put away the male cult prostitutes out of the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.

¹³ He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother because she had made an abominable image for Asherah. And Asa cut down her image and burned it at the brook Kidron. ¹⁴ But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true to the Lord all his days. ¹⁵ And he brought into the house of the Lord the sacred gifts of his father and his own sacred gifts, silver, and gold, and vessels.

Faith stood Strong

When King Asa kept his eyes on God and sought him with all his heart, his faith stood strong as exampled below. 

Asa had an army of 300,000 from Judah, armed with large shields and spears, and 280,000 men from Benjamin that carried shields and drew bows. All these were mighty men of valor.⁹ Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and came as far as Mareshah. ¹⁰ And Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up their lines of battle in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

¹¹ And Asa cried to the Lord his God, “O Lord, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O Lord, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.” ¹² So the Lord defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.  2 Chronicles 14:8-12

Then God spoke a warning:

“Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The Lord is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. ³ For a long time Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest and without law, ⁴ but when in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them.

⁵ In those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for great disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands. ⁶ They were broken in pieces. Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with every sort of distress. ⁷ But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.” 2 Chronicles 15:1-7

As soon as he heard these words, King Asa busily worked and labored for the Lord.  He broke down the idols.  Restoring the altar and sacrifice to its rightful place, he brought revival throughout the land.  Then he too became complacent with time.  He had done so well but did not finish the job he began.  Altars remained in the high places to idols which he never got around to.  Don’t we do the same thing?  We think we have done so well, but we stop short.  The report card would read incomplete. 

Did King Asa Cross the Finish Line with Glory?

Unfortunately, no.  The next time a conflict arose, he looked for outside help rather than for God.  He went and made a treaty with Syria, giving them gold so they would go against Israel.  The faith that had gained him victory before was soon forgotten. Then God sent a seer to tell him he was wrong.

“Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you. ⁸ Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the Lord, he gave them into your hand. ⁹ For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless^[b^] toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.” ¹⁰ Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in the stocks in prison, for he was in a rage with him because of this. And Asa inflicted cruelties upon some of the people at the same time.

¹¹ The acts of Asa, from first to last, are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. ¹² In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet, and his disease became severe. Yet even in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but sought help from physicians.

Don’t we do the same?  We get angry at the ones who point out we have done wrong instead of looking within at our own sin.  So what are the lessons here and how can we possibly cross the finish line with glory?

7 steps to cross the finish line with Glory

1.  Get and remain serious about scriptures.  Satan knows this is our only offensive weapon against him and he will try everything to keep you out of the word
2. Be serious as to what will be your legacy.  Will it be for Christ or something else. 
3. Kept fighting until the end.  Don’t drop down after the first punch and cry out in defeat. 
4. Press toward the mark of the prize of God
5. Keep the faith, recall everything he has done for you
6.  Focus on the Finish line
7. Spend time alone with God.  Even Jesus when on this earth withdrew to pray.

CONCLUDING THOUGHT

We serve a God of completion.  He finishes what He begins.  Even as Christ upon the cross stated, “Tetelestai” (It is finished).  He has won the victory and now we can know beyond a shadow of doubt that He will carry us across that finish line with Glory.  His glory.

---

[1] https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/martin_luther_151430

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

PREVIOUS

How To Remain Faithful and Finish Well in a Crazy World

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New English Translation (NET)

NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com