Pastor Ben’s Ponderings

From The Desk Of Pastor jBen

“Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the 450 prophets of Baal, and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
(1 Kings 18:19)

The day after success can be dangerous. We’ve all heard the stories. The gifted high school quarterback is signed by the college of his dreams, only to be killed in a car wreck while celebrating and driving drunk. The prolific young musician gets the recording contract but then buckles under the pressure of sudden fame. The faithful worker is given the prestigious gold watch and retires, only to discover he is hopelessly bored and feels suddenly old.

In 1 Kings 18, Elijah faces a skeptical audience in a showdown with the 450 prophets of Baal. It’s the biblical pageantry that great theater thrives on: the bad guys cutting themselves, dancing frantically, and calling out to their gods in vain versus the lone Elijah, soaking the sacrifice, filling the trenches with water and calling on the name of the One, true, living God. Miraculously, the God who answers by fire consumes Elijah’s sacrifice completely and the scene climaxes with the skeptics confessing the God of Abraham as their God and Elijah slaughtering all 450 false prophets. Talk about impressive!

Sadly, the next day in 1 Kings 19, Elijah learns that one woman, Jezebel, is threatening his life, so he runs away into the wilderness, crawls under a tree, throws himself a major pity-party and begs God to kill him. He is so exhausted and disillusioned, he actually believes he is the only one left on the planet serving God. Bless his heart.

What is so remarkable is the grace-filled process of restoration the Father lovingly administers to His burned-out prophet. God sends angels to feed Elijah with sustaining supernatural bread and water. He cradles the prophet under the shadow of His wings with rejuvenating rest and restores Elijah’s ability to hear the still small voice of the Lord.

Isn’t it comforting to know whether we are celebrating on the mountain or hiding in caves of depression, we have a Father who loves us and understands all our faults and frailties — both the shame of defeat and the pompous pride of victory?

Is it just my imagination, or does Jezebel still threaten us with her fearful lies? Maybe the next time we slay a dragon or two, let’s go home, say a prayer of thanksgiving to the true Champion, make a sandwich, and take a nap!