Elijah the Tishbite
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his astonishment, or frame a reply, Elijah disappeared as abruptly as
he had come, without waiting to witness the effect of his message.
And the Lord went before him,
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making plain the way. “Turn thee eastward,” the prophet was bidden,
“and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it
shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the
ravens to feed thee.”
The king made diligent inquiry, but the prophet was not to be
found. Queen Jezebel, angered over the message that had locked up the
treasures of heaven, lost no time in conferring with the priests of Baal,
who united with her in cursing the prophet and in defying the wrath of
Jehovah. But notwithstanding their desire to find him who had uttered
the word of woe, they were destined to meet with disappointment.
Nor could they conceal from others a knowledge of the judgment
pronounced in consequence of the prevailing apostasy. Tidings of
Elijah’s denunciation of the sins of Israel, and of his prophecy of swift-
coming punishment, quickly spread throughout the land. The fears of
some were aroused, but in general the heavenly message was received
with scorn and ridicule.
The prophet’s words went into immediate effect. Those who were
at first inclined to scoff at the thought of calamity, soon had occasion
for serious reflection; for after a few months the earth, unrefreshed
by dew or rain, became dry, and vegetation withered. As time passed,
streams that had never been known to fail began to decrease, and
brooks began to dry up. Yet the people were urged by their leaders to
have confidence in the power of Baal and to set aside as idle words
the prophecy of Elijah. The priests still insisted that it was through
the power of Baal that the showers of rain fell. Fear not the God of
Elijah, nor tremble at His word, they urged, it is Baal that brings forth
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the harvest in its season and provides for man and beast.
God’s message to Ahab gave Jezebel and her priests and all the
followers of Baal and Ashtoreth opportunity to test the power of their
gods, and, if possible, to prove the word of Elijah false. Against the
assurances of hundreds of idolatrous priests, the prophecy of Elijah
stood alone. If, notwithstanding the prophet’s declaration, Baal could
still give dew and rain, causing the streams to continue to flow and
vegetation to flourish, then let the king of Israel worship him and the
people say that he is god.