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Prophets Dream Differently |
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O LORD, . . . I am not better than my fathers.
I Kings 19:4
I am convinced that it was not the queen, which disturbed Elijah's dream, so much as simple discouragement; like a mouse spooking an elephant—seeming to place everything on hold, after his victory, on Mt. Carmel. More than a personal dream, his was a hope birthed many years earlier, by an unnamed (and less experienced) prophet, from Judah:
Of an early awakening, in the land.
It was through this unnamed pioneer: a dreamer, who had dared to believe in God—that a basic ground rule had been lain down, which no "troubleshooting prophet," would ever forget: ever . . .and yet, Elijah wanted to be more than a "trouble shooter" (pointing out, problems). He wanted to be part of the solution, as well.
Was he, or would he, ever?
Elijah lived in the northern section of Israel, and among people of enticing religious persuasions (in Ephraim) where the temptations and pitfalls—were very much like those of our day.
Ephraim, was that proud and powerful, segment of Israel, which had separated from Judah, soon after the golden age, when king Solomon had reigned. Upon separation, one of their very first decisions, had been to establish an idolatrous priestcraft. It was a political move, and made quite a bit of sense (humanly speaking) for the real temple was in Jerusalem, on the other side of the fence (other half of Israel) and the king was quite naturally concerned about his subjects revolting (or dethroning him) if reminded of earlier worship, in Jerusalem, under another king.
Nor was this "new religion" very difficult to establish. The bases for their idolatry lay rooted in a superstitious home brew, practiced by locals, in the tribe of Dan. Its sorry origins are described in great detail in the book of Judges, just after the story of Samson . . . and before an account of rampant homosexuality, coming out of the closet, in Benjamin's tribe, as it closes that section of the Record, where every man, "did what was right in his own eyes."
Within our day, at the close of the 20th century, we tend to think of idolatry as simplistic, and even stupid—and yet, fail to realize that its roots and practices are often deeply embedded in the persons, and society. It is often a family affair, and "the way people do things." It sounds "religious" and, most often, involves syncretism: merging the true worship of God, with the false, to create a mixture which will quiet the consciences of its adherents. In this sense, modern day Roman Catholicism characterizes Israel's attempt to merge the true with the pagan. My reasons for this conclusion are obvious: it has true Christian roots, but now makes use of icons (images) in her worship, along with an idolatrous means of remembering the Lord's death and resurrection, in the ceremony of the mass, which holds that Christ is physically present in the wafer that is being broken (called, transubstantiation). In this way the priest would re-sacrifice Christ afresh, every time this ceremony is practiced.
Such is a pagan, and idolatrous practice for, since Christ is God (John 1:1, Col. 1:15) and " being the brightness of [God's] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power,
when he had by himself purged our sins,
sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Hebrews 1:3
—It also follows naturally, that Christ only had to offer himself once, and for all, to purge the sins of humankind (as is stated, very clearly, in Hebrews 9:24-28). To even think to re-sacrifice our Lord in an on-going ceremony, week after week, is the height of presumption, to say the least.
The fact that, today, so many practicing Protestants (so named, for "protesting" such practices in the sixteenth & seventeenth century) no longer even whisper about such things, is an illustration of the very same compromise which the prophets in Elijah's day (and that of the unnamed prophet) had to deal with.
Compromise was (literally) killing them. In fact, this is exactly why the unnamed prophet, has remained unnamed—because, in the execution of his duties, he ran into another "prophet" who should have known better, but had chosen the soft and comfy route, over standing in the gap, with his own life. Such was an evil which would not be corrected for many years. . . .
"Come home and eat with me," the coach potato said to the man on fire for God. Not so, the prophet shot back,
I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place:
For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.
I Kings 13:16,17
"The word of the Lord," is the key phrase, here. This is an expression denoting direct contact with the living God. When a man entered into this kind of a relationship with the Lord, he was in a different class, from other persons: he'd tapped into the Power Line. He then had to be especially careful, about how he walked and talked, for he now stood in the very Presence of God, who "hath no pleasure in fools:" (Eccl. 5:4). I know, we don't normally quote such verses today. We live in the Billy Graham era, and of Christianity Lite, when everyone is (supposed to be) saved, who walks down to the altar, and little (or nothing) is expected of those who name the name of Christ, today. Forgive me this indulgence.
Yet, this prophet should have known better, even when the older prophet pulled rank on him, by stating that an angel had overridden the earlier command and told him to come on home, to eat (but he lied -I Kings 13:8).
Just for the record, nothing overrides the word of the Lord: not even an angel (Gal. 1:8). If someone (even the Pope-or those who belittle Christ, in any way) tells you to do something contrary to what you find in the Bible: when obeying their words, you put your very soul in peril.
As the young prophet, soon found out (after being slain by a lion, after the tasty meal)—compromise is costly. We have covered this issue, frequently, in the UPLOOK and will run on now, to examine just what it was that Elijah was after, when Jezebel had decided to put him on her, "Most Wanted," list.
"Take away my life, now," Elijah pleaded (paraphrasing), "this is enough! It takes too much power to turn these rebels around. I've done no better than those before me!" What was it, really, which Elijah had hoped for? Full revival? Perhaps, but I think he was aiming for a more realistic goal: the right to declare God's word in the public square, so that others who wanted to know the truth might have the opportunity to avail themselves of it. This, Jezebel, was unwilling to grant to him. Do notice Elijah's destination, after the contest with the prophets of Baal: it was the royal city of Jezreel (just north of Samaria, Israel's capital).
Remember, the contest had involved the control of the weather: Elijah had thrown down the gauntlet, and stated, "I, stand in the Presence of God, and declare that there will be no rain, nor dew, except I say so!" (paraphrase, I Kings 17:1)
And the rain stopped(!).
After three years of this, the country was desperate, and Elijah had confronted Jezebel's prophets on Mt. Carmel, with a contest of fire: the god who answers by fire (consuming the sacrifice) would be the winner. Interestingly, the prophets of Baal accepted the challenge, without a word of protest. There is good reason to believe that, through their enchantments, they actually hoped to have accomplished the feat.
Yet, that day, the devil's mischief, was put on hold by Heaven. Satan was not allowed to work any lying wonders, on that day. Baal's prophets received no assistance for all their valiant prayers, and self flagellation (cutting themselves, etc. so that blood ran out).
But Elijah did. In fact, he was so confident, in knowing that he was doing God's will, that he commanded for his sacrifice be doused with (precious) water three times: just so that no one could charge him with mischief, or say the fire's source, was man made.
That evening, at the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah asked the Lord to confirm his word, by sending the fire, so that the people would know that the Lord really had sent him. And then:
Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
I Kings 17:38
To his credit, when Jezebel scorned the whole event, and sought his head, Elijah didn't stay to "negotiate a settlement" but went deeply, into the wilderness, to intently seek God's face. In my own mind, this next feat (a forty day fasting trek, across the desert) is an illustration of just how far this prophet of fire, had come in his walk with the Lord. He was going back to the beginning, now, and back to the Source of his power:
Back to God.
What is God like? What's the most glorious aspect of his power? How does he like to deal with men (and women)? What is his greatest weapon: Hurricanes(?), or making the earth quake (I K 19:11a)? Is it a destroying fire (as when bombing your enemies into submission, in Europe)? No, those weapons are for lesser ones, those who think they are God. The Lord's preferred means of contact, is in the fellowship and the love conveyed, by "a still small voice," (I Kings 19:12), asking him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" (vs. 13).
Elijah's answer is telling. His whole life is wrapped up in the Lord. All of his eggs are in one basket: knowing and pleasing God. Yet now, he supposes, he is the only one left with this attitude. Only he, he imagines, is left to truly worship the one, true, God. You missed something, my brother—remember that still, small, voice? Do you think that you, alone, have discovered the secret of God's loving presence?
The Lord knows the answer, and He understands this very faithful child of his. With gentle care, he breaks the news to this battle weary soldier. First, a few special commands: to anoint the man who is to be the future king of Syria (Israel's enemy) and, of course, anoint Israel's future king and. . . anoint your own successor.
And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
vs 17
Hazeel, Jehu, and Elisha: two kings, and one prophet. That's what it would take to finish up the mess Jezebel had started. Yet, with all of this, Elijah is not to worry, for God's "judgment program" can run on "automatic" —if her mischief escapes one "policeman" she'll run into the next. Like a rat in a cage, her days were surely numbered.
"I am still on the throne," God was telling Elijah. Don't worry yourself about politics or the great big wheel of justice and, by the way, "Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him." (vs 19) As the apostle Paul would put it, the weakness of God, is yet stronger than men. God had used Elijah to encourage more persons than he'd even thought possible.
And what of Jezebel(?) and of Elijah's legacy (through Elisha, his understudy)?
Jezebel would learn her lesson well for, after the death of her husband, and son, it was obvious that she was spitting into the wind. In other words, after Elijah, Elisha was granted his mentor's dream, of living in peace, within Samaria.
Yes, it is true that many, like Jezebel, never can understand the heart of God. To them, the only thing which makes sense is brute force, as they are forced to bow, before him. But for those whom the Lord wishes to call his own, his original program has proceeded, on schedule. For the day did come, when he openly displayed his still small voice, to all, who would listen.
For, God would eventually put on flesh, and share his gentleness with men, in person. Can you imagine the Lord then sharing his own dream with Elijah, in that cave?
What a perilous mission! I can almost hear Elijah rising to protest, "Don't do it, Lord. They'll kill you!"
Yes, Elijah, they did. And then, Christ yet rose, again.
As will all who dare draw close to God's loving heart,
Forever.
Amen.
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