I have to admit I'm forgetful. When life's challenges come
knocking on my door, I get distracted. As I focus on the difficulties, my mind
can't seem to recall the many ways I've been blessed.
Remember the prophet Elijah? He seemed to struggle with this
same malady. Elijah had stood boldly for the Lord as he confronted King Ahab
and the prophets of Baal. Humanly speaking, the odds were stacked against Elijah:
850 false prophets in opposition to 1 prophet of God. He asked a simple
question of the crowd, "How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord
be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him," (1 Kings 18:21; KJV). The
response? Silence.
In order to prove that Jehovah was the true God, Elijah
suggested a contest. Both Elijah and the prophets of Baal would prepare a
bullock to sacrifice. Elijah's instructions were straightforward, "And call
on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God
that answereth by fire, let him be God," (1 Kings 18:24).
Although the false prophets called out to Baal for hours, leaped
up on the altar they had built, and followed their tradition of ceremonial cutting
to illicit his response - none came. It was now Elijah's turn to call on the
Lord. After repairing the altar of the Lord and preparing the evening sacrifice,
Elijah had barrels of water poured over everything before calling on his God.
God answered in a miraculous way, "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," (1 Kings
18:38). Now the people were convinced that the God of Elijah was the true God,
and they didn't hesitate to act on Elijah's command to kill the false prophets.
The Lord had provided Elijah with a great victory.
But a valley often follows the mountaintop experience, and
it was no different in Elijah's case. When King Ahab's wife found out that
Elijah had slain the prophets of Baal and the prophets of the groves, she was
determined to kill him.
This mighty prophet of the Lord, who had just witnessed a
miracle of God, fled for his life. He got distracted by a threat from the evil
queen and temporarily forgot God's amazing past provisions. Elijah was convinced
he was the only prophet of God left, and he was ready to give up in complete
defeat. When the Lord questioned him, the depth of Elijah's despair is evident,
"I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of
Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy
prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to
take it away,"(1 Kings 19:10).
Even this great man of God, had times of forgetfulness. God encouraged
Elijah and told him there were still 7000 faithful prophets in Israel. With a
renewed focus, Elijah returned to the work of God.
Do you struggle to remember God's goodness when difficulties
surround you? What step will you take to recall His blessings today?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your patience with
me. I often forget Your goodness when I'm plagued by difficulties. Thank You
for the story of Elijah. Help me to focus on who You are, and Your many
blessings, as I read Your Word today. In Jesus' name, Amen.
