Sadly, we are all aware that confrontations are fraught with negative outcomes. Elijah had this experience with Ahab. As a lesser confronting a greater, Elijah fearlessly confronted Ahab because he was clear that God had called him to the task. Fortified by fervent prayer (James 5:17), Elijah declared to Ahab that it would no longer rain in Israel until he gave the word. The institutional worship of Baal that Jezebel abetted and Ahab condoned was to be exposed. Baal’s supposed power over the weather was shown be be a sham and the LORD was to be owned as the true God. We know the end of the story – Elijah didn’t. For all he knew at the beginning, he was the only one left true to God, and the ultimate outcome was never guaranteed.
Initial Outcomes
Immediately following the declaration of drought, God sent Elijah into hiding. The threat of retribution from Ahab was real. Alone by the brook, God provided for Elijah’s needs supernaturally until the lack of rain dried up the brook. From here Elijah is exiled from Canaan where God meets both his needs and the needs of a widow and her son by the exercise of her faith. Three years after the rain stopped, Elijah is sent back to Ahab where he learns that there is indeed a price on his head. What do we learn so far? When do we assess the success of a confrontation? From Elijah’s perspective, all he had managed to do so far was alienate himself from the nation at large, send everyone into famine, and earn the king’s wrath. His life was that of a fugitive. Was making a ruckus over Baal worship worthy of this outcome? It wouldn’t have been apart from the Lord’s leading. But Elijah was clear on that, and the sustenance he received on the run confirmed it.
Ahab’s Assessment
Upon presenting himself before Ahab the second time, Elijah is accused of being the troubler of Israel (1 Kings 17:17). Ahab attributes all of his present difficulties to Elijah’s pronouncement. In effect, he believes that if Elijah had stayed in Tishbe, and minded his own business, life would still be grand. This is classic bully manipulation. Be wary of this behaviour. Many local churches live with uneasy compromises because the prevailing ethos is that if you confront the bully, it will go poorly for you. Ahab has recast the situation as if he is the victim and Elijah is the aggressor. Ahab cannot conceive of how he is guilty of the treatment that he is receiving – as if Elijah actually was the one controlling the rain anyway! Elijah rejects this charge and clearly outlines the charges against Ahab and his dynasty. They have abandoned God and the proof is at his table (v.19).
Whose Side?
Elijah demands a corporate showdown. All Israel is to be gathered to Carmel. The 400 prophets of Baal and 450 of Asherah (interestingly, these don’t show up) are to be present as well. The question of who is the true God is to be decided once and for all. The God who answers by engulfing the sacrifice in flame would be understood by all to be the true God. This was a true test. Baal, the storm god, would be expected to respond with lightning. But was this confrontation merely between Elijah and Ahab? No, this was a test of the hearts of the nation, of whom Ahab was merely the leader. The people may have been content to watch the struggle between the prophet and the king as so-called third party observers, but they are called by Elijah to make a decision. This wasn’t about Elijah versus Ahab. This was about the Lord versus Baal. Jesus makes a similar point to the nation in Matthew 12. It wasn’t Jesus versus the Pharisees, it was light versus darkness. He said, “whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (Matthew 12:30). Sometimes, when a person in leadership is confronted, it is the people who are actually in the balance. In difficult situations we may want to plead neutrality, but in the things of God there are only two sides – the Lord’s or Baal’s.
Ultimate Outcome
Baal is shown to be a farce. Elijah taunts him for being missing in action (not just that day but for 3.5 years at this point!). The Lord is shown to be the true God as he answers with fire according to the word of Elijah. The people slaughter the prophets of Baal. Elijah prays for the return of rain and the true God of the weather responds to his servant with a “great rain” (v.45). Both the Lord and Elijah are vindicated even though it would seem that Ahab’s appreciation for the Lord going forward is halfhearted at best.
Elijah’s expectations for the final outcome do not seem to be met. Jezebel’s intransigence and murderous intent send him into a real tailspin. The expectation he had was for a wholesale return to the Lord, not just a verbal acknowledgement of the Lord as true over Baal. It would seem that at this point (chapter 19), he would agree with Ahab’s assessment that it would have been better to just keep his mouth shut and live quietly in Tishbe. But there was a litany of lessons to learn from the confrontation – and not all were for Ahab and the nation. Elijah needed to learn that what mattered above all was his faithfulness to the Lord, and that the Lord always has his faithful remnant who own Him. Even though the outcome was less than he deemed ideal, the outcome was independent of Elijah. Elijah needed to be satisfied with God’s approval and presence rather than what he conceived to be the best outcome. So it is with us. We are often too quick to declare the story over. God’s ultimate judgement on Ahab was put into action by Elijah, but it didn’t happen for several more years. We need to learn the same lessons of faithfulness in spite of outcomes, of satisfaction with God’s presence alone, and of dependence on Him for ultimate vindication, even if it doesn’t happen in our lifetime.
“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).
