TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word. 1 Kings 17:1
Read: 1 Kings 17:1
Listen: 1 Kings 17:1
TODAY’S MESSAGE
If it was Elijah’s goal to get Ahab’s attention—he succeeded. Elijah’s statement to the Israelite king placed the prophet in a direct confrontation both with Baal (the supposed god of the rain) and the king. Rain was essential to the Israelite economy which heavily depended on agriculture. Needing to water their crops, they would pray to Baal to provide the rain. No rain, no crops. No crops, no economy. The last thing Israel’s farmers needed was a drought. Yet that’s precisely what they got.
God had warned them. In Leviticus 26:18-20 and Deuteronomy 11:16-17, God tells his people that he would “turn off the tap” if they pursued other gods. When Israel followed Ahab’s lead into Baal worship, God kept his word. Drought exposed their reliance.
It’s easy for us to look for ultimate purpose, value and security in something (or someone) other than God. A “drought” can expose our reliance as well. At the very least, it gets our attention to do some significant “heart work” about where we place our significance.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Reflect on where you find significance. Write “Purpose, Value and Meaning” at the top of your journal page or in your mobile device. Write down everything you can think of from which you draw these things. Then rank them. Use this list as your first step if you need to restructure your heart. Like Israel, you may find you’ve drifted and need to turn back to God.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
