A FIRE FROM HEAVEN In the last chapter, Elijah was committed to flee and to work in secret. By the Brook of Cherith he was sustained by the ravens; and in Zarephath he lived in the upper room, where no one heard of his presence, of the blessing of the flour and oil; nor of raising the son of the widow from the dead. Now, as the time came for him to testify to God by a publicly seen heavenly fire, he got the divine command to present himself to king Ahab. 1- A divine call to Elijah to present himself to king Ahab 1 - 2 2- Elijah encounters Obadiah 3 - 16 3- Elijah encounters king Ahab 17 - 18 4- Elijah encounters the people 19 - 24 5- Elijah encounters the priests of Baal 25 - 29 6- Killing the priests of Baal 40 7- Elijah’s request for rain 41 – 46 1- A DIVINE CALL TO ELIJAH TO PRESENT HIMSELF TO KING AHAB: By the dwelling of draught upon Israel for the duration of three years and six months, God gave a chance to Ahab to return to Him in repentance, which he did not do, but he rather increased his violence, and accused Elijah of being “the troubler of Israel”. There was nothing before such an arrogant and stony heart, except to face a firm divine verdict; through a proclamation of His divine presence before the whole people by a fire that consumes the sacrifice; that would make the people return to God, and kill the priests of Baal, as a shadow of the eternal perdition that would dwell upon the arrogant apostate souls from faith. Hence was God’s call to Elijah to present himself to Ahab. https://coptic-treasures.com/ “Now it came to pass after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, ‘Go present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth’” (1) “In the third year”, does not mean from the start of the draught, but from Elijah’s encounter with the widow of Zarephath. In Luke 4: 25; and James 5: 17, it came that, in the days of Elijah, rain stopped for three and a half years; which indicates that Elijah spent a year by the Brook of Cherith; then two and a half years in Zarephath in the widow’s house; then encountered Ahab at the beginning of the third year. The call for Elijah to present himself to Ahab was to give the later another chance to repent, not through words, but through a bitter chastisement, by stirring up the people against the priests of Baal, to kill them; beside a strong touch of hope, when God sends rain on the face of the earth. “So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab; and there was a severe famine in Samaria” (2) Having got the divine command, Elijah departed at once to encounter Ahab, without discussing with the Lord how he could protect himself against that apostate king, and his blood-thirsty wife. He went and saw with his own eyes the extent of the famine that dwelt upon Israel during his absence away from the people. 2- ELIJAH ENCOUNTERS OBADIAH: “And Ahab had called Obadiah, who was in charge of his house (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly)” (3) https://coptic-treasures.com/ The extent of famine that dwelt upon the people because of the draught, seen by Elijah; revealed, as well, a more serious famine that dwelt upon their hearts and souls, having forsaken God and worshipped the Baal; whether through the seduction of sin and abominations, or through being deceived that Baal is the god of rain and fertility; or for fear of being killed by the priests of Baal. While the people were suffering a devastating hunger, the king must have imported wheat from Egypt for himself and the royal household, and to feed his horses and mules, for the sake of which he sought from Obadiah who was in charge of his house to partake of searching for sources of water in the valleys. For him, his animals were far more important than his people. As for the queen she was only preoccupied, even during famine, with killing the prophets of the Lord (13). The priests and the Levites, either fled to Judah (2 Chronicles 11: 13-14), to minister in the temple; or some of them were seduced by Jezebel to deflect to serve Baal for greater wages. The prophets of the Lord most probably, on an individual or family level, were secretly testifying to the Truth, seeking the return to God. Having had no place to hold public meetings, they resorted to secret work, lest if discovered by the queen, they would be killed. Amid such an ugly atmosphere: an angry nature, a selfish king, an idolworshipping, wicked, and blood-thirsty queen, apostate people, escapees priests and Levites; and helpless prophets, there were a very few individuals who remained faithful to the Lord; among whom was Obadiah, who was in charge of the king’s house, and feared the Lord (3. he hid a hundred prophet of the Lord in caves, and fed them with bread and water (13). https://coptic-treasures.com/ We should not marvel that the evil Ahab had chosen such a godly man to trust in his faithfulness to be in charge of his house; As in every generation there have been such faithful men, who feared the Lord, for God to use, even in the darkest atmospheres. Some Babylonian kings found no one as faithful as the captive Daniel, to appoint as a ruler over all the province of Babylon; the Pharaoh of Egypt found no one to rule over his household and country as Joseph; and Ahab found no one as faithful as Obadiah. No doubt, Obadiah’s soul suffered all the time, while watching how the wicked Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord; and how she plotted to draw all the people of Israel to idol-worship. He did not withdraw from his position as the man in charge of the royal house; but remained there, believing that he was committed by the Lord to carry out a certain divine mission. The Lord did not commit us to retreat from the wicked world. In His farewell prayer the Lord Christ said to the Father: “I do not pray that You should take them (His disciples) out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one” (John 17: 15). + As there was still a necessity to keep them in the world; although not to belong to it; hence the Lord adds the phrase, saying: “Because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (John 17: 14). https://coptic-treasures.com/ Although Obadiah did not talk to the king and the queen about the fear of the Lord, yet he did so through his faithfulness and his living spiritual behavior. Although he could not manage to change their hearts; yet he carried out an important task by hiding and sustaining a hundred of God’s prophets; and to be an intermediary for an encounter of Elijah with the king. The word ‘Obadiah’ means (the servant of Jehovah), like ‘Abdalla’ in the Arabic language. The king did not attempt to change his name to make it refer to Baal, and to Jehovah; the way the king of Babylon changed the names of Daniel and his three young companions. It so seems that Ahab, while submitting to the counsel of his wicked wife, and walking in her way, was not completely comfortable with her actions and behavior. and felt some remorse in the depth of his heart. He did not, therefore, commit his faithful servant to partake of his worship of Baal; and did not discuss it even with his wife, lest he would put him in danger. On another aspect, he probably felt the need for a faithful steward to support him. “For so it was, while Jezebel massacred the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah had taken one hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty to a cave, and had fed them with bread and water” (4) Why did Jezebel massacred and killed the prophets of the Lord? 1- She intended to shut up every mouth that utters the divine truth. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 2- Feeling the helplessness of her gods to bring the rain back to the earth, when Elijah had that authority, she intended to cover up that weakness by practicing her own authority to massacre and kill the prophets of the Lord. 3- Claiming publicly that they were the cause for the draught, they have to be killed to give pleasure to the gods, and to bring the rain back on earth. 4- Because Elijah slipped away from her hand, she avenged him by killing those prophets. Those prophets, most probably students in the school of prophets, kept and fed by Obadiah in two caves, were praying for the sake of the people. While many of the people had nothing to eat or water to drink because of the famine, God sustained them through Obadiah, who was in charge of the king’s house: And as the psalmist says: “Oh! How great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You; which You have prepared for those who trust in You, in the presence of the sons of men” (Psalm 31: 19); “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him” (Psalm 33: 18); “He has given food to those who fear Him; He will ever be mindful of His covenant” (Psalm 111: 5). + “God gives food to those who fear Him” Psalm 111: 5); food that would never get corrupted; “The bread that comes down from heaven” (John 6: 27, 51); He gives it, not because we are worthy; “For Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5: 6); No one gives such food, except the Merciful and the Compassionate Lord. “And Ahab had said to Obadiah, ‘Go into the land, to all the springs of water, and to all the brooks; perhaps we will find grass to keep the horses and mules alive, so that we will not have to kill any livestock’ . So they divided the land between them to explore it. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself. https://coptic-treasures.com/ Now, as Obadiah was on his way, suddenly Elijah met him, and he recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, ‘Is that you, my Lord Elijah?’. And he answered him, ‘It is I. go tell your master, Elijah is here’” (5-8) This encounter was not by chance, but by a divine ordinance. God who commanded Elijah to go and present himself to Ahab, is the One who sent Obadiah to encounter with Elijah; and opened up his eyes to recognize Elijah.. Obadiah who had shown compassion toward the prophets of the Lord, and fed them, Now, with the spirit of humble sonhood falls on his face before his spiritual father, the prophet Elijah. He called him “My Lord Elijah”, but Elijah who seeks neither titles nor honor, said to him: “Tell your master, ‘Elijah is here’ (8) “Then he said, ‘How have I sinned, that you are delivering your servant into the hand of Ahab to kill me?” (9) Knowing how extensively Ahab tried to search for Elijah, even in the surrounding nations; Perceiving that the king’s heart would never change, to return to the living God, and is not be worthy to encounter the prophet Elijah; And knowing that the Spirit of the Lord moves Elijah from one place to another; and may carry him away from that evil king to a far country; and the king would, therefore, surely kill him for not putting Elijah under arrest to bring him over to him, Obadiah begged to be relieved of that assignment, which would probably cost him his life. “As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to hunt for you; and when they said, ‘He is not here’, he took an oath from the kingdom or nation that they could not find you” (10) https://coptic-treasures.com/ Ahab very seriously searched for Elijah, not only within Israel, but in the surrounding nations; not to present repentance and to return to the Lord, but to apply pressure on him to seek the return of rain, to put an end to the famine. “And now you say, ‘Go, tell your master: Elijah is here’. And it shall come to pass, as soon as I have gone from you, that the Spirit of the Lord will carry you to a place I do not know; so when I go and tell Ahab, and he cannot find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant have feared the Lord from my youth. Was it not reported to my Lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, how I hid one hundred men of the lord’s prophets, fifty to a cave, and fed them with bread and water? And now you say, ‘ go, and tell your master: Elijah is here’; And he will kill me. Then Elijah said, ‘As the Lord of hosts live, before whom I stand, I will surely present myself to him today. So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah” (11-16) 3- ELIJAH ENCOUNTERS AHAB: Ahab sent Obadiah to search for water; And now Obadiah came back to tell him that he found Elijah, by whose prayer he carries the keys of heaven to stop the rain, or to let it fall. “Then it happened when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, ‘Is that you, O troubler of Israel?’ (17) And he answered, ‘I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandment of the Lord, and you have followed the Baals” (18) https://coptic-treasures.com/ Ahab did not stretch his hand toward the prophet, for fear of what happened to Jeroboam, when he stretched his hand toward the prophet, and it got paralyzed. Yet he accused him of being the troubler of Israel, to which Elijah courageously and strongly reversed it against the king and his father’s house. Elijah was not like Achan the son of Carmi (Joshua 7), the troubler of Israel, but it was Ahab and his father’s house who were. When Joshua proclaimed that Achan the son of Carmi was the troubler of Israel, “all Israel stoned him, and they burned them with fire” (Joshua 7: 25). Ahab wished he could do the same with Elijah, to have him stoned by the people, like Achan.. + Indeed, “The righteous is as bold as a lion” (Proverb 28: 1). Elijah stood before the king, as a lion stands before a bleeding unclean dog; although one of them was clothed in purple and the other was clothed in sheep skin. Which of the two was more honorable? The purple brought the famine forth, while the sheep skin granted relief from that calamity; divided the River Jordan, and let a double portion of Elijah’s spirit be upon Elisha. How great are the honors given to the saints! Not only their words, but even their modest attires are honored by all creation. The sheep skin of Elijah divided the river Jordan; The sandals of the three young men treaded upon the fire; The word of Elisha changed the nature of water, to let the iron tool float on its surface; The rod of Moses divided the Red Sea, and brought water forth from the rock; The garments of the apostle Paul healed the sick; The shadow of the apostle Peter raised from the dead; and The remains of the saints drive the unclean spirits away. https://coptic-treasures.com/ The saints do everything by authority. Elijah did not see in Ahab, a king with a crown or purple attire, but saw a soul clothed in filthy rags,. saw him a captive and a slave of his evil desires, and despised his authority; and saw him like someone playing the part of a king on stage, and not a genuine king … What would be the benefit of the outer riches when the inner poverty is great? … And what would be the harm of the outer poverty when the treasure of richness is inside? … The apostle Paul was a lion when he entered the prison; and when he raised his voice in prayer, the foundation of the prison was shaken. https://coptic-treasures.com/ “Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the 450 prophets of Baal, and the 400 prophets of Ashera, who eat at Jezebel’s table” (19) Mount Carmel: is a chain of flat plateaus on the top of a mountain, some of which are 1800 feet high above sea level; and extends 13 miles westward to the Mediterranean Sea, going steeply down close to the city of ‘Haifa’. There was an ancient broken down altar (30), probably going back to the time of the great patriarchs; and at the far North-West reaches of the Mount, there is a monastery of the Carmelites by the name of the prophet Elijah. The prophet Elijah chose that location on account of that the Canaanites believed that Mount Carmel is the dwelling place of gods. It is as though he intended to set the battle between the living God and the heathen gods at their stronghold; And on another aspect to give the arrogant queen the chance to watch the battle from her own palace in Jezreel. He, who cannot climb Mount Carmel, can watch from afar the fire come down from heaven; and all can see the cloud coming from the sea; Namely, no one can deceive the people in any way. On the highest point of Mount Carmel, on its eastern side, there is the ruins of the altar of burnt offering; a rocky plateau of 1635 feet elevation above sea level; with dense trees, that is wide enough to accommodate thousands of people to watch and follow that event. The king used to worship the Baal (the male god); with 450 prophet ministering to him; Whereas the queen used to worship Ashtoreth, for which she built ashera, with 400 prophets ministering to it. Those 450 prophets and priests were those who resided in the royal palace, out of all the prophets of Baal in Israel. https://coptic-treasures.com/ The priests of Baal were called prophets on account of that they claimed to prophesy and to know the future. “So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel” (20) By “all the children of Israel” he means the heads of the tribes and families , and the leaders of the people. Why did the king give his consent to Elijah’s request with no hesitation? On one aspect, the circumstances were very urgent, because of the severe famine that dwelt upon the country; And on another aspect, the king did not foresee what was to happen; but assumed that Elijah would only bless the land and pray for the rain to come down, before the people and the priests of Baal, as a show of power and authority. 4- ELIJAH ENCOUNTERS THE PEOPLE: “And Elijah came to all the people, and said, ‘How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him’. But the people answered him not a word” (21) It was the desire of the people to combine the two worships together, of the living God and the Baal. Having got in touch with God, with His power and love, and heard about what He has done with their fathers; And having, in the worship of Baal, enjoyed all their needs of pleasure and abominations, they assumed that they would be able to mix between the two worships, and to divide their hearts between the two gods. https://coptic-treasures.com/ Having been taught to believe that Baal had the authority over rain and fire, the prophet Elijah intended to demonstrate to them otherwise. The literal translation came as: “How long will you jump between two branches?”; a symbolic analogy to a bird jumping from one branch of a tree to another; not knowing where to settle down. Yet the living God would never accept less than the whole heart; as according to the prophet Hosea: “Their heart is divided. Now they are held guilty. He will break down their altars; He will ruin their sacred pillars” (Hosea 10: 2); And Joshua the son of Nun says: “If it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served, that were on the other side of the river, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24: 15). If God would not accept less than the whole heart, On His side, He desires to give us Himself; to let us enjoy the Grantor of gifts, in whom our satisfaction is realized; and without whom our depths would never be satisfied. + There is nothing He could present to you better than Himself; But if you, on the other hand, happen to find anything better, go ahead and seek it in any possible way. + God has no better reward to grant us, than Himself. + Make us happy, O God, in being preoccupied with You; and not losing You. (St. Augustine) https://coptic-treasures.com/ The seventh Council of Cartage led by Cyprian the martyr, dealing with the issue of ‘The baptism of the heretics’ (Pelagianus of Luperciana);applied the phrase, saying, “whether the Lord is God or the Baal”; to ‘Whether the Church or heresy is the true Church”, And said, ‘If heresy is not the true Church, how could there be baptism among the heretics?!’. “Then Elijah said to the people, ‘I alone am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. Therefore let them give us two bulls, and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it” (22, 23) 5- ELIJAH ENCOUNTERS THE PRIESTS OF BAAL: The preparation of the sacrifice requested by Elijah came according to the Mosaic law (Leviticus 1). But being aware of the probable deception of the devil and his followers, he was particular against putting fire on the altar. “Then you call on the names of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, He is God. So all the people answered and said, ‘It is well spoken’” (24) “The God who answers by fire, He is God”. As Baal was Apollo, the god of fire, believed by his followers to have authority over fire, and to him thunder, lightening, and rain belong, Elijah intended to present his case through what the Baal-worshippers believed. And on another aspect, the true God, to confirm receiving the sacrifice, would send fire from heaven to consume it (Leviticus 9: 24; Judges 6: 21). https://coptic-treasures.com/ In the old, Isaac asked his father Abraham, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”; to which his father answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son” (Genesis 22: 7). Now, here is the altar, the wood, and the burnt offering, but where is the fire? … God will provide the fire for the burnt offering. It is befitting of us to seek from God to send His fiery Holy Spirit, to sanctify the altar of our hearts, and to receive our offerings, and to proclaim His pleasure in us’ “Now Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, ‘Choose one bull for yourselves, and prepare it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it. So they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, ‘O Baal, hear us’. But there was no voice, no one answered. And they leaped about the altar which they had made” (25, 26) The prophets of Baal used every way to provoke their god to move, they called his name, screamed, by danced around him, in an attempt to please him, and they even cut their own bodies with knives and lances. “And so it was, at noon that Elijah mocked them and said, ‘Cry aloud, for he is a god, either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping, and must be awakened” (27) https://coptic-treasures.com/ Unless Elijah felt that he is guarded by the divine care, he would not dare to mock such a great number of priests of Baal, supported by the king and the queen, and followed by all the people, while he was alone by himself. “So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them” (28) Certain heathen customs still prevail among primitive tribes, entailing violent dancing, and wounding their bodies, which is forbidden by the divine law (Deuteronomy 14: 1). About the worship of the Hendu goddess ‘Matha’ it came that about 10,000 to 12,000 persons gather together; then someone appears in their midst. Pretending that the goddess entered into him, he takes off his turban, releases his long hair over his face, then starts to jump around, shakes his body, howls loud screams, strikes himself with a chain and cuts his body with a sword, then put his blood on the foreheads of his audience; who, feeling as though the spirit of the goddess had entered into themm as well, start to dance and jump around all night long. “And it was so, when midday was past that they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice, and no one answered, no one paid attention”. Then Elijah said to all the people, ‘Come near to me’. So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down” (29, 30) The altar was probably previously broken down by a command from Ahab or Jezebel, in an attempt to hinder the worship of the living God. “And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the https://coptic-treasures.com/ Lord had come, saying, ‘Israel shall be your name’” (31) By repairing the altar with twelve stones according to the number of the tribes, Elijah proclaimed his utter rejection of the division of the kingdom; confirming that the Lord is God of all the tribes, and that His pleasure is in presenting one burnt offering on behalf of all. Choosing twelve stones was not without meaning. For the figure 12, according to St. Augustine, refers to the kingdom of God on earth; where the Holy Trinity reigns (3) on the (4) corners of the world; namely, the East, the West, the North, and the South: So the total of 3X 4= 12. The figure 12 then refers to the Church of God stretching from one corner of the earth to the other corner. The following are examples of its use: The old people of God embraced 12 tribes, referring to the sacred Church (Genesis 35: 22). The high priest used to bear on his breast plate 12 precious stones; as the true believer intercedes for all believers; and to fix on his garment 12 bells, as a reference to his commitment of the living testimony, wherever he goes (Exodus 28). Moses set 12 pillars at the foot of the mountain (Exodus 24: 4); and Joshua set 12 stones in the River Jordan (Joshua 4: 3). The Lord Christ chose 12 disciples. The Higher Jerusalem has 12 gates, three on each of its four sides (Revelation 21). “Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed (a seah equals three gallons). And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and https://coptic-treasures.com/ laid it on the wood, and said, ‘Fill four water pots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood’” (33) “For God is not the author of of confusion, but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14: 33), he demands from His children to follow suit. So did Elijah by putting the wood in order on the altar. ‘Calment’ quoted an old text he referred to St. John Chrysostom, in which he said that he saw underneath the base of a heathen altar, little gaps, from which tubes go up to its top. The priest secretly set fire in the gaps underground, which would move up through the tubes to ignite the wood on the altar; to give a false impression to the simple worshippers that fire miraculously came and consumed the sacrifice. That is why the prophet Elijah insisted on pouring water enough to fill the trenches all around the altar, to give no chance to any doubt that the fire that comes down to consume the sacrifice is from the Lord. “Then he said, ‘Do it a second time’; and they did it a second time; And he said, ‘Do it a third time’, and they did it a third time; So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water” (34, 35) As the fresh water was very scarce at the time, because of the draught, they brought the water from the sea nearby,. “And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, ‘Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word” (36) https://coptic-treasures.com/ The prophet Elijah did not seek his own glory, but the glory of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. “Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again (37). Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench” (38) The fire did not come from underneath the altar, the way the heathen priests used to do to deceive the simple worshippers, but fell from above, and started by consuming the sacrifice, then the wood underneath it, then the stones and the dust; and it finally licked the water that was in the trench. Contrary to its nature, the fire fell from above and did not come up from below; as normally, the fire always starts from below, then the flames spreads up; but here it started from above then its flames went gradually down. The fire consumed the sacrifice first before spreading to the wood below; for all to perceive that it is a fire coming from above; and that the sacrifice was not consumed by the burning wood. Consumption of the sacrifice is a sign of God’s acceptance, and of His pleasure of an offering presented from a pure heart. By burning the wood: refers to God’s intention to leave no work in us that could be consumed by fire, according to the words, “Now, if anyone builds on this foundation, with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw; each one’s work will become manifest, for the day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is” (1 Corinthians 3: 12, 13). https://coptic-treasures.com/ By burning the stones: God intends for all His people (12 stones) to be a sacrifice of love for Him; the way He presents Himself a sacrifice of love for redeeming them. By burning the dust: God intends to take away our dust from us, to set His heavens instead. By licking the water in the trench: God seeks hearts that are not covered by the water of this world, but enflamed by the fire of the Spirit. + He ordered them to bring a plenty of water and to pour it three times on the wood. Then, by his prayer he ignited fire from the water, contrary to the nature of both elements; to demonstrate the supernatural might of God. Here, by such an amazing sacrifice, Elijah clearly proclaimed the sacramental rite of baptism to be instituted later on.. (St. Gregory, bishop of Nyssa) + The Lord Jesus is both, like fire that enflamed the hearts of those who listened to Him; and like a fountain of water that gave them coolness; having, Himself said in His gospel: “I have come to send fire on earth” (Luke 12: 40); and, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7: 37). (St. Ambrose) 6- KILLING THE PRIESTS OF BAAL: “Now, when all the people saw it they fell on their faces, and they said, ‘The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God’ https://coptic-treasures.com/ And Elijah said to them, ‘Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape! So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon and executed them there” (39, 40) When the people confessed that the Lord is God, Elijah demanded from them to proclaim their rejection of idol-worship by following the law through killing the idol-worshippers and their provokers (Deuteronomy 13: 1-11; 2-3; 13: 3); He demanded the execution of the priests of Baal, to put an end to their deception of the simple people. The Brook Kishon starts on Mount Tabor and flows down to the Mediterranean Sea. He probably chose that location to execute the prophets of Baal, that when the dense rain expected to come fill the brook, it would carry their corpses to the sea. “Then Elijah said to Ahab, ‘Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of abundance of rain” (41) It so seems that Ahab fasted all day long; So Elijah sent him to his palace to eat and drink; for God’s pleasure will surely dwell on the earth, after the people testified to their God, and executed the prophets of Baal. It is obvious from what Elijah said that Ahab was content with what the people did, of killing the prophets of Baal. The king spent the whole day watching what is going on. By fasting, he probably sought from God to intervene, or he was too excited to eat or drink. Although Elijah saw no sign of any rain, yet by the spirit of prophecy, he said to the king, ‘There is the sound of abundance of rain” (41); the time of draught is over. https://coptic-treasures.com/ &- ELIJAH’S REQUEST FOR RAIN: “So Ahab went up to eat and drink; and Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees” (42) The prophet Elijah retreated to the top of the Carmel, to a certain very high location, where he could hide; As according to Amos: “And though they hide themselves on top of Carmel, From there I will search and take them” (Amos 9: 3). There he went alone, accompanied only by his servant; for it was befitting of him, after encountering with the whole people, the king, and the leaderships, to hide for some time to encounter quietly with his God, to say, together with the prophet Habakkuk: “I will stand my watch, and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me” (Habakkuk 2: 1). The prophet Elijah did not preoccupy himself with what took place as something that glorified him or granted him a conquest; but set forth to seek from God to realize His promise and to grant rain to the earth. While requesting from the king to go eat and drink, he set forth to pray; for the men of God seek comfort for the others, when they themselves practice strife. The prophet bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, as a sign of contrition. “And said to his servant, ‘Go up now, look toward the sea’. So he went up and looked, and said, ‘There is nothing”; and seven times he said, ‘Go again’. Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, ‘there is a cloud as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea’. So he said, ‘Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down before https://coptic-treasures.com/ the rain stops you’” (43. 44) I wish we do not despise the divine gifts that may seem as small as a man’s hand; For he who give thanks for the few will enjoy the abundance. The small cloud seen by Elijah coming out of the sea, refers to the incarnation of God the Word; who became like a small cloud that hides the glory of his divinity, coming to our world to flow over us the water of the holy Spirit; to turn the poverty of our heart into a fruitful paradise. “Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. Then the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel” (45, 46) The king set forth with his chariot, while the prophet girded up his loins and ran ahead of the king before he reach his palace; he raced the chariots and horses and prevailed; and on him the saying, “If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses?”, did not apply.. He did not set forth to rebuke him, nor to wound him with a word, but to support and strengthen him before he confront his wicked wife Jezebel, who, misusing his weakness, made out of him an evil idol-worshipper. He intended to confirm to him that he does not oppose him personally, nor bear hatred toward him, but longs to support him to minister to the Lord; and that he is faithful to him as long as he is in the Lord. He ran for about 16 miles to reach the entrance of Jezreel, to demonstrate his continuous readiness to serve. https://coptic-treasures.com/ Jezreel is located at Mount Galboah. Ahab did not move the capital from Samaria (1 kings 22: 10, 37); but built a palace for himself in Jezreel (1 kings 22: 10); where he used as a winter resort for himself and queen Jezebel. An Assyrian inscription was recently discovered describing Ahab as ‘Ahab of Jezreel’. ----------------------- AN INSPIRATION FROM 1 KINGS !8 O LORD, YOU, AND NO ONE ELSE, ARE MY GOD + The voice of Elijah Your prophet rings in my ears; “If the Lord is God, follow Him; And if Baal, then follow him” “How long will you falter between two opinions?” + How long shall I set inside myself the calf and Ashtoreth?! How long shall I reject Your kingdom, setting up for myself violent masters who destroy my depths? + In my foolishness I set up in myself an altar of Baal; And I came to have priests and priestesses to offer my life a sacrifice to him; They turned my life into servitude; I came to be a slave of riches, honor, and temporal covetousness; Who will set me free from such a humiliation? + Let Your fiery Spirit fill my being; Let Him turn my depths into a heavenly flame of fire; Let Him leave in them no trace of dust; Let Him turn my earth into heaven; https://coptic-treasures.com/ Let Him leave no trace of stones; but let Him instead set children of Abraham; As a son of Abraham, My heart will never be stony anymore, but will be gentle;; Let Him lick all water in the trenches of my heart; So that no spiritual coolness would have a place in my heart. + Grant me a double portion of Elijah’s spirit , as You did with Elisha his disciple; To come to have the fiery heart; To kill in me every priest of Baal or Ashtoreth;. To make out of my heart a Golgotha, that bears the sacrifice of the true cross. Yes, reign by the fire of Your Holy Spirit in my depths.
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