[Discoveries] 11-13-08 Lasting authority -- 1 Kings 19:1-3

[Inspiration in Your Inbox]

/*Now [King] Ahab told [Queen] Jezebel everything Elijah had done and 
how he had killed all the [false] prophets with the sword. So Jezebel 
sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it 
ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like 
that of one of them."*/
/*Elijah was afraid and ran for his life ... -- 1 Kings 19:1-3*/

In the showdown between the LORD and Baal, the LORD clearly won -- fire 
fell, the people were convinced, rain came, and Elijah ran ahead of Ahab 
back to Jezreel.

But, if Elijah was expecting a hero's welcome, he was in for a big 
disappointment. The main infection of Baalism remained in the form of 
Queen Jezebel. She was unmoved by God's display of power and remained 
determined to spread her poison to the people through her weak and 
vacillating husband, King Ahab.

Jezebel had a history of killing people who disagreed with her. No doubt 
she fully intended to kill Elijah, but, when she got him to run away, 
she accomplished much of what she wanted: She left no doubt about who 
was really in charge of Israel. She was.

Yet Jezebel's power was far more limited than she realized. Jesus 
understood this when He spoke to Pilate. "Do you refuse to speak to me?" 
Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to 
crucify you?" Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it 
were not given to you from above." (John 19:10-11) Jezebel thought she 
could kill Elijah, but she couldn't. Rather, she herself was executed by 
a ruler (Jehu) who was appointed by one of Elijah's servant's servants.

Jezebel's threat seemed so real. But it proved to be an illusion. She 
had no lasting power over the people of God. Enduring power belongs to 
the Son of God, and we are seated in heavenly places with Him. No 
monster of this age can take that away, and God will have the last word.

Be encouraged!
Dwight

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