God Will Address The Evil Influence Of Apostate Religion

The cause of Israel’s idolatry had to be addressed. Jezebel had infected the pure worship of Jehovah with the idol worship of her ancestral god, Baal. She used her position as queen to force all of Israel to worship Baal. The time had come for Israel to choose who they would follow and the evil influence of apostate religion had to be eliminated. Elijah ordered that all the priests of Baal were to be killed to rid the kingdom of their evil influence. Good call, right? 1 Kings 19:1, “And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.” Jezebel promised to do to Elijah what he had done to her priests and he ran for his life. He found himself all alone hiding away in a deep dark cave but it is there that he encountered the Almighty Lord God Jehovah. 1 Kings 19:11, “And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: 12And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 13And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?”

There are two issues that Elijah was challenged to address. One, how could he justify his hasty retreat in the face of such a victory at Mt. Carmel? And second, could he be used of God to finish his mission? Elijah began to justify his behavior and defend his cowardly retreat. He had been very zealous for God when the children of Israel had forsaken His covenant. They turned to the worship of Baal, having thrown down the altars of the Lord and slain the prophets of God. Elijah proclaimed that he was the only one left therefore they sought to take his life. God assured Elijah that there were “7000” that had not bowed to Baal or worshiped his image. God's command was to return to action and finish what God had started.

God was getting ready to administer His judgment upon this wicked government and apostate religion and He wanted Elijah to know his role. God was compelled to let him know what He was preparing to do. God was not finished with Elijah just yet! God wanted Elijah to know that He still had large numbers of the faithful who had not bowed to Baal. Elijah had a role in bringing God's plan to its completion. God said, go and anoint Hazael to be king over Syria, Jehu to be king over Israel and Elisha to be the prophet in Elijah's place (1 Kings 19:17-18).

God uses whom He wills to bring about His plan! But we must have our Elijah moment, our own intimate encounter with God where He reveals our assignment in His plan. Holy Ghost revelation is absolutely essential in these last days. God wants to speak into our lives, into our churches and into the Body of Christ His directions for the culmination of His grand plan. But, we must position ourselves in mind, soul and spirit to hear His voice and heed His call.
The Message, p.25-26, available at Amazon.com.