Immerse: Kingdoms Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 224
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KINGDOMS
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fifty prophets in each cave and supplied them with food and water.) Ahab
said to Obadiah, “We must check every spring and valley in the land to see
if we can find enough grass to save at least some of my horses and mules.”
So they divided the land between them. Ahab went one way by himself,
and Obadiah went another way by himself.
As Obadiah was walking along, he suddenly saw Elijah coming toward
him. Obadiah recognized him at once and bowed low to the ground before
him. “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?” he asked.
“Yes, it is,” Elijah replied. “Now go and tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’”
“Oh, sir,” Obadiah protested, “what harm have I done to you that you
are sending me to my death at the hands of Ahab? For I swear by the Lord
your God that the king has searched every nation and kingdom on earth
from end to end to find you. And each time he was told, ‘Elijah isn’t here,’
King Ahab forced the king of that nation to swear to the truth of his claim.
And now you say, ‘Go and tell your master, “Elijah is here.”’ But as soon
as I leave you, the Spirit of the Lord will carry you away to who knows
where. When Ahab comes and cannot find you, he will kill me. Yet I have
been a true servant of the Lord all my life. Has no one told you, my lord,
about the time when Jezebel was trying to kill the Lord’s prophets? I hid
100 of them in two caves and supplied them with food and water. And now
you say, ‘Go and tell your master, “Elijah is here.”’ Sir, if I do that, Ahab will
certainly kill me.”
But Elijah said, “I swear by the Lord Almighty, in whose presence I
stand, that I will present myself to Ahab this very day.”
So Obadiah went to tell Ahab that Elijah had come, and Ahab went out
to meet Elijah. When Ahab saw him, he exclaimed, “So, is it really you, you
troublemaker of Israel?”
“I have made no trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “You and your family
are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the
Lord and have worshiped the images of Baal instead. Now summon all
Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal
and the 400 prophets of Asherah who are supported by Jezebel.”
So Ahab summoned all the people of Israel and the prophets to Mount
Carmel. Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer
will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent.
Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is
left, but Baal has 450 prophets. Now bring two bulls. The prophets of
Baal may choose whichever one they wish and cut it into pieces and lay it
on the wood of their altar, but without setting fire to it. I will prepare the