Israel once had a King and Queen named Ahab and Jezebel. They had great influence over what the people thought; not unlike the way our Presidents and First Ladies influence the thinking of this country. Ahab and Jezebel had led the people away from morality and trusting in God to the materialistic and immoral worship of Baal. Now Israel had grown great by trusting in God and following His precepts. Never the less the King and Queen (or it could be a President and First Lady) declared that they had created a New Israel with a different more enlighten moral code. However, this New Israel was an affront to God.
There was a man of God living in Israel during this time named Elijah. He was no ordinary preacher, but a mighty prophet, that lived by faith in God (trust). Ahab and Jezebel had launched a campaign to silence everyone that spoke out against what they were doing. Elijah was at the top of their list, but they couldn't find him. That is, until God spoke to Elijah!
1 King 18:17- Then it happened when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him,"Is that you, O troubler of Israel?" 18-And he answered, "I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father's house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed the Baals. 19-Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on Mt. Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah (a Canaanite goddess), who eat a Jezebel's table."
So King Ahab did as Elijah told him and they all gathered at Mt. Carmel. 21-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 the people answered him not a word. (The silent majority.) 22- Then Elijah said to the people, "I alone am left a prophet of the Lord; but Baals prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 23- 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. 24- "Then call on the name 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, "It is well spoken." 26- So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, "Oh Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the alter which they had made.
All day they tried everything they could think of, but no voice came and no fire came. 30- Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the alter of the Lord that was broken down. 31- And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, "Israel shall be your name."
Elijah went to work and rebuilt the alter of the Lord and prepared the sacrifice. Then he poured water over everything soaking it. He even did it a second time, until the water filled the trench he had dug around the alter.
36- 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 I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. 37- "Hear me, Oh, 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." 38- Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust and it licked up the water that was in the trench.
The account of Elijah and Israel continues on much longer, but I will leave it for you to read later. It is enough for now to say that Ahab and Jezebel did not live happily ever after and that their government collapsed. In accordance with Gods grace the peoples sins were forgiven and Israel was restored. Perhaps if we call on the Lord our God, and renew our trust in Him He will restore our country as well.
