One of the places that the Seeds of Faith Israel Tour visited is Mt. Carmel, the place where Prophet Elijah had a showdown with the prophets of Baal and Ashera on who is the real God.
What can we learn from Elijah?
First, rely on God’s provisions.
God provided food through a raven. God provided food through the widow and his son in Zarepath. 1 Kings 17:15-16 says, “She (the widow) went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.”
Second, fight the good fight eventhough you are outnumbered.
The prevailing atmosphere during that time was the worship of Baal. Elijah thought he was the only one left. But he still continued.
Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the LORD’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets.” 1 Kings 18:22
Later, God told him that there were others. 1 Kings 19:18 says, “Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
Third, trust in God’s power.
1 Kings 18:36 to 39 tells uz the story on how the power of God manifested. “At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The LORD—he is God! The LORD—he is God!”
Let us trust in God’s power alone.
Fourth, train the next generation of godly leaders.
In 1 Kings 19:16, God told Elija to anoint Elisha to succeed him as prophet. The verse says, “Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.” Elijah trained Elisha afterwards.
For us, we need to be intentional in our discipleship. Let us train our next generation to succeed us. This is the intention of God.
May God bless us all!
Sincerely,
Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on
Director, Office of Communications