The Story

Primary

When we left the story there was great drought and famine through all the land. It has lasted three years and six months. Who was the king in those days? Ahab was king, and his home was in Samaria. Who was the prophet of the Lord? Elijah was the prophet, and he was in hiding, being cared for by the widow in Zarephath. Why was there this drought and famine?

The Lord spoke to Elijah and told him that there would be rain, and sent him to tell Ahab. Before we read the story, climb with me to the place where the people gathered to Elijah on Mount Carmel.

The mountain is a long, straight ridge, one end reaching out into the sea, making the point that you notice in the coast line of Palestine on your map. The other end of the ridge overlooks the great plain of Esdraelon. This is the point to which I am leading you. Here is a broad lap of ground just under the cliff which makes the point of the mountain. Let us sit here and rest with the cliff behind us, and enjoy the view while we talk about the story and read the chapter. The great plain is spread before us like a green lake. The hills of Galilee make its northern shore, the hills of Samaria its southern, and in the distance, some sixteen or eighteen miles away, are the mountains, Tabor, Little Hermon, and Gilboa. There on the lowest slopes of Gilboa was the city Jezreel.

I have called the plain green, but it is often varied like a checker-board with many colors, patches of red where the ground is newly plowed, and patches of russet and gold where crops are ripening. At the time of our story it was brown and dry with the long drought. Below us, near the foot of the mountain, runs a stream which you know is the Kishon.

Shall we take one look the other way, westward? We must climb the cliff behind us, but as we pass we notice a fine spring on this lap of ground under the cliff. They say the spring is never dry. From the top of the cliff we can look westward across the plain of Sharon to the Mediterranean Sea.

Now we must read the story. As we read of the people coming to Mount Carmel, you think of them gathering on this level lap of ground where we have been resting enjoying the view. As we read of pouring water upon the altar and the sacrifice, you think of the spring near by. When Elijah brought the prophets of Baal to the Kishon and slew them there, you think of the little river at the foot of the mountain and remember the hill by the river's side which is still called "the hill of the priests." When Elijah went again into the mountain and said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea," you think of the servant climbing the cliff above the spring and looking westward to the Mediterranean. As we read how the heaven was black with clouds and the wind, we can imagine the gathering of the storm and the dark shadows falling across the hills and plain. And when Ahab made ready his chariot and Elijah ran before him to the gates of Jezreel, we see the way they took across the plain. For the hand of the Lord was on Elijah and gave him strength.

Please read what is written above for the younger children, for the older children too must join the company and sit with us on Mount Carmel to see the place of Elijah's sacrifice, and look out upon the view.

Before we read together there are also a few points for you older children to study. The first verse tells us that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, sending him to Ahab. The third year of what? How long did the drought last? (Luke 4:25) Who was Elijah, and where was he? Who was Ahab, and where did he live?

Verse 12 speaks of the Spirit of the Lord carrying the prophet away. We read of something like this in the story of Philip (Acts 8:39-40) and also in the story of Ezekiel. (Ezek. 3:14-15) At such times, the consciousness of the apostle or prophet was opened to the other world, and he was led by the Spirit of the Lord in this world not noticing where he went. At such times he was led safely and in ways not familiar to him. Also he had no fatigue, although the way was long. Read about this in H. 441.

The fire of the Lord falling and consuming Elijah's offering reminds us of the fire from the Lord that once consumed an offering upon the altar at the tabernacle. (Lev. 9:24) This fire from heaven, like the fire which burned always on the altar, is a picture of the fire of heavenly love which comes to us from the Lord when we make ourselves or any work we do an offering to the Lord. The vain efforts of Baal's prophets to get the answering fire picture the effort to find the fire of happy love by living in selfish ways. Though we toil all day selfishly, and strain and hurt ourselves in the effort, we shall surely be disappointed, for the fire of happy love is only from the Lord.

The question asked by Elijah is one that we may well ask ourselves: "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him." It is foolish to live along half serving the Lord and half serving ourselves. "How long halt ye?" Is it not wiser to see that real life is only from the Lord, and to decide once for all to make our offering to Him? Compare Joshua's farewell appeal to the people. (Joshua 24:15) Much of the hardship of serving the Lord is from being undecided and half-hearted. The strong and happy way is to serve the Lord promptly and with our whole heart.

1. How was the trial made to decide whether the Lord or Baal was the true God? Where was it made?

2. Describe the offering by Baal's priests.

3. Describe Elijah's offering.

4. Describe the coming of the rain.

Spiritual Study

No pupils are too old today to enjoy with the little children the visit to the place of Elijah's sacrifice and the view from Mount Carmel. And surely all must listen together as this story of the sacrifice is read. The lesson already suggested from the chapter is one which the oldest pupils can take to heart.

In this story of Elijah, and still more in chapters that follow, we find Jezebel, the wife of Ahab, the especial enemy of the prophet. It is worth while to give a little thought to Jezebel and her meaning. Several names which are made familiar to us in the Bible histories are carried over into the Book of Revelation, for the sake of their spiritual meaning. Jezebel is one of these. See Rev. 2:20. What we learn in the history helps us to understand what spiritual qualities and states are meant by the names in the Revelation. A good king represents the Lord's truth ruling in the life. A good queen represents the affection for such truth, and for its many beautiful and useful applications. A bad queen represents the affection for evil pleasures and for false teachings which excuse evil. This is the meaning of Jezebel in our story and in the Book of Revelation. You see why she is the special enemy of Elijah who stands for the Lord's truth. (R. 132; E. 160)

The gathering upon Mount Carmel to decide between the Lord and Baal shows the importance of deciding in our minds this question, whether we will live for the Lord or for ourselves. We, too, must go into a mountain for this decision. We must rise into a higher state of mind from which we can look down upon ourselves and our usual ways of life, seeing them in truer relation and perspective. Mount Carmel was the place of meeting, and there is special meaning in that mountain. Mount Carmel stood in the midst of a region of fruitful fields and vineyards. The name means "fruitfulness" and it is often in the Scriptures associated with fertility. To go into Mount Carmel seems in particular to mean rising into a state of illumination in which it is perceived that worship of the Lord is the source and inspiration of fruitful life. (E. 601, 730)

The test was made by offerings to learn whether the Lord or Baal would send fire; whether service of the Lord or service of self will fill the life with satisfying happy love. In that elevated state we see how vain selfish strivings are. They cry and strain all day and all life long, and in the end are disappointed. Pure service of the Lord receives an answer which selfish striving cannot find - the fire of contented, happy love. "The God that answereth by fire, let him be God." (E. 504)

With good love comes also the perception of truth in regard to the good and fruitful ways of life. This is the abundant rain. When selfishness rules, the heaven is shut up and there is no perception of heavenly truth. When the Lord is chosen and His service, the windows of heaven are opened. Now we can make a clean sweep of the old excuses which have encouraged and shielded us in wrong doing. "Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape." The Lord's truth now leads; and this was pictured when the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah, and he ran before the chariot of Ahab. For once the king found his true place, following the guidance of the prophet. So he came to the entrance of Jezreel. In one place, and perhaps the only place, in the doctrines where Jezreel is spiritually explained, it is said to mean a new church. (A. 3580) Perhaps here it may stand for a new state of faith and life upon which we enter when the Lord's truth leads in all its power, and we obediently follow.

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