Thomas Aquinas wrote, “Without prayer we become deaf to the voice of divine love and become confused by the many competing voices asking for our attention. When we try to become very still, we often find ourselves so overwhelmed by our noisy inner voices that we can hardly wait to get busy and distracted again. Our inner life often looks like a banana tree full of jumping monkeys! But when we decide not to run away and stay focused, the monkeys may gradually go away because of lack of attention, and the soft gentle voice calling us may gradually make itself heard.”
Elijah’s life and God’s dealings with Ahab illustrate how God works in your life to meet needs and draw you close to Him.
Supernatural Working
Jezebel told Elijah that he would be killed like the prophets of Baal. He was afraid, ran for his life and slept under a juniper tree. An angel of the Lord gave him bread cake and a jar of water twice. Elijah used the strength of that food for his 40 days’ journey to Horeb, the mountain of God (1 Kings 19:1-8). God meets your physical and financial needs in the midst of threats, fear and stress.
Gentle Blowing
The Lord asked Elijah what he was doing in a cave. Elijah answered that he was very zealous for the Lord in killing the prophets and was all alone with people seeking his life. The Lord told him to stand on the mountain. The Lord was not in the strong wind, earthquake or fire, but in the gentle blowing. A voice asked again what he was doing there and Elijah answered that he had been very zealous for the Lord (1 Kings 19:9-14). God meets your emotional and psychological needs by asking penetrating questions to reveal motives.
Direct Command
The Lord told him to anoint Hazael king over Aram, Jehu over Israel and Elisha as prophet in his place. Jehu and Elisha would put to death God’s enemies. He left 7,000 in Israel who did not worship Baal (1 Kings 19:15-17). God meets your spiritual needs through serving others.
Ministry Partner
Elijah threw his mantle on Elisha while he was plowing with oxen. He kissed his father and mother, sacrificed a pair of oxen and followed Elijah while ministering to him (1 Kings 19:18-21). God meets your social needs through ministry partners.
Reject Intimidation
Ben-hadad king of Aram and 32 kings besieged and fought Samaria. Ben-hadad said to Ahab king of Israel that his silver, gold, wives and children were his. Ben-hadad said his servants would take away anything that was desirable in Ahab’s eyes. The elders told him to not listen to Ben-hadad’s demands. Ahab said that Ben-hadad should stop boasting before he stationed his servants against the city (1 Kings 20:1-12). Refuse to be intimidated by others’s greed and pride.
Battle Spiritually
A prophet told Ahab that God would deliver them into his hand so he could know that He is Lord. The young men (232) of the rulers of the provinces and 7,000 Israelites fought, with Ahab beginning the battle. The young men went out while Ben-hadad was drunk. He said to take them alive whether they came for war or peace. The young men each killed his man and Israel killed the Arameans with Ben-hadad escaping on a horse (1 Kings 20:13-21). Take the initiative in allowing God to fight the spiritual battle.
Listen Closely
The prophet warned the king of Israel that the king of Aram would come against him. The servants of the king of Aram said they should fight in the plain where they would be stronger as Israel’s gods were of the mountains. A man of God told the king of Israel that God would defeat the Arameans, which was fulfilled as he killed 100,000 foot soldiers. Ben-hadad’s servants said because they heard the the kings of Israel were merciful, he should put on sackcloth and go to the king of Israel to save his life. Ahab made a covenant with him and let him go (1 Kings 20:22-34). Listen to truth from God’s word instead of the lies from superstition and unsupported facts.
Refuse Compromise
A son of the prophet waited for the king and disguised himself with a bandage over his eyes. He said to the king that if a man he guarded was missing, he would die or pay a talent of silver. He took off his bandage and Ahab recognized him as one of the prophets. He said Ahab would die because he let go the man whom God devoted to destruction. The king went to his house sullen and vexed (1 Kings 20: 35-43).
Don’t allow the world to prevent you from worshiping God.
How has God worked to meet your needs or draw you closer to Him through the following ways: supernatural working, gentle blowing, direct command and ministry partner? Which of the following means does God want you to apply now to draw closer to Him: reject intimidation, battle spiritually, listen closely or refuse compromise?
