obedience to God – Page 4

1 Kings 17:1-7 – Elijah’s Story Begins

A dove sitting on a present with a pretty bow with the words from 1 Cor. 14:31, "You May All Prophesy"

It will be helpful to know that Elijah is the first of several important prophets that God will use to bring messages to his people in both Israel and Judah (northern and southern kingdoms). Elijah is from Gilead (Israel) so he reports to his king, Ahab.

We’ve already seen how the kings of the north have all been evil and corrupt. For years, there were some in Israel who remained faithful to the God of Abraham who had brought them out of bondage in Egypt. They have lived under leaders who flaunt an entirely different spirituality, totally ignoring the God of their inheritance.

1 Kings 16:1-34 – How Can It Get Worse?

Read 1 Kings 16:1-34

We are walking through some very dark days in the history of Israelite leadership. Each new king seems to be worse than the one before. How is that even possible?

Meanwhile, we must assume that because Judah’s king, Asa, is following God, everything is going well over there. The remnant of the Israelite people living in Judah and Benjamin are living lives that are more pleasing to God, honoring him with their obedience.

1 Kings 13:1-10 – God is the Focus

Read 1 Kings 13:1-10

girl with camera looking up instead of through the lens

What was the “real” purpose the man of God appeared before Jeroboam? Was it to give him this message or was it to get Jeroboam to repent? Perhaps it was both.

Of course, the story also involves Jeroboam’s arm become paralyzed when he threatened the man of God. Can you imagine how Jeroboam was feeling in that moment? He certainly would have been fearful wondering who would follow a crippled king. He had been worried about credibility in the past. I’m sure that hadn’t changed.

1 Kings 12:21-24 – Just Like That

Read 1 Kings 12:21-24

There will be no peace in any soul until it is willing to OBEY the voice of God --D.L. Moody

Let’s fight! That was Rehoboam’s go-to solution. He learned in our last reading that he had some competition as king. He pulled a good number of troops together. And then God spoke. Just like that.

God used a prophet to bring this message! “Do not fight against your relatives, the Israelites. Go back home, for what has happened is my doing!” That was a bold and direct message. Nobody could infer anything different than what God intended, “Stop!”

1 Kings 11:1-13 – Too Big for His Britches

Read 1 Kings 11:1-13

jeans hanging on a clothes line extended between buildings

After all the good things we’ve been reading about Solomon in the last several passages, this may have come as a bit of a surprise. What was Solomon thinking? Did he think he was “untouchable” by God? Did he not realize his disobedience “might” have a consequence or two?

More on that to come, I’m sure. How can one man have that many women? Is that being heroic or too big for his britches? Not sure where that old saying came from. Google defined it simply “behaving as if you are more important than you really are.”