A time of contrasts - between evil kings and godly prophets. Wonderful stories to read over the next couple of days!
Asa’s death
1 Kings 15:24, 2 Chronicles 16:13-14
Rebuilding of Jericho
1 Kings 16:34
Elijah’s ministry 882-868BC
Persecution of prophets
1 Kings 18:4
Jehoshaphat
2 Chronicles 20:31-33, 1 Kings 22:41-43, 46, 2 Chronicles 17:1-19, 18:1
Elijah’s ministry begins
1 Kings 17:1-24
Obadiah and Ahab
1 Kings 18:1-3, 5-16
There is a great contrast at this point between the kings of Israel and Judah. Ahab is the most notorious king of Israel, because of his conflicts with Elijah the prophet (more about him in a minute) Jehoshaphat (or Jeee-hosher-fat!! as I can’t help saying to myself) is bringing Judah back to God - leading the people in godliness.
Ahab, egged on by Jezebel, makes war on the prophets, who are clearly a numerous group in Israel, and he sees them as a threat. Elijah appears as a grim faced bringer of stern warnings, and begins a battle of wills with Ahab that is not unlike the one between Moses and Pharaoh. At Elijah’s word, there is a famine in the north for three years. God cares for Elijah miraculously, and the fact that God is with him is powerfully shown as he even raises someone from the dead.
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