Title: Leave / 1 Kings 17:3-7
Go away / 1 Kings 17:3-7 Pastor Um Ki-ho
Most of the prophets mention at the beginning the lineage of the prophet, whose son, what tribe, and where he came from. However, in the case of Elijah, the root of his existence is not mentioned as it fell from heaven. Like Melchizedek, there is no mention of parents or children. So the Jews think that Elijah was an angel sent from heaven. As we already know, the prophet Elijah is Israel's savior and a great servant of God.
At the time when the prophet Elijah was active in Israel, many prophets and priests of God were killed and expelled because of Queen Jezebel, the daughter of perdition. And instead, it was a time full of darkness, in which many false prophets were active while enshrining the tables of foreign gods. Nevertheless, the Israelites still boasted that Abraham was their ancestor, and their sacrifices (worship) were full of formality and hypocrisy. Israel was already a lighthouse without light, a brazier without fire, salt without taste, springs without water, and an autumn tree without fruit. This nation had nothing to expect but the judgment of God. At this time, God did not establish many people, revolutionaries, or sects, but chose one man, Elijah the Tishphite. He anointed him with power to remove idols, to repent of the people, and to save the kingdom. Therefore, by examining the call of God who chose Elijah and the hidden will of God through this text, we would like to take some time to think about what kind of life we should live today, full of lies and hypocrisy.
First of all, Elijah obeyed God's word, "Get out of here."
The word 'Go away' is a simple and clear command. This means to walk with God step by step in faith. Actually, these words are easy to think of in theory, but difficult to put into action. Elijah left Tishep and lived in Gilead, Samaria, and received God's emergency command. And he declared the word of God that he would not send rain on Israel for three years and six months. Just as no king in the history of Israel has sinned as boldly as King Ahab, there has never been a prophet who rebukes and warns with such boldness as Elijah, who foretells the calamities that come with sin.
In James 5:17, Elijah is said to be a man of nature like ours. So he too must have thought about the consequences of making the prophecy. However, he did not consider the latter days and walked the path of walking in obedience to the Lord's command. They put the word of God into practice with boldness (Job 23:10). In this way, we too should not become anxious or anxious about tomorrow's fate, but rather become believers who imitate the faith of Elijah, the attitude of faith that starts one step now. Elijah's faith was only the faith of moving forward without ceasing to God. It was faith in the reward of rewarding those who truly seek Him while realizing the presence of God whenever they go forward (Hebrews 11:6). There are many Christians, but it is difficult to see the faith moving forward. Theoretically, we believe in God's presence, but there are too many times in our lives where we live without God. However, Elijah did not think about his future destiny and absolutely believed and obeyed God's word. He was as majestic as a mighty mountain, and with his unshakable faith, he served as God's messenger.
Therefore, like Elijah, we must also absolutely obey God's command to us today, and we must become saints who walk with the Lord by boldly moving forward.
Elijah knew how to hide by the brook Cherith.
After prophesying boldly before King Ahab according to God's command, the word of the Lord came to Elijah. God revealed to him the following: He gave clear instructions to 'Leave this place, go to the east', 'Hide in the brook Grill in front of the Jordan', and 'Drink from the brook' at the right time. So Elijah followed the instructions and went to the brook Cherith, reflected on what he had done so far, and evaluated his motives and abilities. And again, I prayed for Jehovah's favor.
God also commands us today to hide by the brook Cherit. The intention here is to bury one's sense of superiority and pride in the brook of Grit and rearm them with the new power of God. Let's think about the brook of spiritual grit that God reveals. After fully demonstrating the glory of the noisy world, the temptation of material things, and a sense of justice filled with passion, God prepares a brook called a hospital room, a brook that dries up with disappointment, and a brook that says goodbye to silence and death, and asks you to hide here. You say. Today, like Elijah, we need someone who can find refreshment by the brook Cherith, hide when God tells us to hide (1 Kings 17:3, Psalm 37:23, Psalm 62:5), and appear when he says, ?쏶how us.??Jesus made the brook Cherit called Nazareth, the brook Cherit called the Olive Gardens of Bethany, and the desolate place of Galilee the brook of Cherit, and he received the power of God and left us as an example. So we too must leave the hustle and bustle of the past and head to downtown Grit. We must go and kneel there and become a saint who obtains the power of God.
Finally, Elijah was a man of absolute faith in the promise.
He obeyed God's command to go to the brook Cherith, which was in Malaga. Elijah knew that there was a hidden promise from God in the word to go to Malaga even if it was a stream. Even if we receive answers to the problems of home, environment, life, business, work, and children, there is no change and it may become more difficult as the city dries up. But please remember that God's provision is promised in the command to hide by the brook of Malaga. In obedience to the word, Elijah went to the brook Cherit in Malaga, where he received God's mysterious and promised provision through a raven.
The psalmist said in Psalm 34:10, ?쏷he young lions are needy and hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not lack in every good thing.??Mystical promises are provided to those who have faith that pleases God, and God's reward is given (Hebrews 11:6). Therefore, even in the midst of trials, we must be courageous in God and do not distrust God. Originally, it is common knowledge that when people want to hide themselves, they hide in deep mountains or valleys. However, because Elijah believed in God's protection, he obeyed the command to hide by the stream, where he could be exposed at any time. And according to his belief, God protected Elijah by the brook Cherith and rescued him from the gaze of Jezebel, the daughter of perdition.
What is important is 'Is the place I am in a place that pleases God?' The brook of Cherith, whom he had said, "Go" dried up, but in the midst of it, Elijah waited for God's instructions. Perhaps it was easy for Elijah to doubt that God had forsaken him at this time and to become discouraged. Sometimes the only water we believe in is drying up. It is natural to feel discouraged when we meet the reality that the stream of recognition, the stream of power and joy, and the stream of love, comfort, and comfort are drying up. However, don't forget that the extremes of man are opportunities for God's work to happen. Is the stream of reality drying up? Look to God, who is the source of the water of life. Be a tree deeply rooted in Jesus, a fountain that never runs dry. Just as Elijah, who had the same disposition as ours, set the example of that faith, let us also wait for God's instructions and become saints who follow them. Even if the water of life around us dries up, God supplies the needs and gives the blessing of filling us with the Holy Spirit (John 7:38).