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Asa, Baasha, Abijam, Benhadad Nadab, Ahab.
Chapters 15-16 confused the hell out of me. I could barely keep track of who was king, who was doing evil (basically all of them), and who was smiting who.
I like the part where the LORD likes Asa even though he didn't do everything he could to please the LORD. It's like he was just emotionally exhausted by the actions of the people and just said "Ah, whatever. Good enough."
But then we get to Elijah, the prophet, one of the biblical characters that is revered by all three of the Abrahamic religions.
Elijah seems to be a mouth piece for God, almost like God just didn't want to deal with humans anymore.
Can you blame him?
Elijah gets fed by birds, he raises a kid from the dead and kind of just wanders around.
We get a "battle of the gods" competition and Baal fails to show. the LORD gets a little showy when it's his turn to front.
Elijah then has the competition wiped out but then fears for his own life when he's the last prophet standing.
We finish with Elijah finding Elisha plowing a field with 12 oxen (get the symbolism?) Elisha immediately leaves his job, pausing only to say goodbye to his parents and slaughtering the oxen (a foreshadowing of future events?).
Since we're talking about Elijah, I need to link to this SNL Sketch with Jerry Seinfeld. One of my favorites.
@Bruce,
ReplyDeleteAbout the battle between God and Baal, did you like how Elijah was mocking them? I thought that was really funny. :-) (1 Kings 18:27) ...Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
And they cried out and cut themselves. I see people still have false gods they worship today that leaves them just like these guys, self mutilated.
About Elijah running, it's interesting how God deals with him (1 Kings 19:11,12). Its that still small voice that sometimes i forget to listen to. (John 10:4; 10:26-30) I think that is a reason why Christians are referred to as sheep. :-D Some people won't like me saying that i guess. You just need to know something about sheep. ;-) I think God was speaking to Elijah the whole time, say something like "Where are you going? Why are you running? I got your back son" (Deuteronomy 4:31; 31:6,8) For the Christian it is mentioned in Hebrews 13:5 we have the same promise.
I know that for anything to happen it's because God allows it. Its something that i personally believe. Even Satan has to get permission to do things (Job 1:12; 2:6;) Pilate also had no power except from God (John 19:10,11) It might look like things are out of control, just need to remember who's in charge. God is never late, sometimes early, but always on time.
Never saw that SNL sketch, fantastic. Hey, it's Julia Sweeney!
ReplyDeleteSee, who said biblical literacy is pointless? Until reading Kings I had no clue who Elijah was and that skit wouldn't have made much sense. (Although, just as much of it rests on the Jewish customs *about* Elijah, but I've got a foundation at least.)
BTW, I have this pet theory where Elijah and Elisha are the same dude.
Also, both are a lot like Jesus.
About the battle between God and Baal, did you like how Elijah was mocking them? I thought that was really funny. :-) (1 Kings 18:27) ...Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, it's a great bit. I recently saw a claim that there was no humor in the Bible... I was aghast, because that's patently false.
In my study bible it notes that one of the things God may be off doing (IIRC "pursuing") may be a euphemism for visiting the loo.
@Edward,
ReplyDeleteI also liked his mocking, for the lack of a better word, of the Baal worshippers.
And I agree that God was leading Elisha around. Guiding him. My question is, was God doing this because he didn't want to be directly involved anymore? Having read the last few chapters of 1 Kings, I know now that that isn't the case.
@Abbie,
I also thought Elijah and Elisha were the same guy. And yes there will be a lot of similarities to Jesus coming up.
I'm sure the authors of the NT used Elijah as a bases for Jesus.
Also, I have a theory that there were two Jesuses (What is the plural of Jesus?) that were combined to create the man we see in the Bible. But we have a long time before we get to that.
@Bruce,
ReplyDeleteMy question is, was God doing this because he didn't want to be directly involved anymore?
It's not that He doesn't want to be involved, it's that he wants people that on their own (as best as we can, Holy Spirit helps allot) choose to follow Him. Kinda like a husband telling his wife every day about their marriage covenant at the alter. That would get old fast. God expects His people to hold their end of the agreement, and He's not going to show up every day reminding them (us) about it. However when things go wrong and they (we) start to blame God, He can present the covenant and show where they (us) have violated it.
God rewards those that diligently follow Him, not the ones that need to be prodded along. It's hard to kick against the pricks. :-D
Hope that makes sense.
Elisha and Elijah definitely not the same guy.