Elijah and Legos

Part 1

1 Kings 17:1-6

Reflection

Hello Friends! I hope you are well, and I pray that your time with God this past week has been a time of spiritual growth and of a palpable feeling of how wide, how long, how high, and how deep God’s love is for you. One of my favorite toys as a child was Legos. I’ve also been fortunate to enjoy Legos with both of my kids these past few years. When I think about Legos, I think about how the excitement would build as I examined all sides of the box and the pictures of the vehicle, castle, or spaceship that would become the finished result of connecting the hundreds of pieces inside that box. Anyone who’s built a Lego also knows that they come with step-by-step manuals on how to build the completed item. Patience is required when building a Lego because getting ahead or skipping a step would lead to setbacks and only slow your progress. While there always seem to be extra pieces at the end with no purpose, losing a key piece during the build would be catastrophic! And, of course, anyone who has ever stepped on an unseen Lego barefooted knows they can also be very painful! In some respects, we experience the same excitement, step-by-step growth, needed patience, loss of something important, and even unseen pain as we grow in our relationship with God and as Disciples of Jesus.

Application

In Scripture, the life and ministry of Elijah also include many of the components of Lego building. The life of Elijah is also marked by some vital experiences and truths that we should all examine closely as we strive to draw closer to God. As one of God’s prophets, Elijah experienced some of the highest of highs but also some of the lowest of lows. Nor was Elijah perfect. Abraham Heschel once wrote, “To be a prophet is both a distinction and an affliction.” While I doubt any of us would claim the title of prophet, being a disciple of Jesus can also carry the same weight Heschel describes. Jesus told his disciples in John 16:33 (NLT),

“Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows.

But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Elijah would experience many trials and sorrows, but he too would overcome them and be whisked away to heaven on a Chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:11).

So, who was Elijah? Well, if you are familiar with how scripture introduces Elijah, his story begins suddenly in 1 Kings 17:1. We know very little about Elijah prior to that. We know he was from Gilead and that his nickname was “the Tishbite, from Tishbe.” Tishbe means settler, and the name Elijah means “My God is Yahweh.” With no more information than that about Elijah, it’s fair to say, at first glance, that he was a relative nobody from nowhere. Fortunately for Elijah and us, those are the kind of people God loves to use for His purpose! Elijah was equal parts ordinary and extraordinary. In James 5:17, he is described as a man “just like us” because he was so very human. And yet he was so very spectacular. Immediately, we see in 1 Kings 17:1 that Elijah speaks to King Ahab with a degree of authority that had only been seen prior to this by individuals like Moses and Samuel.

Unlike Legos, which comes with an instruction manual that shows your next steps, the Christian life is rarely that clear or mapped out. The declaration that Elijah made to Ahab that there would be “neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word” was not some statement Elijah came up with on his own. He was letting Ahab know that God himself was the source of this prophecy. It was not Elijah’s word but was the infallible word of God. Elijah was simply God’s messenger, and he didn’t hold back!

While this passage from 1 Kings makes no mention of it, we know Elijah prayed in addition to proclaiming this prophecy. It is in the Book of James that we also learn that Elijah “prayed earnestly that it would not rain” (James 5:17).

I wonder: how often do you earnestly pray over or for something before you act on it?

If I am honest with myself, I am selective about many of the needs or situations I present to God in prayer. Why? Again, if I am honest, somewhere deep inside, I am still trying to be in control of my life, and I want my will to be done, and not God’s will be done. More than likely, it has to do with my feelings of unbelief or doubt that what I am praying for won’t ever happen. Oh, ye of little faith, lest I forget! Luke 1:37 (ESV) couldn’t be clearer on what God can and can’t do.

For nothing will be impossible with God.

Elijah was fully aware of God’s abilities, or he wouldn’t have so boldly proclaimed God’s prophecy. However, now Elijah had a problem. Proclaiming this prophecy of God moved Elijah right to the top of Ahab’s list of “Most Wanted”! Fortunately for Elijah, God already had a plan in place. 1 Kings 17:2-6 records how “the word of the Lord came to Elijah” and gave him very specific instructions on what his escape plan would be, where he would hide, and how he would eat. It strikes me how obedient and confident Elijah was in these first few verses. First, he approached Ahab with boldness and courage. At least we have no record of Elijah arguing with God or him trying to find some other prophet to deliver this message to Ahab. Then, when God shares his escape plan with Elijah, he obediently goes without asking any questions. Verse 5 says, “So he did what the Lord had told him.” He followed the Lord’s instruction manual step-by-step!

I will share additional reflections about Elijah in the coming week. For now, I challenge you to think about Elijah in these first 6 verses, and as you reflect, be honest with yourself and answer these questions:

• Does God see me as a nobody or as a somebody?

• Am I as bold about sharing my faith with others as Elijah was about proclaiming God’s prophecy to

• a demonic king like Ahab?

• If God or the Holy Spirit directs me to do something, do I doubt, or do I obediently follow, no matter the risks?

In Christ,

Doug