Elijah

by Toms, A. F. | Category: Voices From The Past | Oct 1993

Elijah may well have wondered whether because of his failure he had forfeited the right to be used by God. But it was not so. Whatever regrets may have filled his heart in regard to his despondency when he sat under the juniper tree and asked to die, God was taking up His servant once again. It says "the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite". It was just like the old days when the Word of God came to him and he had to speak it out faithfully and fearlessly. Once again he was being sent with a message to king Ahab. "Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which dwelleth in Sainaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to take possession of it".

Ahab had not changed despite the remarkable demonstration of God's power on mount Carmel and despite the fact that the prophets of Baal had been slain. He was still the same Ahab and his wicked queen was still scheming behind the scenes. in this case it had to do with Naboth' 5 vineyard which adjoined the king's palace. Ahab wanted it badly and offered to do business with Nahoth. He was prepared to give him a better vineyard or the value of it in money. But Naboth would not agree. It was his God-given inheritance handed down from his fathers, and he would not let

it go. God had said it was to be passed down the family line, so as far as Naboth was concerned it was God's word versus the king's, and he was such a man that neither the king's reward nor the king's wrath would persuade him to go against the word of the Lord. Fearlessly he stood his ground. He explained it was the inheritance of his fathers and he could not, and must not give it up. All honour to him!

His courage and faithfulness stand on the page of Scripture as a great example to us, for we have an inheritance which God has given us and we are required to guard it with similar diligence. It is not the inheritance of which the apostle Peter writes which is incorruptible and undefiled and reserved in heaven for us. We cannot lose that inheritance. It belongs to all who have been born again. There is another inheritance of which the apostle Paul spoke to the elders of Ephesus, when he said, "I commend you to God, and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you the inheritance among all them that are sanctified" Acts 20:32). Obedience to the Word of God brought them into an inheritance in God's house which was something very precious, and was to be guarded

continued on page 160

Toms, A. F. | Oct 1993
Voices From The Past