prophets and kings-第19节
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to call upon them night and day to refresh the earth。 With costly offerings the priests attempt to appease the anger of their gods； with a zeal and a perseverance worthy of a better cause they linger round their pagan altars and pray earnestly for rain。 Night after night； throughout the doomed land； their cries and entreaties arise。 But no clouds appear in the heavens by day to hide the burning rays of the sun。 No dew or rain refreshes the thirsty earth。 The word of Jehovah stands unchanged by anything the priests of Baal can do。
A year passes； and yet there is no rain。 The earth is parched as if with fire。 The scorching heat of the sun destroys what little vegetation has survived。 Streams dry up； and lowing herds and bleating flocks wander hither and thither in distress。 Once…flourishing fields have become like burning desert sands； a desolate waste。 The groves dedicated to idol worship are leafless； the forest trees； gaunt skeletons
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of nature； afford no shade。 The air is dry and suffocating； dust storms blind the eyes and nearly stop the breath。 Once…prosperous cities and villages have become places of mourning。 Hunger and thirst are telling upon man and beast with fearful mortality。 Famine； with all its horror； comes closer and still closer。
Yet notwithstanding these evidences of God's power； Israel repented not； nor learned the lesson that God would have them learn。 They did not see that He who created nature controls her laws； and can make of them instruments of blessing or of destruction。 Proudhearted； enamored of
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their false worship； they were unwilling to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God； and they began to cast about for some other cause to which to attribute their sufferings。
Jezebel utterly refused to recognize the drought as a judgment from Jehovah。 Unyielding in her determination to defy the God of heaven； she； with nearly the whole of Israel； united in denouncing Elijah as the cause of all their misery。 Had he not borne testimony against their forms of worship？ If only he could be put out of the way； she argued； the anger of their gods would be appeased； and their troubles would end。
Urged on by the queen； Ahab instituted a most diligent search for the hiding place of the prophet。 To the surrounding nations； far and near； he sent messengers to seek for the man whom he hated； yet feared； and in his anxiety to make the search as thorough as possible； he required of these kingdoms and nations an oath that they knew nothing of the whereabouts of the prophet。 But the search was in vain。 The prophet was safe from the malice of the king whose sins had brought upon the land the denunciation of an offended God。
Failing in her efforts against Elijah； Jezebel determined to avenge herself by slaying all the prophets of Jehovah in Israel。 Not one should be left alive。 The infuriated woman carried out her purpose in the massacre of many of God's servants。 Not all； however； perished。 Obadiah； the governor of Ahab's house； yet faithful to God； 〃took an hundred prophets；〃 and at the risk of his own life； 〃hid them by fifty in a cave； and fed them with bread and water。〃 1 Kings 18：4。
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The second year of famine passed； and still the pitiless heavens gave no sign of rain。 Drought and famine continued their devastation throughout the kingdom。 Fathers and mothers； powerless to relieve the sufferings of their children； were forced to see them die。 Yet still apostate Israel refused to humble their hearts before God and continued to murmur against the man by whose word these terrible judgments had been brought upon them。 They seemed unable to discern in their suffering and distress a call to repentance； a divine interposition to save them from taking the fatal step beyond the boundary of Heaven's forgiveness。
The apostasy of Israel was an evil more dreadful than all the multiplied horrors of famine。 God was seeking to free the people from their delusion and lead them to understand their accountability to the One to whom they owed their life and all things。 He was trying to help them to recover their lost faith； and He must needs bring upon them great affliction。
〃Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die？ saith the Lord God： and not that he should return from his ways； and live？〃 〃Cast away from you all your transgressions； whereby ye have transgressed； and make you a new heart and a new spirit： for why will ye die； O house of Israel？ For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth； saith the Lord God： wherefore turn yourselves； and live ye。〃 〃Turn ye； turn ye from your evil ways； for why will ye die； O house of Israel？〃 Ezekiel 18：23； 31； 32； 33：11。
God had sent messengers to Israel； with appeals to return to their allegiance。 Had they heeded these appeals； had
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they turned from Baal to the living God； Elijah's message of judgment would never have been given。 But the warnings that might have been a savor of life unto life had proved to them a savor of death unto death。 Their pride had been wounded； their anger had been aroused against the messengers； and now they regarded with intense hatred the prophet Elijah。 If only he should fall into their hands； gladly they would deliver him to Jezebelas if by silencing his voice they could stay the fulfillment of his words！ In the face of calamity they continued to stand firm in their idolatry。 Thus they were adding to the guilt that had brought the judgments of Heaven upon the land。
For stricken Israel there was but one remedya turning away from the sins that had brought upon them the chastening hand of the Almighty； and a turning to the Lord with full purpose of heart。 To them had been given the assurance； 〃If I shut up heaven that there be no rain； or if I command the locusts to devour the land； or if I send pestilence among My people； if My people； which are called by My name； shall humble themselves； and pray； and seek My face； and turn from their wicked ways； then will I hear from heaven； and will forgive their sin； and will heal their land。〃 2 Chronicles 7：13； 14。 It was to bring to pass this blessed result that God continued to withhold from them the dew and the rain until a decided reformation should take place。
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Chapter 10
The Voice of Stern Rebuke
For a time Elijah remained hidden in the mountains by the brook Cherith。 There for many months he was miraculously provided with food。 Later on； when； because of the continued drought； the brook became dry； God bade His servant find refuge in a heathen land。 〃Arise；〃 He bade him； 〃get thee to Zarephath； ＇known in New Testament times as Sarepta＇； which belongeth to Zidon； and dwell there： behold； I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee。〃
This woman was not an Israelite。 She had never had the privileges and blessings that the chosen people of God had enjoyed； but she was a believer in the true God and had walked in all the light that was shining on her pathway。 And now； when there was no safety for Elijah in the land of Israel； God sent him to this woman to find a asylum in her home。
〃So he arose and went to Zarephath。 And when he came to the gate of the city； behold； the widow woman was
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there gathering of sticks： and he called to her； and said； Fetch me； I pray thee； a little water in a vessel； that I may drink。 And as she was going to fetch it； he called to her； and said； Bring me； I pray thee； a morsel of bread in thine hand。〃
In this poverty…stricken home the famine pressed sore； and the pitifully meager fare seemed about to fail。 The coming of Elijah on the very day when the widow feared that she must give up the struggle to sustain life tested to the utmost her faith in the power of the living God to provide for her necessities。 But even in her dire extremity she bore witness to her faith by a compliance with the request of the stranger who was asking her to share her last morsel with him。
In response to Elijah's request for food and drink； the widow said； 〃As the Lord thy God liveth； I have not a cake； but an handful of meal in a barrel； and a little oil in a cruse： and； behold； I am gathering two sticks； that I may go in and dress it for me and my son； that we may eat it； and die。〃 Elijah said to her； 〃Fear not； go and do as thou hast said： but make me thereof a little cake first； and bring it unto me； and after make for thee and for thy son。 For thus saith the Lord of Israel； The barrel of meal shall not waste； neither shall the cruse of oil fail； until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth。〃
No greater test of faith than this could have been required。 The widow had hitherto treated all strangers with kindness and liberality。 Now； regardless of the suffering that might result to herself and child； and trusting in the God of Israel
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to supply her every need； she met this supreme test of hospitality by doing 〃according to the saying of E
