"a vegetable garden"

That's all the king of Israel wanted, a vegetable garden. The owner wouldn't let him trade for it or buy it. So the king becomes sullen, downcast, wouldn't eat, nothing. In chapter 21 of 1Kings we see the selfish, self centered ways of this pathetic King move us quickly into the middle of a very dark plot simply because he wasn't getting his way. Then deception, false testimony and a brutal killing occurs. All for a vegetable garden?

Yes, Ahab got the garden. But, Elijah had his number and the price that was to be paid was high. Finding the king in his newly possessed garden, Elijah reveals to him the word of the Lord. Among other things, this evil man and his conniving wife would definitely not experience a royal burial at the end of their days. Ahab's foolish ways drove many in Israel to sin, provoking the Lord to anger. The damage was irrefutable. A part of verse 25 reads, "there was no one like Ahab." Pathetic! Why then would the Lord even consider withholding punishment from this evil king?

The Lord God declares in Ezekiel 33:11, "I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live." Psalm 111:4 reads, "The Lord is gracious and compassionate." Amazingly, He offers undeserved grace to Ahab. Thinking about what I've done that deserves just punishment, the Lord brings me to the place where I too see it. I see my self centerdness, my ambition to have what I want no matter what, no matter who gets hurt. It's there, as a turn toward Him in repentance, that the Lord compassionately, mercifully offers His grace - a gift of grace that brings to me a new heart, a new spirit, new life (Ezekiel 36:25-27).

"into the wilderness"

Running exuberantly southeast to the town of Jezreel , then running fearfully for his life south to Beersheba, Elijah is found in chapter 19 (vs.4) of 1Kings under a broom tree in the wilderness. Worn out, depressed and feeling quite alone he says to the Lord, "It is enough."  What happened?

We discussed this at length Tuesday evening after some of us enjoyed soup together around the table while the rest arrived. Many thoughts were expressed concerning the reasons Elijah ran, what he was feeling in the wilderness and what God was doing in all this (1Kings 19:1-14). Our eyes were opened to the reality of how human Elijah was; experiencing the miraculous "fire of the Lord" on Mt. Carmel, then totally at a low point in his life in the wilderness; in a cave. Overwhelmed by our circumstances, we too can find ourselves in a cave. It doesn't seem to matter what's gone on before.

Would God let Elijah be; defeated, feeling alone in the wilderness, tucked away in a cave? Starting in 1Kings 19:5, we find answers. First, shade of a broom tree for rest; then food and water for nourishment and strength; then the word of the Lord comes, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" Then a gentle whisper, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" Among the most beloved verses in the New Testament are the words of Jesus found in Matthew 11:28-29. He spoke, "Come to Me all you who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls."

In the wilderness, like Elijah, we can hear that gentle whisper that brings us out of the cave. God's word invites us to come to Him, to listen and to accept His promise of relief from our burdens, His promise of security, eternal life and rest - rest for our souls.

"no one paid attention"

Perhaps "he is occupied or gone aside, or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened."  450 prophets calling out loudly, leaping and doing whatever to see if the one they wanted would answer.  "There was no voice, no one answered and no one paid attention."  Imagine that!

Reading in the 18th chapter of 1Kings (starting in vs 25), we see this picture of men pleading for someone to answer, someone who is not there.  In contrast, Elijah calls on the Lord (vs.36-37), "Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that You are God."  Hearing Elijah, the Lord answers showing Himself in a miraculous way.  What do we learn from this; about where we should go for answers, about the reality of God listening?

Like so many, I am certainly guilty of seeking answers in the wrong places and from the wrong people - where no one pays attention, no one is home.  Maybe it's God whom I should consistently be turning to for direction in my life, for answers on how to bring up my children, for wisdom and understanding?  Can I be as confident as Elijah that the Lord will hear me and answer?  Vs.30-37 give us a description of Elijah's careful preparation and humble response to God's word.  There is something to that.  Then we read how he calls on the Lord for His will (not Elijah's) to be done.

We're invited to ask, seek and knock, to go to our Father in heaven for answers (Matt.7:7); to go expectantly to His Word.  And then, part of Matt.7:8 reads "to him who knocks it will be opened."