Kings 18:22-38, one is reminded a couple of couple of basketball players playing a pickup game. One of them is talking trash throughout the game (Elijah taunting the prophets). He is so confident of his ability that he plays with only one hand (Elijah pouring water on the altar). But in the end the man with the supreme ability (or the supreme faith and god) comes out on top. In a basketball game this kind of confidence is not always appreciated, but in Elijahs time and under the circumstances, this total faith shows us just how devoted Elijah is to Yahweh.The AftermathAfter the people had proclaimed Yahweh as their God, Elijah orders them to gather the prophets of Baal. They then took the prophets and, in a scene repeated throughout the Bible, killed every one of them. Then Elijah did a most unusual thing. He released Ahab, the person who was mainly responsible for the downfall of Israel. Elijah may have done this because he thought that Ahab was finally convinced of his errors. Whatever his motivation for releasing Ahab, it soon backfires on him. Ahab goes straight to his wicked wife Jezebel and recounts to her what had happened on Mount Carmel. Jezebel proclaims that Elijah is as good as dead. Hearing this, Elijah runs for his life. This is an interesting turn of events, for Elijahs faith in Yahweh seems to waver in the face of Jezebels threat. While Elijah is hiding from Jezebel in the desert, Yahweh provides for him. Elijah eventually flees to Mount Sinai. Finally Yahweh asks him What are you doing here? (1 Kings 19:9). Elijah explains that he is the only prophet of Yahweh left, and is afraid that if he is killed, there will be no one left to carry on the word of the Lord (1 Kings 19:14). As usual, Yahweh guides Elijah through this difficult period. He tells Elijah to find Elisha of Abel Meholah to become his assistant, and that Elisha will succeed Elijah as a prophet of Yahweh. The final scene in 1 Kings 19 giv...
