Here at the end it seems like God is sending his prophet to finally get things back on track. Elisha the prophet anoints Jehu king and tasks him with ridding the country of everything that has to do with Ahab and Jezebel. Jehu is thorough in his accomplishments, well, right up until it requires him to give up what he loves.

Naaman is the best ever. He is second to the king and a virtually undefeated war general, but he just discovered he has leprosy. So he grabs every bit of wealth and power and goes to visit the only one he knows who can heal him. Will Elisha accept his gifts to heal this gentile power?

Elijah just had a huge win against the prophets of Baal; however, he leaves scared because Jezebel is threatening his life.  He runs into the wilderness to the very mountain of God to hide from his sure defeat. But God, in a still, small voice asks him, “Why are you Here?”

Mt Carmel is a picturesque bluff overlooking the Sea. Over the years many of God’s people have sacrificed to the LORD in that place, but now that alter is in disrepair. But Baal worshipers have built a new altar and the place is now known for worshiping the god of rain and fertility where the rain begins. One could say it’s the home-field advantage for Baal in a godly battle.

Baal is not in charge. Elijah is the Lord’s prophet, and he has stopped the rain for long enough to make the rivers run dry. Everyone is suffering, especially the widows, and God sends his prophet to one of those widows to bring hope.

Times are dark. Since the times of David, the kingdom seems to be moving away from God in search of more and more power and wealth. This power and wealth have come at the cost of wanting to be like the other nations and have left the people serving the other gods around them. Into all of this we meet God’s prophet Elijah.