~ *Throwing Down the Gauntlet ~
AFTER A CHALLENGING ENCOUNTER with the prophet Elijah, Obadiah is used by God as an intermediary between the prophet and king Ahab. “So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah.” (1 Kings 18:16) This meeting is ostensibly to discuss the prophet’s part in bringing a drought and subsequent famine on the kingdom, versus the king’s power to rule the kingdom. “When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?” (1 Kings 18:17)
In reality, each man represents a god and a system of beliefs that have the capacity to call people to follow them and the particular god they serve. Ahab had married Jezebel, and that union led him away from the God of his fathers and into practices of worship of both Baal, a Canaanite fertility god—the god of rain and dew—as well as Asherah, a fertility goddess who’s worship involved sensuality and cultic temple prostitution. Elijah worshiped Israel’s God Yahweh, and it was through Yahweh that Elijah had called forth the now three-year drought crippling Israel, and greatly weakening Ahab’s kingdom.
Elijah responds to the king’s assault on his character. “I have not made trouble for Israel. But you and your father’s family have.” (1 Kings 18:18a) He places the blame for the difficult issues facing the land and kingdom not only on Ahab, but generationally on his family line. Elijah also charges Ahab specifically with the issue that has brought about this severe discipline from the hand of God. “You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals.” (1 Kings 18:18b)
Ahab is a king with a powerful army at his command. Elijah is a lone prophet, but not alone, for he serves an all-powerful God. He issues an incredible challenge to Ahab. “Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table . ” (1 Kings 18:19) If we are paying attention to details, to what is being said or not said, as well as that which is inferred, we notice several important things here.
First is that a powerful king with a standing army doesn’t simply manhandle to his knees the man he has been trying to find and kill for three years, and cut off his head at this moment of opportunity. It might be that God has blinded his eyes and mind to this possibility; it could be that he is aware that the prophet has a strong following in the people of Israel. Perhaps it is both.
Second, but this is through the later lens of Christian interpretation from a perspective of apocryphal eschatology, this ‘duel of prophets’ is to be fought at the top of Mt. Carmel. From there is a sweeping view of the plains of Megiddo, where many a historic battle has been fought, and where the final battle between the armies of the earth, serving their gods, and the armies of Israel, served by their God, will begin at an all-important future date.
Also, Ahab’s wife, queen Jezebel, is introduced into this tense conversation as a very powerful figure; eight hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and Asherah ‘eat at her table.’ It begins to become clear that Ahab has been seduced by a very powerful priestess of Canaanite religion, and that the land which God wrested from the Amalekites and Canaanites during the time of Joshua is now weakened and in danger of falling from within back into their hands. And God is angry.
The challenge goes forward. “So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel.” (1 Kings 18:20) That is, the eight hundred fifty, and Elijah. And gathered with all of them are a multitude of the people of Israel as witnesses. This is to be a very public display. “Elijah went before the people and said, ‘How long will you waver between two opinions?’” (1 Kings 18:21a) We hear his voice. It is not simply loud enough to be heard, but it is very strident, and challenging, with every syllable cutting like a knife. We see his eyes. They are intense, burning with passion, not quickly glancing about, but fixing his gaze upon them one after another, as they first look, and then look uncomfortably away. We watch him earnestly as he strides energetically and purposefully amongst them, making sure his challenge is heard and understood. It costs us nothing but our approval to see him dress down the representatives of a nation of people, and we urge him on. “If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” (1 Kings 18:21b)
The lines are drawn for the battle of the gods. The issues have been made clear. The fate of a nation is at hand. The people have seen, heard, and understood. And here, in this tense moment, the character of a nation is subjected to a penultimate trial. We wonder what they will support, which way they will turn. Scripture records, “But the people said nothing.” (1 Kings 18:21c)
Paralysis of action is oftentimes the result of too many complexities in the choices that call for a decision. The mind becomes confused by such a multitude of possibilities, and the person, or a group of people, are rendered powerless in the face of imminent change. But there are also many circumstances in which the canny seek personal opportunity in the outcomes, and wait to see what will benefit them the most before revealing their selection. The first is a case of mental weakness, the second is mere loathsome avarice. Both of those issues are at hand here, like opposing points, but yet on a continuum.
Many people are involved in this scene, and many points of view. But one thing stands out: together, they have lost the ability to make God-inspired choices that are of highest benefit to them and their best way of life, let alone for an even higher good. When people fall away from God, whether led by their own predilection for rebellion, or by a set of leaders who represent collectively such a cultural will, the person or the nation is in great danger. “Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint.” (Prov. 29:18a) This leads to lawlessness, and personal or national ruin. The opposite, however, is equally true, and with far more beneficial results. “But blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.” (Prov. 29:18b) The god whom we serve offers his or her benefits to each of us. The God we choose is, then, incredibly important. As Christians, we choose Jesus, the one who chose us, and in that we need to stay very well-focused. Do not let the things of this world come between us and him. Be guided by Joshua’s words: “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Josh. 24:15a, c)
Do not be silent at the time to speak. God is listening.
Q. As I awake from my involvement in the cultural torpor of my times, what words arise from my heart towards my lips?
*“Throwing down the gauntlet” – Medieval period English idiom for a formal challenge to a duel to the death.
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