Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
In studying the story of Elijah many misread that Elijah walked into Ahab's office and told him there would be no rain nor dew until the Lordchose to send it. But the Bible says that the prophet told the king, "There shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at myword" (1 Kings 17:1). (The Hebrew says, myword, and several translations agree.)
And in the New Testament, James agrees. He tells how the famine was Elijah's idea: Elijah "prayed earnestly that it would not rain: and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months" (5:17). Elijah loved Israel and saw they were going down to utter destruction unless something should happen to wake them up. His love for Israel was actually a love for the plan of redemption, for God had chosen Israel to be His missionary nation to the world. Elijah's love for Israel was the same kind as God's love for them--a love mixed with discipline. It seems that God had entrusted the fate of the nation to Elijah.
The lesson for us is that in the close of time God entrusts to His people a partnership with Him which will bring to a close the great controversy that has raged so long: "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne" (Rev. 3:21). That's not just for photographs to be taken; it's to share with Him executive authority for bringing an end to the great controversy.
There will be thousands of "Elijahs" all around the world (cf. Mal. 4:5, 6; maybe 144,000?), whose hearts have at last become totally reconciled (at-one) with Him in His ministry and in His plan of salvation. Respect yourself as He respects you; you're somebody important! You have something to live for.
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: September 15, 2007.
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