Advent, day 5. The Troubler and the Troubled.

Being unfairly judged or blamed for what you did not do. It is a painful and shameful sensation in any time and culture.

Elijah was no stranger to false accusations; after three years of drought which he predicted, it was inevitable that it would be seen as his fault. Being sent to stand before Ahab, the king who'd sent spies throughout three lands to find him, could not have been other than daunting. Obadiah, the prophet who was to inform Ahab of Elijah's whereabouts was deeply fearful to undertake that mission. The tension in the court when Elijah was named was surely palpable--a most hunted, wanted man.

Ahab's greeting to Elijah instinctively forced on him the blame of Israel's hardship. But the prophet deflects the false arrow with words of Truth: "you and your family are the troublers of the land." Elijah knew who he was and did not acknowledge a twisted perception. 

Next, without being precisely sure of what would be required of him, Elijah outlined the LORD's demands: to call all of Israel and specifically include the 400 prophets of Asherah and the 450 prophets of Baal, favoured men who ate daily at the king's table while Israel starved. The playing field is being laid out, and it looks very uneven; not in Elijah's favour. 

Elijah's trust, however, is not circumstantial. It is born of something intensely personal.

Advent, day 5. The Troubler and the Troubled.

1 Ki 18: 17 When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”

The famine is severe in all the land—

Three years have worn the people to despair.

Now Jezebel exacts her vengeance harsh

Commanding slaughter of the men of God.

A trusted steward in the royal court

One hundred prophets now has safely hid

In secret caves and given food and drink

To save them from a madness born in hell.

Today the LORD has told me to present

Myself to Ahab with His revelation:

Soon rain will come, but first a confrontation

Of power authentic: setting captives free.

“You troubler of Israel, is that you at last?”

Perversely Ahab shifts the blame away—

“The pain of Israel lies not at my door

I merely bring the words the LORD has said.

Your family are the troublers of this land.

You and your father heartlessly defiled it

By passing children through the demon fires:

A foul, unholy stench rises to heaven.”

Now call the people everywhere to come,

Include the Baal and Asherah prophets vain,

To Carmel where the verdict will be won.

And when it’s finished, I will send the rain.