My person is Elijah. Elijah was a prophet during the reign of Ahab around 9th century BC. He was also a wonder-worker in the northern kingdom of Israel. First Adversity There was a Tishbite named Elijah, the Lord told him that to go hide by a stream and he did so. Everyday morning ravens will feed him by getting him bread and meat. And he drinks from the stream. The stream dries up since there was not a single drop of rain. And then the Lord told him to go live in Zarephath. There will be a widow to take care of him. And Elijah did so. He asked her to get him a drink and some bread.
But the widow told him that she and her son are about to cook and eat the last bit of the flour and oil and starve to death. But Elijah responded to her that God won’t let your food run out until the rains come. And she believed him and their food didn’t run out. But later, the widow’s son had got sick and passed away. She blamed Elijah taking son away from her to punish her. Elijah takes her son and carried him upstairs and prays for His Father to give his life back to him. And the son revived. After the widow has seen that her son came back to life, she then knew that Elijah was the man of God.
After a while, the Lord came to Elijah and told him to go to Ahab and he will send rain upon the earth. And Elijah did so. As Obadiah was looking for a place with grass for their mules he met Elijah. Obadiah was surprised and afraid of the Lord will kill him after. But Elijah promised not to do it. Therefore, Obadiah told Ahab “Behold Elijah is here”. Every prophet was gathered on Mountain Carmel. And Elijah said to them, follow who do you think is the Lord. And Elijah asked them to have a contest about their God. All of the 450 prophets will pray to Baal to burn the bull that was put on a pile of wood. And Elijah will do the same.
They tried till noon and nothing happens. After their failure, Elijah started to set up his altar of the Lord. When the evening came, Elijah prays to God and says, Let everyone know that you are the God in Israel. And the fire fell down to the ground. After that Ahab was told to head to his home, and Elijah goes to the top of the Mountain Carmel and prays. And then a rainstorm bursts over the land. Elijah had kept strong positive attitude towards adversities and God after encountered the adversities. Even after the death of widow’s son and while facing 450 prophets of Baal and still has his Faith in the Lord, Elijah is a righteous man indeed.
Second Adversity In Jezreel, there is a man named Naboth the Jezreelite. He had a vineyard that Ahab admires. But the Lord forbids Naboth from giving it to Ahab. And then the wife of Ahab made a plan to stone Naboth and kill him in order for Ahab to have the vineyard. The Word of the Lord came to Elijah, and he told him to go to Ahab the king of Israel, where he as gone to take possession. And he shall say to him “in the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your own blood”. As Elijah arrived, he told Ahab that God has seen what he has done. And he will be punished of how he made Israel sinful.
After three years being peace between Syria and Israel, Ahab decided to fight Syria for the land of Ramoth-gilead. And he gathered all of the prophets that he have except Micaiah to discuss about it. Ahab didn’t like him because he always prophesies the unfortunate things. But Jehosaphat would like to hear what he says about this battle. Although Micaiah said that he agrees whatever the king says at first, but as the kings demanded to hear the truth. Therefore Micaiah finally spoke the vision that he saw, which the armies of Israel were scattered like sheep without a shepherd.
However, the Lord wants him to go to the battle and the prophets will entice him. Ahab was upset and put Micaiah to prison until he and his army return from the battle victoriously. During the battle, Ahab disguised himself as a regular soldier. But the disguise did really work. He got shot of an arrow. The battlefield was a mess, although Ahab tried to escape from it but he didn’t succeed. Ahab’s body was brought back to Samaria, and the dogs licked his blood as they washing his chariot and armor. After Ahab’s death, his son Ahaziah reigned in his place.
And Jehoshaphat began to reign over Judah and also made peace with the king of Israel from then. Having such a arrogant and ignorant king for Micaiah would be an adversity which let him suffered in prison and the pain. After reading the chapters I felt that Elijah didn’t really involve with the most part of the story. Although he was ablt to manage with the Lord and let teh spirits do the work for Ahab. And I have a thought that the way of Micaiah dealt with this adversity was a little bit negative. Since he didn’t really care about the decision of what Ahab had made. He agrees whatever he says.
However, Micaiah was able to ask God to send the spirits in order to help him. Third Adversity The Lord was about to take Elijah up to the Heaven. He told his follower Elisha and they all went to the Jordan with fifty men of the sons of the prophets. Elijah took his cloak off and struck the water, and then the water was parted to the sides. It gives a path for them two to walk through. And Elisha cried after Elijah went up by a whirlwind into the Heaven. Elijah had to leave one of his faithful disciples behind and head to the Heaven. I think that is an adversity for them both.
Elisha kept the teaching of Elijah and succeeded his spirit as his positive way to face this adversity. God’s Involvement I think that God is present all the time. He is all knowing so he only gives command or messages to Elijah when he thinks it’s necessary. Such as “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth”. The most phrases I see is that “the word of the Lord came to Elijah”. Conclusion God has a perfect plan for all of us, and it includes adversities in it. Therefore, we have to face them no matter what. The only thing that would matter is the way that you deal with it.
