Chairman's Message - Leave Ahab Alone!
By Rev. Eu Hong Seng
Right after his ascension, Ahab earned the unenviable reputation of the "worst ever ruler." It was then that God sent Elijah to speak, not to Ahab, but to His people. Not to condemn Ahab for his wickedness, other than to announce the three and a half years of impending drought, but to "adjust" his people.
On Mount Carmel, the prophet boldly challenged the indecisive people. Wickedness was permeating in the systems and various segments of society by Ahab (1Kings16:30ff) and herein are lessons for the Malaysian Church - five things the Church should do in this season of difficult transition.
1 Firstly, choose whom you serve. At the critical time of Israel's political history (circa 906 BC), the main concern of God was who His people would follow and serve. 1
It is so natural to focus on social righteousness, the justice system, the moral decay of the nation and the wickedness of the ruler but instead, God zoomed in on the weaknesses of His people.
Today, needless debate is ongoing about the political scenario in our nation but as we gripe about the state of the nation, God in likewise manner is demanding an answer (from us) to His question: "How long will you falter between two opinions?"
For too long we console ourselves of being a sleeping giant but that is an oxymoron. As long as the Church is asleep, we will never be a giant.
How very true that "the ruler of a nation is a mirror in which is reflected the character of the people" but to harp on that is to bark up the wrong tree. Plainly put, the "right tree" is the Church.
The Church has somehow been guilty of "projection." The issue is not Ahab (and his Jezebel) - we are oblivious that God has hit the "pause button" and wants us to examine our own faltering ways. Ahab certainly has a case to answer but so does the Church.
2 Secondly, implore Him to answer by fire. He is certainly more than capable of decisively defending Himself and it's time we ask Him to reveal Himself as a God of fire.
When Christians waver, we cannot expect unbelievers to be impressed and convinced. When one religion is pitted against another, it's time we implore the one true God to prove Himself.
Elijah deliberately poured water into the trenches and the sacrifice, and invited God to defend Himself. In ancient times, gods proved themselves by their might. The populace was quick to call upon their gods to do so. It should be no different today. To do that indeed is to be "purpose driven."
God does not need our clever strategies and methodologies; He is quite capable.
3 Thirdly, be encouraged by the hidden company of God's people. We must remind ourselves that the destiny of the nation is never as precarious as we sometimes imagined.
There is always a company of God's people who "have not bowed their knees to Baal."
There were the 100 prophets hidden by Obadiah (1Kgs18:4) and the 7000 "reserved" (1Kgs19:18) by the Lord. I thank God that in every crisis, there is a "hidden company" of God's people who are ever loyal to Him. We can be confident in every national crisis.
4 Fourthly, pray, pray, pray! The prophet Elijah prayed with his head in between his knees for rain to be poured forth so that that relief and blessing could come upon the nation.
Every problem has a shelf life, and the three years and six months drought was about to end. Once again, God used a praying man, who was like us. 2
The many unsavoury reports of economists and the IMF no doubt signal the beginning of "drought" in our nation. But there is no time for the blame game.
The Church must "put their head in between their knees" to travail in prayer for there will be the sound of the "abundance of rain." And God wants His House of prayer to be filled once again. There is no excuse for the "ordinary believer" not to pray.
The apostle James took pains to tell us the great prayer warrior (Elijah) was a "man with a nature like ours." It was not the kairos time for the wicked Ahab to be dealt with. It was, and it is, time to pray.
Pray, pray, and pray.
Elijah stayed focused on praying for rain, and I suspect more time spent in our prayer meetings will bear greater fruit than time spent in political analyses and rallies.
In this season, let's implore our Almighty for rain to end the drought - economic, moral, political and spiritual - over our nation.
He is the God of mercy who answers by fire and when the fire came down, it was not to burn Ahab up, nor to devour his palace. It was to prove Himself to His people and to end the drought.
5 Lastly, prepare to speak. The responsibility to see and under- stand what God is doing is still ours today. The prophet's servant couldn't see in spite of the prophet's encouragement. Elijah alone could hear and knew the rain was indeed coming.
We must "see" because the day will come when God will ask us to deliver a message to Ahab to "go... prepare your chariots." 3
The worsening crisis is on the horizon, but there is much hope for the seeking, seeing and serving Church. Until and unless we seek, see and serve, we are not qualified to speak.
He is indeed the merciful One, the Allah who will defend His own name.
If God were to rain fire down today, it won't be on Ahab's palace. I won't be surprised if it will be just a few feet from our pulpits.
How long will we falter between two opinions?
Footnote
1 Kings 18:21 (NKJV) And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a word.
2 James 5:17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. NKJV
3 1 Kgs 18:44 |
