Tag: Elijah

Posted in Advent devotions

Fire from heaven

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Courtney Cook on Unsplash

The firewood was damp. I didn’t have any newspaper. What little kindling I could find was wet. It was windy. Night was approaching. It was a challenge, but I got a smoky fire going inside the campsite ring of rocks.

Elijah arranged similar conditions when he challenged the prophets of Baal to a sacrifice challenge. He soaks his sacrifice and the wood beneath it with enough water to fill a moat around the altar. But it’s not a problem for God who send fire to consume the sacrifice, wood, stone altar, and all the water (1 Kings 18:20-40). There’s nothing left but a crater after the Lord demonstrates that he is the one true God.

On a recent walk I saw a burned out shell of a car in someone’s driveway. Every Thanksgiving people post videos of turkeys going up in flames when improperly dropped into a pot of hot oil. I vividly remember when wildfires raged within a half-mile of my home. I never underestimate the power of flames.

Every once in while God shows up in fire. Like the burning bush from which he spoke to Moses. Or chariots and horses of fire when he took Elijah to heaven. Or when he spoke to Zechariah who was burning incense in the temple. The Holy Spirit looked like tongues of fire descending on the apostles on Pentecost. Jesus’s eyes looked like they were on fire when John saw him in the first chapter of Revelation.

Sometimes God’s fire consumes. Sometimes it purifies. Elijah gets an ornament on the Jesse Tree as he prayed for God to reveal himself with fire.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

He’s my God, too

Posted on by William Douthwaite

After Elijah is separated from Elisha and taken into heaven by a whirlwind, Elisha is left with nothing but Elijah’s coat.

Now what’s he going to do? Elijah had folded up the coat, struck the Jordan’s water, and it split so the two of them could cross over. Is Elisha going to be able to duplicate that so he can go home? How exactly did Elijah do that?

It’s quiet now. The chariot of fire and horses of fire are gone. The whirlwind is gone. Elijah is gone. As he strikes the water with Elijah’s folded coat, Elisha asks, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” (2 Kings 2:14).

How do you think Elisha felt when the waters divided and he could cross over? Do you think he was surprised? Do you think he hit the water with confidence? Or was it a half-hearted “I doubt if this is going to work” effort?

I think we’ve all known men and women who seemed to be much more spiritual than us. Their mature faith, vast knowledge of scripture, amazing prayers made us feel that God must like them a lot more than us.

Elisha discovers that God’s there for him, too. I think Elisha was surprised, relieved, and encouraged when God divided the water for him to cross over. The Lord wasn’t just the God of Elijah. He was Elisha’s God, too.

It’s always a great moment when I remember that the God of all creation is my God. That the Savior of the world is my Savior. That the Holy Spirit not only dwells in the spiritual temple of God’s people (the church) but in me.

Yeah, Elijah’s God and Elisha’s God is my God, too.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

I could use a double

Posted on by William Douthwaite

A “through the bible” devotion from 2 Kings 2.

Elisha has big shoes to fill. His mentor Elijah predicts a drought, and it happens! Three years later, Elijah prays and it rains. Elijah not only humiliates, but destroys all the prophets of Baal. Brings King Ahab to his knees in repentance. Fire consumes his sacrifice on Mt. Carmel. Fire consumes detachments of soldiers sent to bring him to King Ahaziah.

When it’s time for a whirlwind to take Elijah to heaven, he says to Elisha, “Ask me what I should do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” (2 Kings 2:9)

It’s not that Elisha feels like half the prophet Elijah was. He’s thinking as a Hebrew man who knows the law of Moses. According to Deuteronomy 21:17, the firstborn son receives a double portion of the inheritance. This more than a teacher-student relationship. Elijah has been – and will always be – like a father to Elisha.

What a great reminder that I can never ask too much of my heavenly Father. He’s always ready to do more than I ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20)!


Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Get some rest

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Shane on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from 1 Kings 19.

The puppies and small grandchildren who run around our house seem to have limitless energy. They run full out until I tuck them into bed. That’s when they crash and immediately fall asleep.

After the fire of the Lord consumes Elijah’s sacrifice and he slaughters the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:38,40), Jezebel threatens his life (1 Kings 19:2).

After a day’s hike in the desert, Elijah prays, “Lord, take away my life” (19:4). I’ve had it. I quit.

He falls asleep and wakes to find an angel encouraging him to eat. After a second nap and meal, he takes a forty-day trip to a mountain called Horeb. Here, God speaks to him in a low whisper instructing him to anoints kings and a successor to be prophet in his place (19:15,16).

I think this is a great example of what we would call “self care.” Of course, it’s God who provides the physical and spiritual restoration. It was a great day on Mount Carmel. But even a prophet crashes when the adrenaline wears off. We weren’t designed to run full throttle forever. We were created needing rest. Without it, we get sick or our bodies break down. So will our souls, unless we take some time to rest.

Never feel guilty about taking care of yourself. Never feel guilty when God sends someone else along to care for you. He knows you need it.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

I just called to say, “Hi!”

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by yang miao on Unsplash

As a parish pastor, I made a lot of phone calls that must havemade people feel guilty. As soon as I said, “Hi!” they responded with answers they thought I wanted to hear.

  • “Don’t worry, Pastor, I’m still sending in my contribution.”
  • “Don’t worry. We still pray everyday.”
  • “Don’t worry. We’ve been traveling. We’ll be there this week.”
  • “Don’t worry. We watch the livestream each week.”

I called to see how they were doing. Just the sound of my voice brought out the self-justification heavy artillery. It was a gospel call. I just called to say, “Hi!” They heard the law.

A widow in Zarephath gets a bottomless bowl of flour and jar of oil from Elijah. But as soon as her son gets sick, she fast forwards to the worst case scenario. “You have come to me to bring my wrongdoing to remembrance, and to put my son to death!” (1 Kings 17:18)

She feels guilty about something. Who knows what. It doesn’t matter. Suddenly, her worldview shifts from grace to karma. Who’s the bad guy here, Elijah or God himself? Who knows.

If you picture God as the one looking over your shoulder, ready to catch a misstep, you need to get to know God better. He’s the one looking over his shoulder, saying, “Are you coming?” He’s the one who invites us to follow him to green pastures and quiet waters. He never comes to condemn. Only to rescue us.

To illustrate this point, Elijah brings her son back to life. To illustrate this point, he brings us back to life, too. If a prophet or a pastor calls to say, “Hi!” it’s okay. You’re not in big trouble. You’re hearing the voice of someone who cares.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

The God of free refills

Posted on by William Douthwaite

A “through the bible” devotion from 1 Kings 17.

The amount of food my friends and I could eat in college was impressive. Since meals were only served during the week at the fraternity house, we had to fend for ourselves on Saturday and Sunday. One favorite spot was Roy Rogers, a burger and fried chicken restaurant which I’m surprised to learn is still in business in the PA-NJ-MD area. Our go-to order was the all you can eat chicken and fries plus a bottomless drink.

I don’t think they offer that deal any more, but there are other places where you can eat as much as you want (or can). Olive Garden offers a never-ending bowl of pasta from time to time. You can go back as often as you like at a Asian buffet. When Chick-fil-a opens a new restaurant, the first customers can get a free weekly meal for a year. In 1981, American Airlines sold a lifetime first class ticket for $250,000. Some who bought that flew over 10,000 times.

The original “free refill” story is from scripture, when a widow in Zarephath uses the last of her flour and oil to make bread for the prophet Elijah. During that time of severe famine, the Lord promised her, “The bowl of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil become empty, until the day that the Lord provides rain on the face of the earth” (1 Kings 17:14). And that’s exactly what happened.

If I give away what I have, I won’t have it anymore, right? Not necessarily. God’s promise of provision is described as “daily bread.” There’s more tomorrow. Just like there was yesterday. His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23). He’s the God of free refills.

Posted in Lent devotions

Here I come to save the day

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Scenes from the passion” Lent devotion for Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash.

And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” (Mk 15:35-36)

Those who hear Jesus speaking the words of Psalm 22, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” think he’s speaking the name of Elijah, the powerful Old Testament prophet. Will Elijah hear Jesus’ plea? Will he come to help? “Let’s watch and find out.”

Continue reading “Here I come to save the day” →
Posted in advent, Advent devotions, Devotions

2020 Advent devotion: A low whisper

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Sai De Silva on Unsplash

“Live and in person” Advent devotion for December 10, 2020. Read 1 Kings 19:9-12 and Psalm 29.

What does the voice of God sound like? Most people probably imagine it to be loud, deep and with a British accent. In Psalm 29 David describes it as powerful enough to break trees and shake the ground beneath your feet. Jesus cried out in a loud voice at Lazarus’ tomb or when He gave up His spirit in death. In Revelation His voice is like the roar of many waters, as if your were standing on the beach before the crashing waves. Or the roar of rapids echoing from canyon walls.

But for Elijah, it wasn’t like that at all. Convinced that he’s the last believer left on earth, Elijah ascends a mountain where the Lord Himself passes by. Though the moment is marked by gale force winds, a ground-splitting earthquake and scorching flames, it is the sound of a low whisper that draws the prophet to the mouth of a cave where he converses with God.

When you are in a room full of children, the volume of their voices often increases as they try harder and harder to be heard. Sometimes you have to remind them, “You don’t have to yell. I’m right here. You can use your inside voice.”

Some small sounds immediately capture my attention. Water dripping from some faucet. An unusual noise from the car engine. A subdued “Uh-oh” from the other room. A low growl from the dog who heard someone outside the house. Or a far off ambulance siren.

Sometimes God’s voice seems very small, almost unnoticeable among all the noise in our world. Ours is a noisy world full of car horns and barking dogs and ringing phones and crying children and advertisements and weather alerts. The voice of the Savior can be drowned out by all kinds of other folks trying to get your attention.

So sometimes you have to turn all that off, close all the doors, disconnect the distractions and just listen. Listen to what He has to say as you read scripture aloud. Listen as someone else reads the Word to you. Listen as if He were talking to you.

The Savior came into this world as an infant, one small voice that few noticed or listened to. Yet His are the words of eternal life. What a blessing that He still quietly and powerfully speaks to us through His Word!

Thank you, Lord, for using Your inside voice to speak Words of comfort, reassurance and life to me. Amen.

Posted in Devotions, Lent

2020 Lent devotion #19 – The prophets of Baal

Posted on by William Douthwaite
photo by SoFuego on pixabay

Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. (1 Kings 18:25-28)

The contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal is a bloody affair. Apparently, according to their custom, the way to get your pagan god’s attention was to cut yourself again and again. What a mess! And it was all for nothing. No one answered. No one paid attention.

We all do things to get someone to pay attention to us. Little kids call out, “Watch me!” Or they’ll act out. Just to be noticed. We’ll raise our voices, do silly and outrageous things, pick a fight or reach out to touch someone so they’ll pay attention to us. 

We don’t have to do that with God. We’re never off his radar. He never slumber or sleeps. He’s keenly aware of our desires, needs, wants and fears. He knows our thoughts, hears our cries, listens to our prayers and goes to search for us when we wander off and get lost. 

Christ’s mission to seek and save the lost meant that his blood would be poured out for us on the cross. A soldier would shove a spear into his side to make sure he was dead. Blood and water poured out. That’s the one true God!

Lord, you made me, you saved me, you hear me. You are my God. Amen.