The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1908-03-13

all these years. And who but Obadiah
could do this thing?'
and il was Obadiah who first |
brought me word to-day that the !
prophet Elijah was in the land and
close at hand" reluctantly admitted
Ahab, as he recalled how Obadiah had
sent him to meet the prophet that
day.
"Ho, no! AS might have been ex-
pected, and yet thou needest to be told
what ought to be plain enough to thee.
And now thou art foolish enough to
believe that the prophet will keep his
word. He hath but slipped through
thy fingers again, and while the proph-
cts of Baal are gathering on Mount
Carmel Elijah will be far far away"
Ahab was silent The influence of
his wife was so strong upon him that
when in her presence she dominated
his every thought and action, and now
that which before he had not called
into question seemed uncertain and
doubtful. He wondered now how he
could have been so weak as to let
the prophet Elijah escape him. He
recalled how when first Obadiah had
brought him word anger and revenge
filed his heart against the prophet.
and he fully intended to call him to
severe accounting, but as he had
come into that commanding presence
his courage had failed him and with
desperate effort at the display OF
klngly dignity and authority he had
demanded:
Art thou he that troubleth Israeli"
And then the piercing eyes OF the
prophet had been fixed upon him,
seemingly looking right through him,
and making him quail and tremble as
his words of accusation and con
demnation were Numbered forth.
With bowed head he had listened.
and when the prophet had commanded
him to summon all the prophets of
Baal to Mount Carmel he had prom
ised like a child TO obey.
But now under the spell OF his wife's
suspicious and wrath a revulsion OF
feeling had taken place and he began
to doubt himself and everything and
everybody Such is the evil influence
of a wicked life which comes to COM
pletely dominate another.
Shall We not summon the prophets
to Mount CARMEL" at last he ven
tured to ask half doubtfully.
A wicked CLEAN came into the eyes
of Jezebel as a sudden thought came
to her and she said:
! I'VE will let Obadiah decide. II he
thinkest his friend Elijah will keep
! tryst with the prophets of Baal, let
them be summoned But" and she
! fairly Kissed the words as she leaned
toward Ahab, IF Elijah come not
! and he wont-verily the life OF Oba
diah shall be forfeited. He shat
! atone with his blood for the affront of
fered Baal."
! Without a word Ahab turned anf
left the apartment. He knew 1t would
be useless to protest, even though he
chose to do so. The decision of sum
moning the prophets must rest witt
Obadiah.
Remember" he exclaimed later
when Obadiah had come to him in re
Spouse to his summons, remember, 4
! means thy life if the prophet Elijal
appeareth mott"
! "Yes, / know" was the quiet re
Spouse. "He will come. Let thu
prophets be summoned"
On the day appointed, with mucl
pomp and ceremony the great com
pany of Baal set forth for Mount Car
: MEL their gorgeous apparel and ban
ners and images borne before then
s making an imposing display and cal
Z ing forth the shouts of admiration
s and approval OF the great crowds O
! people as they followed.
: "Baal shall have a fitting sacrific
: to-day" whispered Jezebel to he
chief prophet just before he took hi
place in the procession. And then q
her eyes sought out Obadiah where b
stood surrounded by the guard sh
had caused to be appointed, she ado
i ed: Let him not escape"
L The hours passed wearisomely I
y the queen. Her usual pleasures an
!. diversions failed to hold her after
q ton. Confident as she was of tn
u outcome of the gathering on Noun
Carmel, ner spirit was strangely Ill
3 ease That night troubled dream
came to break her rest and the ne,
IT day found her in state of nervous e.
J. element and irritation from whic
n late in the afternoon she sought r
u lief by resting upon her couch. N,
breath of air was stirring and tn
e sun seemed more fierce in his hei
J. than ever, and as she lay down sh
y said to herself
Surely the gods will be appease
q this day and will send rain"
lie How long she slept she knew no
but she was suddenly aroused by
lie loud crash in the room and sprang U
of to find the wind blowing in perfe
III hurricane and the heavens so blao
10 with clouds that she could scarce
e. see in the gloom the broken IRA
ments of the big urn which had stoC
It before the open window. Tremblir
or | and frightened she turned to flee al