Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-02-03

The history OF Israel had reached that
point where something vigorous had to
be dona. II had gone from bad 10 worse.
until, under Ahab. through the influence
Of his haathen wife, Jezebel. Israel had
become STEPPED in the grossest idolatry
and sin- Last Sunday we saw how IN the
southern kingdom. under the good King
Jehoshaphaf. the people had. 1tnrned to
God. and grown stronger in their reii
gious life. while their northern neigh
bors and brethren were drifting further
and further away from Jehovah. the Cod
OF their fathers ~
God chose a man as His messenger 10
warn Israel Of their sin and to have them
turn away from idols and back 70 Him.
q man who was one Of the outstanding
characters OF all history. whether secu-
lar or religious. Elijah appears sudden
" on the scene.-and after he does his
Work. disappears very suddenly; IN fact.
his life. AZ least the record we have OF
n. Il made up OF a series Of sudden ap-
pearances and disappearance We know
nothing Of his forebears or OF his train
ing. Re was rugged. both in character
and appearance, and curious combina-
fion OF feazlessness and timIdity
The drst appearance that we have Isl
at samaria, when this man, with long
hair. rough appearances. dressed In sheep
nkins, bound about with a leathern
girdle, appears suddenly In the palace OF
Ahab. he STATES abruptly, with the au-
tborify OF Jehovah. with whom he
stands. that there should be neither
dew nor rain these years. according to
bis word The effect must have been
startling Ahab and all OF Israel knew
fun well the necessity for rain and dew
In that country. They also knew that
famine through drouth had been threat
ened as = curse for forsaking God. Eli
jah's sudden appearance and abrupt mes
sage must have startled Ahab and all
OF his court. for the message and the
messenger brought them face 10 face
with the God they had forsaken
ELIJAHs LIFE.
Elijah disappeared as suddenly as he
had appeared. and BY Gods direction
went 70 the brook cherith Here he was
mlraculousiy sustained for about a year.
when, By Gods direction again, he goes
70 Zaropahath; there he Is sustained by a
widow. Until the famine ends. This part
OF his life Il the subject of today's
lessoa. but before we can consider IL In
detafl. Il might be well to get a BIRDS
eye View OF his whole life, as we have
~ recorded. since he Is to be the subject
OF our studies for several weeks.
- NAA@A-1 a
since he had appeared N the palace of
Ahab. be had been hidden from the
king. who considered that he had been
the cause OF all the trouble and distrust
with which his nation was afflicted.
Then. leaving Zarophath, he comes down
the coast and into the borders Of Israel:
there he meets OBADIAH, Ahab's general.
and sends word to the king. Though
him. that he desires to-see him. Obadiah
hesitated 70 take the message, for he
realized how difficult had been their
search FOR the prophet, and he was
afraid that by the time he had given
the message TO Ahab. Elijah would have
disappeared again. thus bringing him
into bad repute- But being assured that
he would see him. he bore the news.
Ahab lost no time IN coming to find him.
He accused him Of causing all their dis
tress: but with that rugged holiness
which characterized him. Elijah accused
Ahab Of being the cause Of the trouble,
because he had forsaken God. and led
all the people into idolatry. He then
Asherim were worshiped. because they
were supposed TO be the gods OF repro
duction. OF fruitfuiness. Elijah's chal-
lenge was this, that the people might
be shown whether these have control
over the forces OF nature. or Jehovah
The contest occurred on Mount Carmel,
$50 prophets OF Baai were slain in the
valley below. Elijah returned to the
mount and prayer. and then. girded with