Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-05-08

and his people, slew all the priests of
Baal; and to complete the triumph COO
sent the rain ard ended the famine and
drought.
But Jezebel, tthe queen, was angry.
and sent to Elijah such dire threats
that he had to flee again to the wilder
ness. Discouraged and discounted, he
wanted to die; he felt that his great
Horeb, the -'1afount of God" to teach
him lesson. There a mighty wind
passed by. but God was not in that;
and then an earthquake came. but the
Lord was not in that; then a fire came.
and still the Lord was not in that; then
God. telling him to go back to Israel
and again take up his work Of teaching
the schools of the prophets and minis
tering to the people, and to anoint a
new king. and as successor to him
self to anoint Elisha.
Thus Elijah was taught that the Is
raelites' faith in God was to be re-
stored and preserved, not by demon
stration of physical power, as typifed
by the wind, the earthquake and the
fire. but by the still small voice of edu-
cation. He had believed that a star
ting demonstration of Jehovah's pow
er would convince the people of the ut
ter folly and weakness of Baal wor-
ship. and was discouraged when there
was not strong enough sentiment
reused to protect him from JeZebel In
spired by this fresh message from God
he went back to carry out his instruc-
tons.
Elijah took part in stirring events
afterward, too. He was probably the
prophet who gave the plan and the in
spiration to the Israelites that enabled
them to defeat in battle Benhadad with
his Syrian army many times as large
as the army of the 1sraelites. And
then when King Ahab and Jezebel
caused Saboth to be stoned to death
| SO that Ahab could have Naboths vine
yard. Elijah denounced the king and
queen to their faces and pronounced an
awful curse upon them.
In all the Old Testament there is no
more stirring scene than the picture of
the close OF Elijah's earthly career. Ac-
companied by his disciple. Elisha, he
went down to Jericho and across the
Jordan Elisha would not be dismissed,
and was bold enough to make that
great plea for double portion of Eli
jah's spirit. And 1t came to pass, as
they still went on. and talked, that be-
hold. There appeared a chariot of fire
and horses of fire, which parted them
both asunder: and Elijah went up by
whirlwtnd into heaven. And Elisha
saw 1t, and he cried My Father, my
horsemen thereof" And he saw him no
more; and he took hold of his own
clothes and rent them in two pieces
He took up also the mantle Of Elijah
that fell from him, and went back"
Elijah had faced, almost alone the
hatred of the court and the sin-fostered
Indifference of his nation. Throughout
his life he had undergone one peril
after another In order that he might
bear fearless and true testimony for
God. Often there had come times when
1t seemed as though all his devotion
would be in vain. What could be more
hitting than this stupendous climax
this flame of light. this rush of char
lots. this swirl of horsemen, snatch
Ing the old warrior away from this bat
tle-scared earth to his eternal reward?
Courage. determination, faith, love
or righteousness and hatred of sin
these outstanding qualities of Elijah
are just as much needed today as in
his day. He found his nation forsaking
God to worship Baal and foresaw the
ruin that must result He analysed
clearly the conditions he saw, faced
them unfiinchingly. and spent the
struggle for the spiritual future of his
people And he was willing to adopt
any honorable method to accomplish
his purpose. He denounced the sins of
the king and queen to their faces: he
arranged the public demonstration of
the power of the Lord and the futility
of Baal worship; he Interpreted the
drought and famine as the punishment
on the people for their sins, and he
taught the schools of prophets, and
prepared Elisha to succeed him.
Today we find our nation forsaking
God for mammon, and foresee the ruin
that must result. Shall we not analyze
conditions. face them unfiinchingly, and
throw every ounce of our energy into
the struggle for the spiritual future of
America and the world?
II every Epworth Lacquer will call
himself Elisha and plead for double
portion of the spirit OF our Master
he will receive the mantle of power
that will enable him, working with all
the rest, to lift this old world up and
turn 1t around SO that 1t will evermore
face God