Evening star., 1924-04-12
BY REV. HUGH It. STEVENSON.

There is no more dramatic scene to
be found in human history than the
lesson assigned for this weeks consid-
GRAFTON. Romance may be challenged
to equal it. The literature of all ma
tions contains nothing that surpasses
from a dramatic standpoint the career
of Elijah, whose abrupt entrance into
the court of Ahab, striking appearances
and marvellous poise, demanded atten-
tion from the brilliant Ahab, who was
one Of IsraeI's ablest kings. The con-
else message was a crisp prediction OF
judgment, a reproof of Ahabs spirit
of religious federation and challenge
to the worshipers of Baal, who had
made great progress in Israel through
the influence of JezebeL
The heather princess was the first
Canaanite to bear the title of Queen
of Israel. She had Inherited the
ability and aggressiveness of her
father Ethba2l, who had secured the
throne of Tyre when he was priest
of Melkart, the Tyrian Baal. During
a period covering twenty-seven years
JeZebel had persisted in her efforts
to supplant the worship of Jehovah
with that of Baal, who was wor-
SHIPPED with pomp and splendor, with
rites of blood and immortality. Her
despotic efforts had weakened the
influence of the prophets, who had
favored the division with the hope
of restoring the spiritual worship or
Jehovah 50 that Israel might fulfill
her mission among the nations.
Although the patriotic prophet, who
proved his courage by appearing and
disappearing with lightninglike sud
denness in court. had created laugh
and a sneer, he left indelibly stamped
upon Ahab's mind his form and mes
sage, especially when as the months
rolled around his prediction was full
filled. He ordered the whole land
searched for the prophet, who with
his gaunt and strong limbs, fearless
brow and piercing eye, and his body
clad in a robe roughly woven of
cameTs hair, was fastened by leather
throngs about him, had become
a thorn in the kings side. While
preserved and provided for His
servant, whose faith was being de-
veloped by his daily dependence upon
Jehovah's sustaining grace.
While men have questioned con-
cerning tho claims that Elijah was
miraculously preserved by ravens by
pointing out that probably Jehovah
took care of His servant in purely
providential manner, they suggest
that the word ravens" should have
clear that he was kept in the early
days of the famine by food supplied
him by the "Orebites," the people
dwelling in the district. Some sug-
gest that they were robbers, who held
up the merchants passing by on the
Jericho road.
When the brock Cherith failed, the
prophet was sent TO Zidon. the one
place where they would not look for
him. God directed him to the home
f,f IL hos yllT n ia
faith prompted her to open her home
and share her limited stock of oil and
meal with the prophet, although lie
represented another race and religion.
She was moved to put a confidence in
his promise, even though she may
have suspected that he was Elijah,
the muCh-sought-af after prophet. whom
the people of Israel held was re-
sponsible for their famine. during
the many months that she entertain
ed the prophet under her roof there
was no luck. Both had their faith
tested when her son died. In re-
sponse to the prophets prayer and
faith his life was revived and he was
restored to his widowed mother. He
probably became the servant Of the
prophet. who shared the dangers of
his return when God recalled him to
Israel.
Elijah returned to the stricken
country strengthen ed by the presence.
peace and power that always comes
from obeying the divine command. He
found Israel suffering in accordance
with his predictions. He returned
with a price placed upon his head. not
as an outlaw seeking pardon. but as
the representative of Jehovah. de-
manding that Ahab should meet the
prophet Immediately for conference
upon the condition Of the kingdom.
The king entered into that unusual
conference and charged the prophet
with being "the troubler of Israel
The stern servant of God denied the
charge and pointed out the source Of
the nations peril. The prophet be-
came the dominating force in the ma
ton, when he compelled the assem-
bling of the nation by the king at
Carmel, where the greatest drama of
history was staged between the rep
resentatives of rival religions as
actors.
1t was a battle of religions. It was
a crucial hour in the history of the
world. Elijah had used water in the
former famine test now he proposed
that fire should become the test by
which both religions should deter
mine their claims before the assem-
bled nation. Facing the nation. as he
thought, alone, the prophet con-
demned their hypocrisy in one SEN
tence that carried conviction and
test proposed met Baalism upon its
own ground. His appeal that they
settle the claims Of Jehovah, the an
cient God of Israel, and Baal, its new
Iy acquired god, in demonstration
of power satisfied the people and
forced the priests of Baal into the
open The fact that fire and water
were considered the most wonderful
manifestation of the gods in all an
cient faiths may have helped Elijah
secure the approval of the people to
his proposed plan. He had tossed in
his appea! to the court in the open