Excerpts from Launch Out into the Deep by Uyoyou C. Charles-Iyoha
Diligent
Hands Always Rule
Laziness
always hinders progress. Therefore, do away with any form of laziness. Examine
your life for any of the following manifestations of laziness such as idle chatter
(Proverbs Chapter 14 verse 23); sleep (Proverbs Chapter 6 verse 4; 19 verse 15;
20 verse 13 and 24 verses 30 to 34); excuses (Proverbs Chapter 26 verses 13 to
16; 22 verse 13 and 20 verse 4); covetousness (Proverbs Chapter 21 verses 25 to
26).
Ahab
manifested covetousness – he chose to do nothing at all day. So his mental
processes and physical sights wandered and unfortunately took him to the
vineyard of Naboth and even when Naboth said no, Ahab still refused to engage
his mental processes in diligent positive mental processes. He became sullen
and sulked, the spoilt lazy brat that he was. So when Jezebel noticed and Ahab
told her what his problem was, Jezebel did his thinking for him albeit with the
assistance of the devil. Naboth was falsely accused and killed. If Ahab was
spiritually and mentally diligent, this would never have happened. But he chose spiritual and mental laziness
and brought the wrath of God on his lineage. Rather than take responsibility
for his spiritual and mental inefficiencies, he blamed it on Naboth who was
wise enough not to sell his inheritance because he had spiritually and mentally
gleaned it from the Book of the Law. Ahab on the other hand was ignorant of the
Law because he had not given any attention to the Law and that explains why his
mental processes dwelt on coveting people’s property all day long.
This
also implies that Mr. and Mrs. lazy are rebellious people, rebelling against
the command of God in Deuteronomy Chapter 6 verses 1 to 10, Joshua Chapter 1
verse 8 to engrave the Law in their hearts; as well as the Word and standards
of God to keep the garden, look after one’s seed. Please see Ecclesiastes
Chapter 10 verse 18.
Elijah
was spiritually, physically and mentally diligent. Prior to outrunning Ahab, he
obeyed God and presented himself to Ahab to say that there would be rain in the
land (1st Kings Chapter 18 verses 1, 16 to 17). He also asked Ahab
to gather the people of Israel as well as the prophets of Baal to him on Mount
Carmel. Ahab complied and as soon as they were gathered, Elijah asked the
people to choose between serving God and Baal. Thereafter, he challenged the
prophets of Baal to a contest. They should call on their god to send fire on
their offering. For several hours, they shouted and even cut their bodies,
leaping about the sacrifice. There was no response (verses 26 to 29). At
evening time, Elijah called the people to him, repaired the broken down altar
of the LORD, poured water on the sacrifice and the wood. The water was so much
that it ran all around the altar. He then called on God and immediately, the
fire of God fell and consumed the sacrifice (1st Kings Chapter 18
verses 30 to 38).
At
this the people returned to God, obeyed Elijah and killed the eight hundred and
fifty prophets of Baal and Asherah who lived off Jezebel. The evil queen
Jezebel was using state resources to enforce the worship of idols in Israel and
Ahab who should say no was her slave spiritually, mentally and physically.
Beloved, all of these activities that Elijah embarked on and implemented on the
same day were spiritually, physically and mentally tasking. Yet, Elijah did not
retire to his bed to sleep despite the fact that it was already late in the
day.
He
moved on to the major task of the day – the return of rain to the land. Beloved,
the rain did not drop immediately after God told him there would be rain. It
did not drop after he presented himself to Ahab; not even after the sacrifice
and the execution of the prophets of Baal and Asherah. It took a while and a
time of very diligent tasking spiritual, physical and mental activities for the
rain to come down.
Beloved,
Elijah donned on his praying garment and began high level intercession for the
land and people of Israel. In spite of the very clear blue skies, Elijah prayed
in faith that the rain he had prophesied after urging Ahab to go celebrate
should come down. As he prayed, he asked his servant to go to a vantage
position where he could see the sea. Severally, the servant went and reported
that there was nothing. Significantly, Elijah was not deterred. He persevered
and kept praying. At the seventh time, the servant came with a report, not very
encouraging to anyone who lacked faith. But that was all Elijah needed – “there
is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand rising out of the sea”. Elijah
began to celebrate, thanking God for his faithfulness. He then sent his servant
to Ahab who was eating and drinking to hurry up home so that the rain would not
stop him. Even at that and with all the gadgets of speed at his disposal,
Elijah outran Ahab to Jezreel. Beloved, Elijah’s spiritual, mental and physical
diligence translated into divine speed while Ahab’s laziness translated into
late arrival.
What
stopped Ahab from joining in prayers, in seeking the face of God for the land?
Divine speed is a function of spiritual, mental and physical diligence as well
as obedience. Prayer, prophesying, leading the people to repentance is hard
work that only the diligent can do successfully.
Elijah’s
faith and confidence in God is worth emulating. Just a little cloud and he
warned about a downpour. Is it possible to just imagine that Elijah had gone
bunkers! How on earth would a downpour come after a long period of drought when
only a little cloud was still rising out of the sea? But Elijah knew and
understood the ways of God. Significantly, Elijah, though a prophet was also
human like the rest of us. He had his fears, worries, anxieties and concerns.
Jezebel hated him and would do anything to kill Elijah. Elijah did not wait for
Jezebel to act after she sent a messenger to tell him that she would kill him
the following day. Elijah ran away from Israel to Judah, specifically,
Beersheba. Even then, he was greatly discouraged. He even took a day’s journey
into the wilderness and shockingly prayed to die. The question is if he really
desired death, why did he run away from Jezebel?
Beloved,
Elijah did not really desire death. He was simply overwhelmed. After recording
such great successes, a woman threatened his life and made him run away from
his homeland to another land to seek protection. He had become weary and
wondered if this was how he would continue to live – from the brook Cherith to
Zarephath, to Mount Carmel, Jezreel and now Beersheba?
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