James 5:17
Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
James 5:17 AMP
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours [with the same physical, mental, and spiritual limitations and shortcomings], and he prayed intensely for it not to rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.
The TIME
A CONFUSING Time
1 Kings 16:21-22
21 Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri. 22 But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned.
A CORRUPT Time
1 Kings 16:25
But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the Lord, and did worse than all that were before him.
A CALLUSED Time
1 Samuel 3:1 AMP
Now the boy Samuel was attending to the service of theLord under the supervision of Eli. The word of the Lord was rare and precious in those days; visions [that is, new revelations of divine truth] were not widespread.
A Time of CHASTENING
The TYRANT
Unrivaled Wickedness
1 Kings 16:29b-30
…Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years.
30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord ABOVE ALL THAT WERE BEFORE HIM.
Unbridled Wife
1 Kings 16:31a
… he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians…
Unrestrained Life
1 Kings 16:30
30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him. 31 And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat,
1 Kings 16:31c
…and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.
1 Kings 16:33
And Ahab made a grove; and … Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.
The TISHBITE
1 Kings 17:1
AND Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
- Common Man (subject to like passions)
- Consecrated Man (Name, Place) 17:1
- Confident Man
1 Kings 17:1
And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
Conquered Man
1 Kings 17:2-3,5
2 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, 3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan
5 So he went and did according unto the word of the Lord:
1 Kings 17:4,6
4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. 6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.