Ethan: Welcome To Immerse: The Daily Bible Reading Experience.
Day 200 and 23
Ahab son of Amri began to rule over Israel in the 38th year
of King a's Reign in Judah.
He reigned in Samaria 22 years, but Ahab son of Amri did what was
evil in the Lord's sight, even more than any of the kings before him.
And as though it were not enough to follow the sinful example of Jar Boem.
He married Jezebel, the daughter of King f Baal of the Ians, and he
began to bow down in worship of Baal.
First Ahab built a temple and an altar for Baal in Samaria.
Then he set up in a Shira poll.
He did more to provoke the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel than any of
the other kings of Israel before him.
It was during his reign, that heel, a man from Bethel rebuilt Jericho
when he laid its foundations.
It cost him the life of his oldest son, ab Byrum.
And when he completed it and set up its gates, it cost him the
life of his youngest son, Sega.
This all happened according to the message from the Lord.
Concerning Jericho spoken by Joshua, son of none.
Now Elijah, who is from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, as surely as the Lord,
the God of Israel lives the God I serve.
There will be no de or reign during the next few years until I give the word.
Then the Lord said to Elijah, go to the east and hide by Kieth Brook near
where it enters the Jordan River.
Drink from the brook and eat what the Ravens bring you for.
I've commanded them to bring you food.
So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside Kieth
brook east of the Jordan.
The Ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and
he drank from the brook, but after a while, the brook dried up for there
was no rainfall anywhere in the land.
Then the Lord said to Elijah, Go and live in the village of
Zarephath near the city of Siden.
I have instructed a widow there to feed you.
So he went to Zarephath.
As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering
sticks, and he asked her, would you please bring me a little water in
a cup as she was going to get it?
He called to her, bring me a bite of bread too.
But she said, I swear by the Lord your God, that I don't have a
single piece of bread in the house.
And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking
oil in the bottom of the jug.
I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal,
and then my son and I will die.
But Elijah said to her, don't be afraid.
Go ahead and do just what you've said, but make a little bread for me first.
Then use what's left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son for this is
what the Lord the God of Israel says.
There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers
until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again.
So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family
continued to eat for many days.
There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers just as
the Lord had promised through Elijah.
Sometime later, the woman's son became sick.
He grew worse and worse, and finally he died.
Then she said to Elijah, oh man of God, what have you done to me?
Have you come here to point out my sins and kill my son.
But Elijah replied, give me your son.
And he took the child's body from her arms, carried him up the stairs
to the room where he was staying, and laid the body on his bed.
Then Elijah cried out to the Lord.
Oh Lord, my God.
Why have you brought tragedy to this widow who has opened her
home to me causing her son to die?
And he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out
to the Lord, oh Lord, my God, please let this child's life return to him.
The Lord heard Elijah's prayer and the life of the child returned and he revived.
Then Elijah brought him down from the upper room and gave him to his mother.
Look.
He said, your son is alive.
Then the woman told Elijah, now I know for sure that you are a man of God and
that the Lord truly speaks through you.
Later on in the third year of the drought, the Lord said to Elijah, go
and present yourself to King Ahab.
Tell him that I will soon send rain.
So Elijah went to appear before Ahab.
Meanwhile, the famine had become very severe in Samaria.
So Ahab summoned Obadiah who was in charge of the palace.
Obadiah was a devoted follower of the Lord.
Once when Jezebel had tried to kill all the Lord's prophets, Obadiah
had hidden 100 of them in two caves.
He put 50 profits in each cave and supplied them with food and water.
Ahab said to Obadiah, we must check every spring and valley in the land to
see if we can find enough grass to save at least some of my horses and mules.
So they divided the land between them.
Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
As Obadiah was walking along, he suddenly saw Elijah coming toward him.
Obadiah recognized him at once and bowed low to the ground before him.
Is it really you, my lord, Elijah?
He asked.
Yes it is.
Elijah replied.
Now go and tell your master.
Elijah is here.
Oh, sir.
Oh, Obadiah protested.
What harm have I done to you that you are sending me to my
death at the hands of Ahab?
For I swear by the Lord your God, that the king has searched every nation and kingdom
on earth from end to end to find you.
And each time he was told, Elijah isn't here.
King Ahab forced the king of that nation to swear to the truth of his claim.
And now you say, go and tell your master, Elijah is here, but as
soon as I leave you, the spirit of the Lord will carry you away.
To who knows where.
When Ahab comes and cannot find you, he will kill me.
Yet I have been a true servant of the Lord all my life.
Has no one told you, my Lord.
About the time when Jezebel was trying to kill the Lord's prophets,
I hid 100 of them in two caves and supplied them with food and water.
And now you say, go and tell your master Elijah is here.
Sir, if I do that, Ahab will certainly kill me.
But Elijah said.
I swear by the Lord Almighty in whose presence I stand, that I will
present myself to Ahab this very day.
So Obadiah went to tell Ahab that Elijah had come and Ahab went out to meet Elijah.
When Ahab saw him, he exclaimed.
So is it really you, you troublemaker of Israel?
I have made no trouble for Israel.
Elijah replied, you and your family are the troublemakers.
For you have refused to obey the commands of the Lord and have
worshiped the images of Baal.
Instead now summon all Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450
prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of as Shira, who are supported by Jezebel.
This concludes today's immerse reading experience.
Thank you for joining us.