God's Sabbath

C HAPTER 18

The Consequences of God’s Plans

A prayerful reading of 1Kings 17 and 18, and Daniel 3, togeth er with Prophets and Kings, chapters 9 and 12 can help to deep en the understanding of this chapter. I n Elijah’s day, after following their own ways, Israel had de scended into deep apostasy and terrible degradation. God had foreseen this sorry state of affairs from eternity, and had a plan ready to effect a thorough and lasting reformation. Elijah was to play an important role in this plan, as described in the following paragraph: “Among the mountains of Gilead, east of the Jordan, there dwelt in the days of Ahab a man of faith and prayer whose fear less ministry was destined to check the rapid spread of aposta sy in Israel. Far removed from any city of renown, and occupy ing no high station in life, Elijah the Tishbite nevertheless en tered upon his mission confident in God’s purpose to prepare the way before him and to give him abundant success. The word of faith and power was upon his lips, and his whole life was devot ed to the work of reform.” Prophets and Kings , 119.1. From the outset, Elijah’s faith rested in God as His heavenly Plan Maker. As a faithful and dedicated workman, Elijah made no plans of his own but followed the specific orders laid out by

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