Elijah 2 - Elijah Confronts the King

He heard God's command, confronted the priests of a false god, and when his work was done, God provided him with a successor.  The story of Elijah in 8 parts.  Written by Noel Speers. 

Produced by Commission Christian Radio

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:07

Commission presents Elijah by Noel Spears. Episode 2: Elijah confronts the King.

SPEAKER_03 0:23

My name is Jazeel, and I know Elijah and his family well as I was employed by them for many years. Elijah differed from his family in that he took the nation's religion very seriously. This time I was worried about his mission. He was going to seek an uninvited entry into the king's presence and openly condemn the irreligious worship of the heathen god Baal.

SPEAKER_04 0:56

I assume that his majesty is both well and going about his daily business.

SPEAKER_07 1:01

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_04 1:02

The king, he is in good health and is carrying on with My name is Elijah, and I wish to speak with the King right now. This is the way to the throne room, isn't it? Oh, yes, sir, but you mustn't go that way. But I did say that I wished to speak with his majesty the king. And that is precisely what I propose to do.

SPEAKER_03 1:23

He walked briskly down what seemed to him to be a main corridor leading to somewhere important. The poor guard was taken aback by Elijah's sudden bold action and could only trip along in pursuit.

SPEAKER_07 1:38

Sir, I must insist, sir!

SPEAKER_04 1:41

Now don't you worry, my man. I shall only require a few moments with his majesty. My message will be brief. Simple. Just a few words. Don, this way, isn't it?

SPEAKER_07 1:53

Yes, but well, I shouldn't. No, you can't you can't go there.

SPEAKER_04 1:56

And through this big door, I suppose. It seems to lead me into the throne room.

SPEAKER_07 2:03

Yes, sir, but but sir, not these doors.

SPEAKER_04 2:06

This is the throne room. And I presume this must be King Ahab. Who is this person?

SPEAKER_07 2:16

Oh, your Majesty, this person has just presumed to enter your palace, demanding to speak with you, and has now burst his way to your throne room. It seems he has some message or other for you. I shall call for assistance and have him removed.

SPEAKER_05 2:33

No, no, no, no, no, not yet. I would like to learn of this message. Go, my man, leave me with this messenger. Are you sure? Oh, I'll come to no harm, fear not. Sir, as you wish, but it may be best if I remain. Oh, very well. Yes, sir. Now, fellow, what is this message?

SPEAKER_04 2:57

Brief and simple is my message, sir. Yes. Our nation of Israel has broken its pledge with the Lord God. And that was the reason for God's punishment on Israel. The severe drought. This message comes from the same Lord God of Israel.

SPEAKER_05 3:15

You think I don't already know about the drought? Oh, I know. It has lasted some six months already. What can you tell me that is new?

SPEAKER_04 3:26

Our Lord God is grieved that his people have broken their covenant with him. He has pronounced that there will be no further rain. This grieves me too. No more rain, Your Majesty. Not until the Lord God has spoken. So you think your God can hold the rain from falling? Yes. And I know that the Lord God, the God of this nation, has already declared there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years, except at my word. So says the Lord God.

SPEAKER_05 4:01

You dare to come to me and declare this is from your God. How dare you speak to me? Your king in this manner! I don't know you. And I certainly don't care for your impudence. Explain yourself. Who has given you permission to say this?

SPEAKER_04 4:20

My permission. My statement has come from the Lord God.

SPEAKER_05 4:26

Don't you walk out of me? I haven't dismissed you! I'm King Ahab!

SPEAKER_03 4:36

And as quickly as he had walked into King Ahab's presence, Elijah walked out again, leaving the king almost speechless.

SPEAKER_05 4:47

How can that fellow just walk into my throne room and make this grand pronouncement?

SPEAKER_07 4:53

Your Majesty. He just walked in through the main gates, told the guards on duty that his name was Elijah, and he carried a message for the king, and he walked straight in here as though he were one of the palace secretaries of the like.

SPEAKER_05 5:07

Well, this Elijah is not one of my secretaries. I've never seen him before. This must never happen again. You see to that and find out who he is. Have him followed.

SPEAKER_07 5:20

Yes, sir. At once, your majesty.

SPEAKER_03 5:24

But despite all the guards' efforts, Elijah could not be found. And it was quite obvious why Elijah was untraceable, for the Lord God told him to immediately leave. Later that evening, I had to go into the market square on an errand, when to my surprise, I saw Elijah quite boldly in conversation with the other villagers. I am surprised to find you out in the village. Why, Jeziel? I often meet with other villagers here.

SPEAKER_04 5:56

But not when the palace staff are searching everywhere for you. Jeziel, God give me a message to take to the king. This I delivered, and now the Lord God has moved me on to undertake something else. I don't know where he'll have me go to or what my next task will be. All I do know is that he will keep me safe for as long as he needs me. I imagine that I will be meeting with you again soon. Perhaps, Jezeel, perhaps. But now I need to be alone for some time. I imagine that quite soon I will be meeting once more with King Ahab. But first, I must be alone. The Lord God has a task for me, Jezeel, and I must leave. Tell those who are seeking me that I will return. But that will be in God's own time. Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_03 6:46

I will do that. Much later I learned that Elijah did indeed leave the village. He travelled eastwards across the river Jordan to a district called Kerith, where he was able to take shelter away from prying eyes in a ravine. In this place of isolation, Elijah was able to be alone with the Lord God and learn why the nation of Israel was being punished by a severe drought, which had already lasted some six months. God was demonstrating his concern for his people's infidelity and their stupidity in trusting in false gods like Baal. God rewarded Elijah's faithfulness by providing water from the brook at Kereth and bread and meat brought to him by ravens. However, after some time, the brook dried up, leaving Elijah without water or any food so as to remain in Kereth.

SPEAKER_04 7:45

Lord God, I know that this act is from your hand. You have permitted this stream through which you have sustained me to dry up. Is this your way of telling me to move on from here?

SPEAKER_03 8:04

The same day as the stream at Kerith dried up, Elijah bundled his belongings together and walked towards Phoenician Sidon, finding himself in a little town called Zarapath. As he entered by the town gate, he found a widow there gathering sticks. She did not take any notice of the stranger approaching until he spoke.

SPEAKER_04 8:25

I say, madam, would you bring me a little water in a jar and perhaps a piece of bread?

SPEAKER_01 8:32

Sir, you must believe me. But as surely as the Lord our God lives, I don't have any bread. I'm a poor widow with a son to feed and care for. More than that, I'm trying to keep him alive. I am so weary and tired. I don't have the strength to help you.

SPEAKER_04 8:58

Yes, ma'am.

SPEAKER_01 8:59

In all honesty, I speak the truth. I don't have any bread. As you see me now, sir, I only have a handful of flour and a little oil. And now I'm gathering just a few sticks to take home to light a fire. And then I will make a meal for myself and my son that we will eat, and then we'll die.

SPEAKER_04 9:31

You will have no more flour.

SPEAKER_01 9:33

I speak the truth, sir. You must believe me. I will have no more flour, nor any oil.

SPEAKER_04 9:43

Yes, I do believe you.

SPEAKER_01 9:47

I must return home to make this meal for myself and my son.

SPEAKER_04 9:53

Do not be afraid. Do as you say, my dear. But first I would ask you to make some bread for me, from what you have, and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son.

SPEAKER_01 10:06

But, sir, I've hardly enough to make bread for my son and myself.

SPEAKER_04 10:13

How can we make but as I have said, don't be afraid. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says the jar of flour will not be used up, and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day when God gives rain on the land.

SPEAKER_01 10:32

What you are saying is very strange. Why should I believe you?

SPEAKER_04 10:38

My dear, what I am promising you is not some magic trick or a clever story so that I will be able to steal your bread. You must believe me. The Lord God will provide for you and your son.

SPEAKER_01 10:54

I should apologize to you, sir, for doubting your words. I was slow to realize that you are a man of God, a prophet.

SPEAKER_04 11:04

Never fear. I understand. You hasten to your home. You have work to do. I will wait here until you return.

SPEAKER_00 11:14

It's down this way. Not very far, sir.

SPEAKER_03 11:19

The widow headed off in the direction she had indicated, carrying with her the sticks that she had been gathering when interrupted by Elijah. Elijah sat near to one of the market stalls, noticing that there wasn't very much activity at any of the stools. After some time, though, he found himself in conversation with the stool keeper of one of the nearby stalls.

SPEAKER_06 11:42

Not much activity about today, is there? I was just noticing that myself. Is it usually like this? No. Used to be heaven with folk this place. People from the village in the whole district came here. But look at it now. It's a shame, isn't it? Yes, but why is it like this? I suppose it's this drought, you know? We can't get this stuff to sell anymore. No fruit or grain. And anyone who has it, well they won't part with it. They all want to keep it for themselves. But why this drought? I mean, we don't deserve it.

SPEAKER_04 12:19

Well, I cannot agree with you.

SPEAKER_06 12:21

Oh? And why's that then? The people of this little village cannot be blamed, can they? Well, you have asked the question, my man. Look, I'm not a very religious person. But all I can say is, if the God of Israel is to be blamed for this drought, then it's all very, very unfair.

SPEAKER_04 12:39

Sir, I would suggest that you continue to think about what you've just said. The blame should not be laid at the feet of the God of Israel, but rather at the feet of its people.

SPEAKER_06 12:49

Look, I don't understand. But I do know that this cannot go on. Me? I just keep going. Try to please everyone. I worship God on Friday. Asherah on Sunday, Dagon on Mondays, Ba on Tuesdays, Yam on Wednesdays, Seimos on Thursdays.

SPEAKER_04 13:06

Stop, stop. Please return to your true God. You cannot worship these false gods. The Lord God will honor your faith. Believe me.

SPEAKER_03 13:17

Elijah had to break off the conversation because the widow appeared in the marketplace, obviously eager to find him.

SPEAKER_01 13:25

So you did wait until I returned?

SPEAKER_04 13:28

I did say that I would.

SPEAKER_01 13:30

You asked for some water and a piece of bread.

SPEAKER_04 13:34

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 13:35

Well, here it is as you asked. But I must now return home to prepare something for my son, from what little remains.

SPEAKER_04 13:45

Thank you. The Lord God will honour your faith as I have promised.

SPEAKER_01 13:50

Come with me, so that you may see if your God will be true to his word.

SPEAKER_04 13:56

Thank you. I will count that an honour, ma'am.

SPEAKER_03 14:01

Elijah did return with the widow to her home, there to find her son waiting for his mother to prepare their final meal.

SPEAKER_02 14:15

In Elijah by Noel Spears, the part of Elijah was played by Peter Richardson. Other parts were by the Commission radio drama team. The programme was produced by Jennifer Hobson and recorded at Commission Studios in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Episode 3 is entitled Famine in Zarapath.