Elijah 4 - The Big Challenge

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 7 parts.  Written by Noel Speers. 

Produced by Commission Christian Radio

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:12

Commission presents Elijah by Noel Spears. Episode four, The Big Challenge.

SPEAKER_05 0:28

What do you have against me, man of God?

SPEAKER_03 0:31

He is still unwell.

SPEAKER_05 0:32

Unwell? No. Tira is dead. My son is dead.

SPEAKER_03 0:40

I am so sorry.

SPEAKER_05 0:44

Have you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?

SPEAKER_03 0:49

Allow me to see your son.

SPEAKER_05 0:51

What good will that do now? He is dead.

SPEAKER_03 0:55

Please, my dear woman.

SPEAKER_05 0:59

Very well. As I said to you, he is dead.

SPEAKER_03 1:06

Give me your son.

SPEAKER_05 1:09

If you wish. But is it not a bit late noise?

SPEAKER_03 1:14

Perhaps. Just a seen eye.

SPEAKER_05 1:18

Where are you taking him?

SPEAKER_03 1:20

Up to the room where I am staying.

SPEAKER_05 1:23

Yes, sir. If you wish, sir.

SPEAKER_03 1:30

I am about to pray. This is my usual way of resolving difficulties. Oh Lord my God. Why have you killed the son of this widow? She has been kind to your servant. Oh Lord my God, please let this child's spirit return to him. Thank you, Lord God. You have heard your servant's prayers and restored Tira's life. Thank you, thank you. Come now, Tira. Let's go back down to the house. The Lord God has answered our prayers.

SPEAKER_00 2:22

Yes, sir. Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 2:26

Well, we don't thank your Lord God. Look, my dear. Your son is alive.

SPEAKER_05 2:37

Alive? See? Oh Dara! Come lie down here.

SPEAKER_03 2:45

Just rest for a short while. Ma'am, perhaps we should each have something to drink.

SPEAKER_05 2:51

Yes. Yes, of course. Oh, I should have had something prepared.

SPEAKER_03 2:55

Never worry.

SPEAKER_05 2:56

Oh, sir, now I know that for sure you are a man of God. What some would call a prophet. And what you say and do is from the Lord God.

SPEAKER_00 3:21

The nation of Israel was in a sad state, for its god, the Lord God Jehovah, was being neglected in favour of the false god Baal. This pagan god, which was the deity followed by many of the surrounding nations, had been introduced to Israel by its king Ahab, who had married the daughter of Ethbal, the king of the Sidonians. Realizing that Ahab had been responsible for the nation's worship of Baal, Elijah made as bold as to walk into the king's presence with a brief message, a challenge for the king of Israel.

SPEAKER_03 3:59

As surely as the Lord God of Israel lives, the God whom I worship and serve, there won't be any Jew or rain for several years except at the Lord God's word.

SPEAKER_00 4:10

And as Elijah had forecast, the nation of Israel did suffer severe drought. And it could only have been with the protection of the Lord God that Elijah was able not only to walk freely out of the king's palace, but also to remain free in Israel. After some time, Elijah was told by the Lord God to return to King Ahab. However, before Elijah was able to pay this visit to the king, he met Obadiah, the king's royal chamberlain.

SPEAKER_04 4:48

Can I suppose that before me is my lord Elijah? I am Obadiah, the royal chamberlain, serving the King Ahab.

SPEAKER_03 4:56

Yes, that is true I am Elijah.

SPEAKER_04 4:58

You have been mentioned to me in the past. But how can this be here in the market of Zarapath, the very person whom every man from the king's army is searching for, out freely walking in public?

SPEAKER_03 5:10

Well, they mustn't have been searching very thoroughly for me. As you can see, I have made no effort to hide. But how are you, Obadiah? I have heard much about you. Well, just as you see, I am in good health. And do be assured, your eyes are not deceiving you, and our meeting like this is not by some mere accident. For I do have an important commission to give to you now.

SPEAKER_04 5:33

Something that I trust I will be honored to carry?

SPEAKER_03 5:37

Honored to carry perhaps not. Go and tell your master, the king, that Elijah is here. What? Are you sure? Yes. And I also want you to tell the king that I want to meet with him. I want to meet with King Ahab as soon as possible. But you know that the king has had everyone searching for you all across this land.

SPEAKER_04 5:59

Well, as I said, I've made no effort to hide. Yes, I know that, Elijah, sir. But just think what the reaction will be. If I walk into the palace now and announce that Elijah is here wanting to meet with the king, he will probably have me put to death. Why? Now you tell me to go to my master the king and say Elijah is here and wants to meet with you, Your Majesty. But that is true. That is exactly what I want you to do. But I don't know where the Lord God may take you once I leave. And if the king doesn't find you after I have given him your message, it is quite likely that he will kill me.

SPEAKER_03 6:33

Obadiah, you know me and you have to trust my every word. Yes? Well, yes, I suppose so. So, why not trust me now? Obadiah, I know that you still believe in the Lord God. Don't you? Even though you still work in the palace? Yes, yes, indeed, sir. And your grand position as royal chamberlain hasn't changed you. Has it?

SPEAKER_04 6:56

No, of course not, Elijah. How dare you question my loyalty to the Lord God Jehovah? Listen to what I am saying. Things have changed here in the palace, but I have done my best to remain loyal to the Lord.

SPEAKER_03 7:07

I am sorry for questioning your loyalty, Obadiah. And I also know you have kept safe about one hundred of the Lord God's prophets. But you shouldn't have known that. Fear not Obadiah. Only a few know of that. Trust the Lord God to keep that from the ears of the king. Now will you go to tell your master the king that?

SPEAKER_04 7:27

That Elijah is back and would like to meet with him today. And you assure me that if I do this, you will stay here until someone returns?

SPEAKER_03 7:37

Trust me, I will stay. In fact, I will sit here on this empty market stall until you come back. Very well. I will go then. As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today. You have my word, Obadiah.

SPEAKER_04 7:54

And on your word, I will now return to the palace.

SPEAKER_00 8:02

And there and then Obadiah set off towards the palace to see if he could arrange for Elijah to meet with King Ahab.

SPEAKER_04 8:12

And can you be sure, Obadiah, my man? His very words were Go and tell your Majesty that Elijah is here. Yes, and anything else? And also, sir, tell the king that I want to meet with him as soon as possible. And exactly where did you meet with the rogue? In the market place, sir. As I left him he made himself comfortable on a disused market stall.

SPEAKER_02 8:37

But the old rogue will disappear off somewhere, I'll be sure.

SPEAKER_04 8:40

No. Elijah assured me that he would remain there until I returned. I am sure of that.

SPEAKER_02 8:47

For your sake, I trust that he remains. I believe he will, sir. Then go. I'll wait for you both in the vegetable garden. There is a secluded gate there that opens directly into the market place. Yes, I will go by that gate. I'll be waiting.

SPEAKER_04 9:04

And take two guards with you. Can I assume that your Majesty does not trust me to return?

SPEAKER_02 9:11

I trust very few people now, Obadiah.

SPEAKER_00 9:14

Elijah did not have to wait too long in the market for a response from King Ahab. Quickly Obadiah was at his side, ushering him through the gateway into the palace vegetable garden.

SPEAKER_04 9:30

His Majesty assured me that he would be waiting here for you. Is that not the old fox over there by the apple trees? Yes, indeed it is. Ah, your majesty, you have met the Lord Elijah?

SPEAKER_02 9:43

So, it is indeed you, you troubler of Israel. The man who has brought all this disaster upon our nation Israel.

SPEAKER_03 9:51

Sir, I cannot claim this title. Rather, responsibility lies with you and your father's family. You have abandoned the Lord's commands and have followed Baal, that heathen god. You and your household are only to be despised. Elijah, you cannot speak to the king of Israel in this fashion. Why, is not what I say true? Can our king not speak for himself? Obadiah! Obadiah, should this person speak to the king of Israel like this? But what I say is from the Lord God. You must see that. Agreed, Obadiah. Elijah, do not try to draw me into your debate. Sorry. Your Majesty, you are the person responsible for this disaster, this drought. Now summon the people from all over our nation, Israel, to meet me on Mount Carmel. For what purpose do you want this grand carnival, this circus? There will be no carnival, no circus. Rather, sir, as I have requested, summon the people from all over Israel to Mount Carmel. All? Yes, and with them be sure to bring all the prophets of Baal. Aren't there 450, I think?

SPEAKER_02 11:00

You demand a great deal, Elijah. Indeed. As I've said, you are a troublemaker. No, sir.

SPEAKER_03 11:08

Not I. I have not caused this famine. No. No. And also bring the 400 prophets of Ashira.

SPEAKER_02 11:17

Again, I ask, my man, why this grand circus?

SPEAKER_03 11:22

You, sir, you have abandoned the Lord God's commands and led our nation to follow this heathen deity, Bao. Very well.

SPEAKER_02 11:33

You ask that we meet on Mount Karma. Well, yes, we will meet there. Now be gone from my palace. Obadiah, take this troublemaker out of the garden.

SPEAKER_00 11:45

And with those last words ringing in his ears, Elijah was ushered from the palace gardens by Obadiah.

SPEAKER_03 11:54

Well, Obadiah, what say you? What you promised has come to pass. I did wait for you here in the market. Yes, you did. And I did speak with Ahab as the Lord God directed me.

SPEAKER_04 12:06

Again, yes, you certainly did that. That certainly seemed to frighten you. I'm sorry. I was relieved whenever his majesty ordered us both to leave. I was glad to leave the palace. But why meet on Mount Carmel?

SPEAKER_03 12:21

Our nation is wavering between two opinions.

SPEAKER_04 12:23

You mean two gods?

SPEAKER_03 12:25

Yes. The people must decide. It's quite simple. If the Lord God is God, follow him. And if Baal is God, follow him. Indeed. The people must decide, and their King Ahab has given them the opportunity and place to meet Mount Carmel.

SPEAKER_00 12:46

At last Elijah had arranged that the people of Israel choose which God to follow, and all with the approval of King Ahab. Straight away, Ahab sent word throughout Israel that all, including the prophets of Baal and Asherah, should meet on Mount Carmel. At last, Elijah was given a good audience before whom a decision would be made.

SPEAKER_03 13:18

Our nation has long awaited this moment. You must decide. You cannot waver between two options. If the Lord is God, follow him. But if Baal is God, follow him. You must decide which God to follow. I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left. Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. Let it be seen once and for all. Who is truly God.

SPEAKER_01 14:09

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 five is entitled Victory.