King-dumb North and South
Jeroboam
• Feared that the people would go back to Rehoboam if they went back to God…so • He…well….1 Kings 12:28:29
oh yes he did…
He made two Golden calves • One for Bethel and one for Dan • This made a big mess that would almost never get cleaned up. • Lots of wicked kings followed in the North…and in Judah • God sent prophets
Jonah • Jonah was a reluctant prophet. • Jonah is sent to Ninevah…but he fled to Tarshish. • Ninevah was an Assyrian city… outside of Israel. Jonah didn’t want to save them. • He got sailors caught in a tempest, got swallowed by a whale, got spit out, and went to prophesy. He told the people they had 40 days.
• Jonah saved the people… and that ticked him off. He wanted Ninevah destroyed. • They were enemies of Israel. • Jonah wants to die, but God teaches him a lesson with a tree ( Jon 4:9-11)
Elijah and Jezebel • Ahab was king and he was a real…son of a gun….putting it nicely and his wife was a real ummm…meany. • She was a Sidonian princess (watch out for those) and she worshipped Baal enthusiastically. • They worshipped Baal and put up a temple.
Sacred Poles too
• They had these creepy fertility poles put up too. • Then Jezebel persecuted the prophets. • Enter Elijah!
“The Lord is my God” • Elijah had power over the rain by his prayer. • He often demonstrated God’s power. • He helped out the widow in Zarephath 1 Kings 17 • And housed up on Baal’s 450 prophets at Mt. Carmel.
Show down
Two altars • One for God and one for Baal. • No one would light the fire….the true God would light it himself. • Baals guys tried really hard. • Elijah suggests that Ball might be in the bathroom…or asleep … or something. • Elijah had the sacrifice soaked in water three times…fire came down!!
Baal’s prophets • Were killed • Elijah had God send rain.. • But Jezebel was still a … ummm…un-nice person. • Elijah fled to Mt. Sinai and He waited for the Lord for 40 days and nights. (1 Kings 19:11-13)
Luke Skywalker • God told Obi Won…wait… Elijah …to anoint a new prophet. Elisha. • Elisha is an apprentice for a while, and eventually gets a double helping of the spirit Elijah had. (He asks to inherit as a son…an heir.)