Who is 'he?'

Introduction

Who is ‘he’? What a title for a sermon, right?

In our family, maybe in yours too, when the kids were young, we had a really great game we played together. Let us call it the Pronoun Game. As we have two boys and two girls, it is really fun.

The way it worked, is one of our kids, say one of our girls would come to us, generally crying, and say “He did that! He did!” With two boys, naturally the next question is “Who is ‘he’?”

OK, so maybe not much of a game, but the use of a pronoun like that is actually a pretty advanced use of our language. Without going too much into the role of a grammar nazi, which I’m not, pronouns take the place of a noun. The noun it replaces is called the antecedent.

The reason I called this use advanced, though, is another things pronouns do is emphasize the action rather than the subject. And that’s what my kids were telling me — what happened is more important to them than the who.

And that’s brings us to the lectionary reading that is the main topic of this sermon - it is a very interesting Old Testament passage! Many times, the readings are consecutive, so for example the Gospel ones lately have been from John, recounting Jesus as the Bread of Life in some detail.

Today’s Old Testament passage is not. It is not a continuation of the Exodus passage we read last week; in fact it takes place 400 years later. However, that’s not the most interesting thing about it… He/him/his appear 12x times but no antecedent. So the question is...

Who is he?

Elijah

I will go ahead and kill the suspense. He is Elijah. And honestly, when I thought that this was going to be my first Sunday preaching I was super excited when I read this passage? Why?

You may or may not know that I am currently in the ordination process to become a Pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA) after I retire from the Army. One of the main requirements is to complete pretty much the mother of all Masters Degrees… A Masters in Divinity. THREE YEARS of full time instruction, including one academic year of both Hebrew and Greek.

I completed Hebrew, and it was rough. The first two classes teach you the basic grammar of the language, using the original texts of the Old Testament. The third class, though, is quite special. It is called Hebrew Exegesis, and besides more advanced grammar, it also teaches you how to draw out meaning from text. AND at my school the main text you analyze — are the two chapters before this passage.

Yes! God is good, all the time! Seriously, though, Elijah is a great model for us in many ways.

The first thing that helps to understand the story is to get an understanding of the flow. The book of 1 Kings starts with the story of Solomon. I think everyone knows who he is, but the Readers Digest version is that he started out really on fire for the Lord - asking for wisdom instead of riches or power, and God gave him all three. He built the first temple, and for a while was doing good, but started marrying foreign wives whose false religions ultimately turned him away from God. And therefore God divided the kingdom in two — the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. This is the first 11 chapters of 1 Kings.

At this point, the story speeds up a lot. David’s line continued as the kings of Judah, Israel was ruled by others. For six chapters, it’s a rapid succession of different kings from both kingdoms, with a “report card” — the king did right like his father David, or did evil.

Chapter 17 begins an interlude — the story of Elijah and Ahab - about five chapters long. At the time, Israel was a powerful nation. Ahab married Jezebel as a political alliance. Here is what 1 Kings 16:29-33 says about him:

English Standard Version (Chapter 16)

29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. 30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. 31 And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him. 32 He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. 33 And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.

Not a good guy. Between marrying someone from a people who worshipped false gods, to building a temple to them, to he himself worshipping them, this was the wrong guy at the wrong time. So what did God do? He sent Elijah.

The next part of the story takes place in several episodes, and has some very interesting interaction. God uses Elijah to declare a drought in the land, but then takes care of him. God feeds Elijah initially by a brook with ravens providing him bread and meat until the brook dries up. God then sends him to a widow in Zarephath in Sidon - same area that Jezebel comes from - just in time for what she thought was going to be the last meal for her and her son. Elijah tells her the jar of flour and jug of oil will not be empty until God sends rain upon the earth. And she, in faith, feeds Elijah first and God fulfills the prophecy.

Then a curious story - I am biased, but the best in the book. What would you expect at this point? Pretty sure the #1 answer for most people would not be that her son gets sick and dies. The woman is shocked and asks if God sent Elijah to bring her sin to remembrance and cause her son to die.

Pro tip: if you ever take Hebrew Exegesis, choose this passage for your exegetical paper, because the climax is some amazingly unusual and beautiful Hebrew.

Elijah asks a bit more literally - LORD God did you on this widow, with whom I dwell, her, bring evil by causing the death of her son?

Such a thought was incomprehensible to Elijah; this was the poor woman God sent him to; the one for whom He provided for a long time. How could the boy die? And through the power of God he received his answer. Elijah raised the boy from the dead. And the woman declared "Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is true.”

Think for a second how amazing that is - this woman was not a Hebrew - she was from the same people as Jezebel.

I promise I am getting to today’s passage very soon, but first, after many days, God sends Elijah to Ahab where probably the most dramatic episode occurs. Elijah orders -King- Ahab to bring the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah to Mount Carmel who willingly complies. He delivers this great speech to the people: (1 King 18:21)

21 “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word.

He then sets up a contest to see whose God answers by fire. The false prophets try, nothing. Elijah does some serious mocking “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” This continues for a while and then it’s Elijah’s turn.

Elijah calmly calls the people who come closer, he repairs the altar to the Lord with twelve stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel. He builds a trench around the altar that holds about four gallons. And then he asks the people to drench the sacrifice with water three times! So much that there is water all over, and the trench is filled. Elijah then says: (1 Kings 18:36b-40)

English Standard Version (Chapter 18)

36 “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God.” 40 And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.

It’s a great story - 1 Kings 18. God proved His mastery over Baal and Asherah, and the people respond in rare faith - and they kill all the prophets of Baal. And rain returns to the land.

Can you imagine that scene? And that is the backdrop of today’s passage.

As you can imagine, Jezebel was not too happy with what happened - her exact words were “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.”

Elijah Flees

So the great man of God calls down fire from heaven and burns Jezebel to a crisp, right?

No. And that he doesn’t - shows how human Elijah was.

Elijah, the great man of God, was afraid and fled for his life. Got as far away from her as he could.

Scripture does not record why. Maybe he was caught up in the moment on Carmel, and after the adrenaline rush died down, he realized what happened. It is hard to say, but what happened inside him is easy to say.

After running so much, he had enough and asked God to take his life. Why? He said, because he was no better than his fathers.

Of course, what he was referring to was his lack of faith. He realized at that moment that even with all the amazing things God did through him, he was no better.

He was Elijah. Nevertheless, wasn’t he also us? Have you been used by God in a mighty way, just for you to come and doubt? The good news is God’s reaction.

Remember last week? I preached that often how we see God is what we imagine of Him. In this case, Elijah saw his own failings and felt that he deserved death. But how did God see it?

Perhaps Elijah knew David’s words of Psalm 51:17 - the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

That is where Elijah was different. He knew his failings, and he came to God and instead of punishment, God restored him. God sent an angel to feed him - twice. Remember - that is what manna was - the bread of angels.

Psalm 34

The psalm for this reading also is interesting - it is a Psalm of David, meaning David wrote it about 100 years before Elijah. It is a beautiful psalm where David starts with huge praise to God in response to how He protected David when he was on the run from Saul through a pagan king. Look again at the last half of the reading:

Psalm 34:4–8 (ESV)

I sought the Lord, and he answered me

and delivered me from all my fears.

Those who look to him are radiant,

and their faces shall never be ashamed.

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him

and saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the Lord encamps

around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!

Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Does this sound familiar? Elijah could just have easily written these words - it could be his prayer! As well as ours.

He is David, but he is also us.

The Living Bread

The final stop for today is in our Gospel reading - and once again we revisit Jesus as the Bread of Life. And in it, we see a contrast to Elijah and David.

Remember that Elijah came across a situation he just could not understand. How could God kill the son of the widow He sent Elijah to? And remember Elijah’s response - in faith through the power of the Holy Spirit, God raised the boy from the dead through Elijah.

The people in this reading were kind of the opposite. Despite the miracles - impossible but by the power of God - the people in this passage grumbled, and thought they knew Jesus because they were from His hometown.

Jesus’ response is as much to us as to them; when we believe; it is because God drew us into faith in Jesus Christ. And He is superior - God provided Israel manna, and they died. But through faith, we live because Jesus died for us.

Who are you?

The challenge I have for you today, is who are you today?

Are you like Elijah? Do you believe? Have you seen the glory of God? Has fear from merely the world crippled you?

The good news is God knows you. The thing to remember is the same God who gave you such great faith, is the same God who knows your weaknesses. He is not surprised by your fear any more than He was Elijah’s. God is in the comforting business in our weakness. So give your fears to Him as well. He can take it. He loves you.

Are you like David? Are you a man or woman after God’s own heart? Do others pursue you unjustly?

The good news is Jesus understands. That happened to Him too. Both Jesus and David had opportunities to “fix” their situation by their own power – Jesus could have called a legion of angels, and David could have killed Saul - twice!, but they did not. Why? Because they trusted in God to take care of them. Rest assured, God is able to protect you from anything you face. Trust in Him.

Are you like the people? Do you think you know Jesus because you grew up in the church, but realize you don’t?

The good news is if you seek Him, you will find him.God’s Word for you today is that your seeking proves the God is drawing you to Him, and those He draws He teaches. I urge you to pray, and start today reading the Word. You have an exciting adventure ahead of you!

AND may the grace and the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, be with us all. Amen.

Let us pray,

Lord,

We praise you that you have drawn us to Yourself, and that we have heard and learned. And we pray that You would continue to give us the living bread, that we would grow and abide in You.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.