Trouble in Israel

This is copied from the June 10, 1973 edition of Reminders, published by the Moundsville Church of Christ in Moundsville, West Virginia. Paul C. Keller was the editor of the paper as well as the author of this piece.

Unscrupulous men have never wanted the credit for the evil influence of their deeds. They have wanted their own way but have been unwilling to shoulder the blame for the evils resulting from their willfulness. Not infrequently have they brazenly sought to place such blame on the shoulders of those who opposed their unholy conduct. This is well illustrated in an incident in the life of Ahab.

The record is in 1 Kings 18:17-18. "And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, 'Are you he who troubles Israel?' And he answered, 'I have not troubled Israel, but you, your father's house, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and you have followed Baalam.'"

Who was responsible for the "trouble in Israel?" Was it Ahab or Elijah? What about Ahab? He had a bad record; a man's record comes up to face him again and again. With Jezebel, Ahab had used his position as king to foist upon Israel a religion that was at once corrupt and corrupting. He had been without scruple, unjust and impious. On the other hand, Elijah had opposed his evil deeds. As God's prophet, he had preached the truth and called upon people to return to Jehovah. He had been an aggressive, self-forgetful and sacrificial fighter for truth and righteousness. He had the courage to stand for the way of the Lord, even if he had to stand alone.

To Ahab belonged the guilt; not to Elijah. Those who stand for the truth of God are not trouble makers but rather, those who oppose it. What constitutes a troubler? The answer; they who "forsake the commandments of the Lord." Thus it was then. Thus it shall ever be. So, Ahab's accusation was false to the very core. Elijah's charge was true.

We do not know how many gullible souls Ahab succeeded in deceiving; possibly a few. It is doubtful that many could have been deceived (really) for a long time. There was trouble in Israel before Elijah came upon the scene. In spite of his efforts, the trouble remained after he was gone and every thinking person knew it.

Even if some people were deceived, God was not. He never is. God's attitude toward the lives of these two men is graphically displayed, not only in the results on Mount Carmel but also, in the manner in which each departed this life. Because of his sins, Ahab died a violent death. Dogs licked up his blood by the pool of Samaria. He defied the will of God and met disaster. This is the story of every man who takes this course. Disaster does not always come in the same dramatic fashion but it comes nevertheless (Romans 6:23). But for Elijah, "there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire...and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven." Thus did each depart; a fitting demonstration of the truthfulness of the poet's words: "Truth crushed to earth will rise again. The eternal years of God are hers, while error, wounded writhes in pain and dies among her worshipers."