A Time of Drought/Live It!

What goes down must go down?

That's not the way I remember that saying. Yet, here we are a full business week on the other side of the presumed answer to our economic woes, a $700 billion bailout, and the market has plunged another 500 points or so.

Looking at my third quarter retirement fund statement Friday was probably similar to experiencing a slasher movie--you can't stand to see it, but you can't look away.

That's why I don't go to slasher movies, by the way. But, we can't ignore real life, and that's what we're experiencing with this economic disaster we're facing. All the pundits now are saying that we're in for a long recovery. There won't be any quick fix, no short-term suffering here.

Elijah entered into a period of suffering that had an undetermined time frame attached to it. All God told him, and all Elijah conveyed to King Ahab, was the bad news that a drought was coming. Period. It was meant to make a point and to draw the nation of Israel back to God. The covenant God had struck with Israel promised woes if they turned their eyes to false gods.

Yet, there were many good people--even people within Ahab's own officer core (I Ki. 18:3-4)--who would have to suffer along with those who had turned their backs on God. But, in the midst of the calamity, God showed His plan, protection, and provision for Elijah. Here's how I see it:

• God's Plan--God always has a plan for His people. In I Ki. 17:3 & 9, God revealed what He wanted Elijah to do during this trial. God moved Elijah geographically and culturally, opening his eyes to how big the Lord is and how mightily He can move. But, at that point in time, God intended Elijah to be scarce.
• His Protection--Israel needed to suffer by itself for a time. Ahab looked for Elijah, probably wanting him to put a stop to the drought, but couldn't find him. Part of God's plan was to protect Elijah from Ahab's vengeance.
• His Provision--While God was executing His plan and protecting Elijah, He was also providing for his basic needs. Note that I said basic. Elijah wasn't living in the lap of luxury, although it might have been exciting each day to see what the ravens brought (I Ki. 17:6). It was probably also thrilling that the widow's jar of flour and jug of oil never ran out (I Ki. 17:16). But, can you imagine eating the same thing every day for 3-plus years? Elijah did suffer, but his needs were met.

In the midst of this financial crisis we're facing, it would be natural for you to question where God is in all this. I've seen a few crises in my lifetime and will gladly tell you that God was faithful to provide for my family through them. They were not easy times, but we grew through the experiences.

We were drawn closer to God, relying more and more on Him and less on our own ingenuity. I don't know for certain if we are stepping into such a time right now. But I am confident that, if we are, God is present with His plan, protection, and provision.

A Time of Drought/Go Deep

Ahab was one of the most evil kings to sit on Israel's throne.

He took over in about 874 B.C. and ruled the nation--or rather, ruined the nation--for some 22 years.

This was during a time when Israel and Judah were split. The southern kingdom, Judah, had Jerusalem, the Temple, and a good king every now and again; so Judah remained closer to God's Law. By contrast, Israel not only built a competing temple, the nation intermingled with its evil neighbors and veered far from the path God had set.

Part of what made Ahab so bad for the kingdom was his marriage to Jezebel, the princess of Tyre. Her father, Tyre's king, was originally a high priest of the pagan god Baal. Little Jezzy determined it was her purpose in life to turn Israel to the dark side, Baal worship.

She was pretty much succeeding, too, except for this pesky prophet Elijah. Elijah had a habit of telling Ahab and his household exactly what the true God thought.

In I Kings 17, we see Elijah delivering one of those messages from God. A drought was coming, bad news on a number of fronts, but also a slap in the face to the fake god Baal, who was supposed to provide rains and bountiful harvests.

There are so many lessons in this story. But, here's the one for this entry.

God delivered a drought to Israel to achieve His higher purposes. Elijah was one of the good guys; but he had to endure the drought along with many others who didn't deserve the headache.

In the midst of the hardships, though, God showed Elijah His plan, His provision, and His protection. Let's finish this lesson on Saturday.

A Time of Drought/Think About It

Our country appears to be moving into a time of economic drought.
What was my first clue, you ask?

My rapidly shrinking retirement fund for starters. Then, the media frenzy surrounding Congress' passage of a $700 billion bailout. And, of course, there's the souring political fortunes of John McCain (a bad economy is always bad for the incumbent party).

The bailout's passage was supposed to turn the Dow Jones around right away. But, it didn't happen. Today, the market dropped close to 400 more points on the news that global markets were seizing up at the news of America's failing financial health.

Soon, people won't be able to buy a vowel on Wheel of Fortune. (We can kiss it all goodbye when that happens.)

Most of us are looking around wondering, "What in the heck happened here?" We were doing our part, working hard, paying debts, watching our P's and Q's. But someone wasn't watching either.

Blame it on poor oversight by our government, greed among government-supported mortgage companies and their executives, and a national media that no longer searches out and spotlights truth, but instead runs interference for left-leaning causes.

Knowing this, unfortunately, doesn't make it go away. We appear to be in for a bad time--an economic drought. In spite of the fact that most of us did not cause this, we will still take part of the hit.

So what should our response be in the face of this injustice? Why are we having to experience it? Where is God in all this?

Read a story about another drought and the people who had to endure it, and we'll talk more mid-week. You'll find the biblical account in I Kings 17. Read, and then think about it.