It was the very place where Baal worship began! Don't miss this-God led Elijah to hide in the hometown of the idol he sought to destroy.

The road to Zarephath was treacherous, and the city was no better. Why Was Baal Worship Happening in Israel? God refined Elijah by separating him from Israel and sending him to Zarephath. Smelting is a metallurgy process that melts down ore to split a base metal from impurities. In biblical Hebrew, the word Zarephath means 'smelting pot,' which describes Elijah's journey there. Zarephath lay one hundred miles northwest of the Brook Cherith in a land crawling with Jezebel's assassins.

Traveling from the Brook Cherith to Zarephath required careful obedience. When God sent Elijah to Zarephath later, he wouldn't have found the kind widow if he hadn't followed God's instructions. If Elijah had fled to the wrong place, the ravens would not have brought him food. He had to be in the right place, at the right time. Submission.Įlijah's protection depended on him surrendering to God's leading. This time prepared Elijah for future service by helping him to grow in faith and patience. The Lord loves to hide His people alone so that He can have their undivided attention. Jesus said, 'Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest' (Matthew 11:28). When God calls someone to ministry, He often secludes them for a while. It allowed him to receive God's guidance and experience His provision. For Elijah, hiding was God's way of preparing him. Adam and Jonah attempted the impossible task of hiding from God ( Genesis 3:10 Jonah 1:3).

Discerning the difference requires sensitivity to God's leading. There are times to be courageous, and there are times of preparation. 'You are my hiding place You shall preserve me from trouble You shall surround me with songs of deliverance' (Psalm 32:7).'You shall hide in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues' (Psalm 31:20).'Hide me under the shadow of Your wings' (Psalm 17:8).On three different occasions, the psalmist referred to God's protective hiding: God told him to hide! ( 1 Kings 17:2-3) Hiding with God is obedient hiding from God is rebellious. Facing an enemy often teaches us to trust God's power rather than our own, but Elijah's hiding was not wrong.

Elijah and prophets of baal bible study