Crispin surveyed the carnage of the worship—the smoldering evidence of sacrifice, the spirit and odor of human lust that still hung in the air. Michael turned to hear Crispin’s answer as well, so the teacher sat next to the altar of Baal and began to speak.
“Why do humans do such things?” asked Crispin. “I cannot answer that any more than I can answer why angels do such things. Don’t forget that before Eden there was the rebellion in Heaven. The first sin did not begin with humans but with angels. The issue is not one of human or angel but of free will to do as one wishes.”
“But what does Baal offer these humans that they cannot find in the Most High?” asked Dheer.
“You were in Ashdod, Dheer,” said Crispin. “You saw the worship of Dagon. You witnessed the manipulation by the priests of Dagon to work the people up into a ritualistic frenzy. I tell you—humans need to be led and they desire to be led from something or somebody greater than themselves. So they seek out such gods as suit them and, inevitably, deceive them in the bargain.”
“But what does Baal give them in return for their worship?” insisted Serus.
“Peace of mind,” said Crispin. “Short-lived to be sure, and in the end destructive. You must not forget that the people of Canaan—and this includes the Lord’s own people—are very much tied to the land. This land must produce. Milk and honey does not simply happen. It is seen as a blessing of the Most High, or in this case, of the gods of Canaan. Baal is a god of the earth and he must be satisfied in these carnal charades so that the fertility of the ground is assured. Baalism is security for a very insecure people.”
Michael shook his head in disgust.
“Then Lucifer has won, good teacher,” he said. “For the kings of Israel have given themselves over to this god of the earth.”
“You mean they have given themselves over to the manipulations of fallen angels,” reminded Crispin. “Remember, Michael, that there are no gods of this world apart from the fallen and dark angels who supply such gods through their mystical representations in the minds of men. Deluding men into thinking they are sorcerers and diviners while secretly creating the illusions themselves. It’s a rotten business, Michael, but far from over.”
“You mean the Seed can still emerge from this wreckage?” asked Serus. “God would still send the one to crush the head of the serpent after all this?”
“Our Lord is not a fool, but He is longsuffering. And He is honorable. He has made a promise and He will keep it—even to His disadvantage. The time might come when it will cost Him a great deal more than even we can understand to keep His promise.”
As the group pondered these things, Gabriel landed with some news. Michael greeted his brother angel, whom he had not seen in some time.
“The Lord has sent a man filled with His power and Spirit to contest the idolatry in Israel,” he said. “He is a Tishbite from Gilead by the name of Elijah.”
“Elijah,” said Crispin smiling. “The name means ‘the Lord is my God.’ I like him already.” The others laughed.
“Where is he now? What is he to do?” came the questions.
“He is on his way to Ahab,” said Gabriel. “And Serus—you and I shall accompany him on his mission.”
“Thank you, my lord,” said Serus.
“As he is a prophet—a messenger to the people—the Lord ordered that I should watch over his ministry. And I believe you have earned the privilege by having overcome a bit of idolatry in your own past,” Gabriel finished, winking at the angel.
“It’s true,” said Serus. “To my shame I almost threw in with Lucifer.”
“Ah, but at the last you made the right choice,” said Michael.
“Yes indeed,” said Crispin, “and now you can go and see if Ahab will make the right choice!”
“We will leave immediately,” said Gabriel. “He has just been presented at court.”
The two angels bid their friends farewell and disappeared. Michael sighed as he looked over the unholy place of worship in which he, Dheer, and Crispin stood.
“Perhaps one day we shall have a king in Israel who will destroy these places rather than build them,” he said.
“Perhaps,” said Crispin. “But just to let them know how the wind has changed with Elijah here…”
He touched the Asherah pole, snapping it in two with a brilliant pulse of light. The top half fell to the ground with a thud.
“May it ever be with all such places,” he said, as they all vanished.
Ahab’s palace at Samaria was a luxurious and magnificent complex. The walls in the main reception area as well as the king’s chambers were inlaid with ivory. On the walls were glorious reliefs and inlays of flowers and animals, many of which showed a definite Egyptian influence. In deference to his wife, Jezebel, Ahab also made sure that there were Phoenician elements throughout the palace as well.
Apart from the physical beauty of the place, there was a definite sense of kingly authority. For all of his personal flaws, Ahab was a capable ruler who used his power to keep Israel’s external enemies at bay. Unfortunately, the subtle enemies that were gnawing at him from within were the greater threat.
Gabriel and Serus walked alongside Elijah as he climbed the few stairs that led to the entry of Ahab’s palace. The prophet drew strange looks from the guards as he approached the main protocol. Serus and Gabriel also drew strange looks—unwelcome looks—and howling jeers from the many demons who hung about the palace.
“There is a very strong spirit of control in this place,” said Gabriel, sensing the spiritual condition of Ahab’s home. “Control and religious idolatry. Such shameful strongholds to be at the king’s residence!”
“Away from here, Gabriel,” came a voice from the throng. “You are not welcome here. And take the traitor Serus with you!”
The howl increased as they proceeded through a hallway where Elijah was greeted by an aide to the king. The aide said that he would announce the prophet and that Elijah was to wait in the hallway until he returned.
“Welcome to Samaria,” came the familiar voice of Shawa.
“Ah, Shawa,” said Serus. “Or is it Dagon? No, that was before Dagon was humbled. I believe it is Baal that you are assuming now?”
“Careful, traitor,” said Shawa sharply. “You are on unholy ground now.”
“Where is Kara?” asked Gabriel. “Surely his ambition does not give you free reign in Samaria.”
“I have authority in Samaria,” said Shawa defensively. “I am the true power behind the king. I have Ahab’s mind and Jezebel’s heart. And your prophet is finished before he even begins here. We have prophets—hundreds of them!”
“Ah yes,” said Gabriel, looking at the Baalist inlays in the ivory. “I have heard of your school of prophets for Baal. They are centered at Mount Carmel, are they not?”
“Carmel is only one of the sacred sites,” sniffed Shawa. “And they are a particular favorite of the queen.” He smiled an angry smile. “It won’t be long, Archangel, until the prophets of Baal are the only voice heard in Israel. And then you can find another nation to plant your accursed Seed!”
“The Seed is planted, Shawa,” said Gabriel. “Far too deeply for you to ever be able to get to it!”
Before Shawa could answer, the steward returned and asked Elijah to follow him in to see Ahab. Shawa raced ahead to stand by the king. By the time Gabriel and Serus arrived with Elijah in Ahab’s elaborate reception room, Shawa was standing next to the king. Kara was there as well.
“Ah Gabriel,” said Kara. “What a pleasant surprise. And you brought along a prophet and a traitor—neither of which will do you any good.”
Gabriel ignored Kara’s jibe and listened as Ahab spoke.
Ahab was a man of about 40, slender and regal in appearance. He carried kingly authority well on the outside, though he was ruled by his wife, Jezebel, from within. He stood to greet Elijah and offered him food or drink. Elijah declined the offer and began to speak.
“Ahab, the Lord mad
e you king over Israel so that you might be a keeper of His covenant, not a destroyer of it,” he began. “Yet you have tempted the Lord through your allowance of high places and abominable places of worship for the Baals. You have married an idolatrous woman who, out of her own purse, has created a school of such false prophets.”
At that point Jezebel came in and took her seat next to her husband. She had clearly heard what the prophet had said. She was an attractive woman, dressed in the royal garb of Tyre, and decked out in much jewelry. Around her neck was an amulet with Baal markings engraved upon it.
“You would deprive me of my school of prophets?” asked Jezebel in a mock voice of desperation. “Whatever would I do?”
“Madam, you are inviting the judgment of God upon your head,” Elijah answered.
Gabriel liked this man. He had not heard a human speak with such authority since Moses confronted Rameses. This would be interesting. Jezebel looked at her husband, waiting for some response from him to silent this insolent holy man. But Ahab remained silent, much to her dismay.
“And so to prove to you that the Lord is God, and that He cannot be mocked by the Baals, or by earthly kings, there shall be neither rain nor dew for the next few years unless I decree otherwise.”
Ahab began to smirk. Jezebel laughed out loud, almost spilling her wine out of its golden cup. The others in the court began to laugh aloud as well.
“You shall stop the rain,” said Ahab as the laughter subsided. “Interesting.”
“When the animals are dying; when the crops have failed; when your people cry out for relief—you will send for me, Ahab. And then you will know that the Lord God Almighty is God.”
Elijah left the palace and headed into the streets of Samaria. A crowd gathered around him as he lifted his voice to the Lord:
“Here now, O Israel. You have forsaken the living God, the God of your fathers, and have run after other gods. Therefore this is the word of the Lord: There shall be no rain nor dew upon the land for the next few years!”
The crowd began to laugh at the man, who was obviously deranged. One man asked if he wanted some more wine. Elijah merely looked up to the sky and ended his declaration with the words, “So be it done!”
From a window in the palace, Jezebel watched the entire scene. It was bad enough that this man had intruded upon the king and queen. But now he was spewing his poison on the streets. She summoned her chief aide.
“Yes, my queen,” said Dobri.
“I want that man who calls himself a prophet followed. See where he goes and with whom he speaks. Send me regular reports. And if he discovers you…kill him.” She tossed him a small bag with several precious stones in it.
“As you command, my queen,” he said.
“Gabriel!”
“Gabriel, what is the matter?” asked Serus.
Gabriel ignored Serus, indicating for him to be quiet and follow him. The two angels walked with Elijah until he came to a place just outside the city where nobody else was around. Elijah was filling his skin with fresh water.
“The Lord will speak to him,” said Gabriel solemnly. The words were hardly out of Gabriel’s mouth when the silence was broken:
“Elijah!”
Elijah looked about.
“Elijah!”
Gabriel and Serus bowed their heads as the Lord spoke.
“Lord?” said Elijah.
“Hear the word of the Lord, Elijah!”
Elijah fell to his knees. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.
“You are to leave here and turn to the east. Go to the Kerith ravine east of Jordan and hide there, for your enemies are seeking you out. There you shall drink from the brook and you shall be fed by the ravens that I have ordered there!”
Elijah stood up and hurriedly gathered his things to begin the journey east. As he got back on the road leaving town, Serus turned and saw several demons accompanying Dobri, who had just passed the gate, riding a chariot and accompanied by another man. They were obviously looking for Elijah.
“Look there,” said Serus, pointing to the man.
“It is Jezebel’s servant,” said Gabriel. “You remain with Elijah. I’ll see to these.”
“Elijah, you must hurry,” Serus said.
Elijah considered the idea in his heart and picked up the pace, heading eastward from Samaria onto the road that led to Kerith. Gabriel stood in front of the demons who were with Dobri.
“We would pass, Archangel,” they said. “We are on assignment with this man.”
Gabriel began to unsheathe his sword. Seeing this, the devils abandoned Dobri, preferring to meet up with Gabriel when they had a greater advantage of numbers.
“Go ahead, Archangel,” said one of them. “We shall yet have our vengeance upon both you and the man of God!”
He then vanished.
Dobri continued his hunt, asking people if they had seen Elijah. Gabriel determined to deal with the man. Assuming the form of a human, a merchant entering Samaria on a donkey, he rode near Dobri.
“Did I hear you inquire about a certain man?” the stranger asked.
“Yes,” said Dobri. He then began to tell the merchant, who was really Gabriel, about Elijah in great detail.
“Ah yes,” said the man. “ I ran into him a mile from here. He said he was headed west toward Carmel. I believe that he was picked up by a man on horseback!”
“Thank you,” said Dobri, tossing him a coin. Dobri and his companion took off on the road leading west. Gabriel looked at the coin, which bore Ahab’s inscription. Tossing it away, he vanished so that he could catch up with Serus and Elijah.
Bethlehem, 4 B.C.
Eli stirred the embers, bringing life to the fire. It responded to his coaxing with a lively pop. The Bethlehem night seemed colder than usual. Most of the shepherds were now settled around the fire in half-sitting, half-reclining positions. The boys, however, still involved in the evening’s story, remained vigilant in their attention.
“Wouldn’t you boys like to rest for a while?” asked Eli.
“Now?” asked Jarod. “Just when Elijah has the bad king after him?”
“Bad queen,” corrected Eli. “Jezebel hated Elijah with all that was in her.”
“But why?” Jarod asked. “I thought prophets were good to have around.”
Eli chuckled at the boy’s response.
“They are, lad,” said Eli. “Most of the time. But Elijah’s message was a hard one. It was a message that people did not want to hear because they had turned their backs on the Lord. Jezebel hated Elijah because he was a threat to her hold over the Baal worship in the land. That worship made her lots of money and gave her a great measure of control.
“The rain had stopped for several years—just as Elijah had decreed. So Ahab and Jezebel hated the man—but they also needed him if the rain was ever going to return.”
“So what did he do during that time?” asked Jarod. “Where did he live?”
“Oh, the Lord took care of him—as He does all His prophets. For a time Elijah lived near a brook in Kerith where the ravens fed him. Then he went to Zarephath, where a widow woman took care of him. While he was with her, Elijah raised her son from the dead! In the meantime Jezebel was on a bloody rampage, killing the Lord’s prophets wherever she could find them. Of course, Elijah was the one she really wanted.
“Finally, the Lord told Elijah to present himself once again to Ahab. The Most High God was going to finally send rain. He wanted Ahab to know that it was the Lord, and nobody else, who had commanded the rain. So Elijah met with Ahab at Samaria.”
“Did he bring the rain with him?” asked Joshua.
“No, Joshua,” said Eli. “He didn’t bring the rain. He brought a challenge….”
Samaria, 876 B.C.
Elijah approached Ahab in the same assembly hall as before, although this time it was empty except for several guards. Most of the administrators and officials were out in the country dealing with the famine and drought that had become the
focus of Ahab’s reign. Kara and Shawa stood behind Ahab as before, though this time they seemed in a very different humor.
“How long will the cruelty of the Most High continue?” asked Shawa. “His people are suffering throughout the land!”
Gabriel, who had come in with Elijah, was incredulous.
“You are concerned with the suffering of the people?” he said mockingly. “Shawa, all that concerns you is the fact that the Baals are losing face. And with that your power is diminished.”
“Nevertheless people are dying,” interjected Kara. “It is a cruel God who plays games with the lives of people. He shall never win them back!”
“This is no game, Kara,” said Gabriel. “And the Lord need not win anyone back. The people will one day return to Him on their own!”
“If there are any left alive,” Kara sneered.
Elijah stopped in front of the king’s chair.
“Is that you, troubler of Israel?” Ahab asked.
“I have not made trouble for Israel, majesty,” said Elijah. “It is your following of the Baals that has brought on this disaster. And your murder of the Lord’s prophets.”
“I see that you are in good health,” said Jezebel, who had rushed to the hall when she was informed that her hated enemy had dared present himself.
“Yes, madam,” said Elijah. “I am in the best of health. But in your zeal for Baal many of the Lord’s prophets have been murdered.”
“Can I help it if the people seek out heretics?” asked Jezebel. “I am not responsible for the actions of others who are incited by religious fanatics.”
“The power of Baal is not real, madam,” said Elijah. “It is dark and devilish and forbidden by the Lord.”
“Did you come here to provoke me?” she asked, visibly angry.
Ahab gave her a look that told her to calm down and be quiet.
“I have come that you might see that the Lord God of Heaven is Lord over all gods,” Elijah said. “I have come to bring you a challenge.”
Jezebel looked at her husband. She was immediately on guard for a trick from this crafty old prophet who had been so much trouble to her. Ahab, however, was interested in Elijah’s mention of a challenge.
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