1. Elijah and the Mountain of God Ahab and the Foolish Decision 1 Kings, Chapters 19 - 20 1 Kings, Chapters 19 - 20

2. Elijah’s Fear and Discouragement He collapsed in the shade of a broom bush and prayed, “Enough of this, Lord. Take my life!” Exhausted, he fell asleep. He collapsed in the shade of a broom bush and prayed, “Enough of this, Lord. Take my life!” Exhausted, he fell asleep. Twice an angel brought Elijah bread and water and told him to eat or the journey would be too much for him. The food gave Elijah strength to walk for forty days and nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. Twice an angel brought Elijah bread and water and told him to eat or the journey would be too much for him. The food gave Elijah strength to walk for forty days and nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. After Queen Jezebel threatened his life, Elijah was terrified and ran away. He fled a day's journey (150 miles!) into the wilderness After Queen Jezebel threatened his life, Elijah was terrified and ran away. He fled a day's journey (150 miles!) into the wilderness.

3. Horeb, the Mountain of God Why is Horeb called the mountain of God? (Hint: It’s also known as Mt. Sinai!) What else has happened on this mountain?

4. Where is God To Be Found? At Mount Horeb, Elijah crawled into a cave and slept through the night. At Mount Horeb, Elijah crawled into a cave and slept through the night. The Word of the Lord came to him, “Go stand on the mountain in front of the Lord. The Lord will pass by.” The Word of the Lord came to him, “Go stand on the mountain in front of the Lord. The Lord will pass by.” A hurricane force wind ripped the mountains, but the Lord was not in the wind. An earthquake came, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. A fire came, but the Lord was not in the fire. A hurricane force wind ripped the mountains, but the Lord was not in the wind. An earthquake came, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. A fire came, but the Lord was not in the fire. Then came a gentle whisper. When Elijah he went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then came a gentle whisper. When Elijah he went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. A quiet voice asked him, “Elijah, why are you here?” A quiet voice asked him, “Elijah, why are you here?” What is the significance of God revealing himself this way?

5. God’s Actions on Elijah’s Behalf In response to the Lord’s question, Elijah replied, In response to the Lord’s question, Elijah replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have abandoned your covenant, destroyed your altars, & murdered your prophets. I am the only one left, & now they are trying to kill me.” The Lord said, “Go back the way you came. The Lord said, “Go back the way you came. Anoint Jehu king over Israel, and anoint Elisha to succeed you as prophet. I have left 7,000 living in Israel whose knees never bowed down to Baal…”

6. The Call of Elisha Elisha then took his pair of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people. Elisha then took his pair of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people. What do you think was the significance of this? Then Elisha set out to follow Elijah. We can only assume that God had already spoken with Elisha about His call upon his life. Elisha would have been already waiting for Elijah to show up & confirm God's Word. Then Elisha set out to follow Elijah. We can only assume that God had already spoken with Elisha about His call upon his life. Elisha would have been already waiting for Elijah to show up & confirm God's Word. Elijah found Elisha plowing with a team of yoked oxen. Elijah threw his cloak around him. Elijah found Elisha plowing with a team of yoked oxen. Elijah threw his cloak around him. What was the significance of this?

7. Ben-Hadad Attacks Samaria When Ben-Hadad had issued his first set of demands, Ahab had agreed to them and was willing to surrender and become the Aramean king’s servant. When Ben-Hadad had issued his first set of demands, Ahab had agreed to them and was willing to surrender and become the Aramean king’s servant. But we find that Ben-Hadad wanted a lot more than this—he intended to strip Ahab & Israel of all they had. But we find that Ben-Hadad wanted a lot more than this—he intended to strip Ahab & Israel of all they had. King Ahab changed his mind and refused to surrender. After King Ahab changed his mind and refused to surrender. After hearing of Ahab's refusal, the Ben-Hadad declares war on Samaria, and vows to annihilate the city. Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram, recruits 33 other kings and together they build an army and attack Samaria. Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram, recruits 33 other kings and together they build an army and attack Samaria.

8. The Lord Promises Victory to King Ahab Meanwhile, the Lord sends an unnamed prophet to come and help King Ahab in this battle. The unnamed prophet: "This is what the Lord says: 'Do you see this vast army? I will give it into your hand today, and then you will know that I am the Lord.’” The unnamed prophet: "This is what the Lord says: 'Do you see this vast army? I will give it into your hand today, and then you will know that I am the Lord.’” After hearing this, Ahab assembled his small army of 7,000 men to face-off against Ben-Hadad’s much larger and superior forces. After hearing this, Ahab assembled his small army of 7,000 men to face-off against Ben-Hadad’s much larger and superior forces. In response to the advance of the Israelites, Ben-Hadad ordered: "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; if they have come out for war, take them alive. In response to the advance of the Israelites, Ben-Hadad ordered: "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; if they have come out for war, take them alive.

9. Ben-Hadad and His Army Regroups Ben-Hadad and his powerful army experience heavy casualties and retreat. The Israelites pursued them and cause them even more heavy losses. Ben-Hadad though was able to escape on horseback. Ben-Hadad and his powerful army experience heavy casualties and retreat. The Israelites pursued them and cause them even more heavy losses. Ben-Hadad though was able to escape on horseback. A little while later, Ben-Hadad had a meeting with his officials, in which they told the king: "Their gods are gods of the hills. That is why they were too strong for us. But if we fight them on the plains, surely we will be stronger than they.” A little while later, Ben-Hadad had a meeting with his officials, in which they told the king: "Their gods are gods of the hills. That is why they were too strong for us. But if we fight them on the plains, surely we will be stronger than they.” Little did he know that the Lord’s prophet caught up with Ahab and warned that Ben-Hadad would regroup with a new army & attack Israel again... Little did he know that the Lord’s prophet caught up with Ahab and warned that Ben-Hadad would regroup with a new army & attack Israel again...

10. The Lord Delivers Victory to King Ahab For seven days, the armies camped opposite of each other. The Bible tells us, that when both armies were compared in size, the Israelites looked like two small flocks of goats when compared to the Aramean army which covered all of the countryside. For seven days, the armies camped opposite of each other. The Bible tells us, that when both armies were compared in size, the Israelites looked like two small flocks of goats when compared to the Aramean army which covered all of the countryside. Before the battle, the prophet had went to Ahab and told him: "Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the hills and not a God of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the Lord.” Before the battle, the prophet had went to Ahab and told him: "Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the hills and not a God of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the Lord.” The Israelites had inflicted one-hundred thousand casualties on the Aramean army when they clashed the first day… The Israelites had inflicted one-hundred thousand casualties on the Aramean army when they clashed the first day…

12. King Ahab Makes A Foolish Decision The rest of the Arameans retreated back to a city where they tried to reinforce a wall to keep the Israelites out. This wall ended up falling on the Aramean army, killing twenty-seven thousand of them. The rest of the Arameans retreated back to a city where they tried to reinforce a wall to keep the Israelites out. This wall ended up falling on the Aramean army, killing twenty-seven thousand of them. King Ben-Hadad hid and then tried to surrender to King Ahab. On the basis of an agreed upon treaty, Ahab let Ben-Hadad go free! King Ben-Hadad hid and then tried to surrender to King Ahab. On the basis of an agreed upon treaty, Ahab let Ben-Hadad go free! After this happened, the Lord send one of his prophets in disguise to deliver a message to Ahab through the telling of a story. After this happened, the Lord send one of his prophets in disguise to deliver a message to Ahab through the telling of a story. What was the story? Has God ever talked to anyone else through a story before?

13. King Ahab Provides The Ending To The Story …As Well As To His Reign. Ahab responded to the prophet’s story by saying: Ahab responded to the prophet’s story by saying: "That is your sentence, you have pronounced it yourself.” Then the prophet revealed his true identity to the King Ahab. Then the prophet said: "You have set free a man I had determined should die. Therefore it is your life for his life, your people for his people." Then the prophet revealed his true identity to the King Ahab. Then the prophet said: "You have set free a man I had determined should die. Therefore it is your life for his life, your people for his people." After hearing this judgment that had been placed against him, Ahab went home angry and sulked. After hearing this judgment that had been placed against him, Ahab went home angry and sulked.

14. Homework for Thursday, October 28 th (Due Tuesday, November 2 nd ) 1. Read 1 Kings, chapters 21 – 22. 2. Update your profile on King Ahab as needed. Pay attention to the major events of the story! 3. Blog on “Fear No Evil” 4. Learn the Memory Verse (Psalm 89:2-4) 5. Begin working on your study sheet for the Unit 2 Test on Thursday, November 4 th ).