Out of nowhere, at one of the most critical times in Israel’s history, an unknown prophet steps onto the world stage and courageously halts a wicked culture in its tracks. Up until 1 Kings 17, Elijah is unknown to the Bible reader. Suddenly, and with no pompous introduction, we read:
"And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, 'As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these many years, but according to my word.'"
(1 Kings 17:1)
God is not dependent on our name recognition, our personality, our skills, or our charisma to arrest the attention of a wicked generation. He is simply looking for men and women of courage.
Courage will never find lodging in the heart of an individual looking for comfort, convenience, congratulation, or compensation. Courage is the antithesis of anything self-seeking, self-reliant, self-conscious, and self-confident. The Apostle Paul declared the gospel boldly in the Jewish synagogues, on Mars Hill, before King Agrippa, and to the Roman guards to whom he was bound, because he was thoroughly convinced that:
"...by the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."
(1 Corinthians 15:10)
Troubling times do not frighten courage—they fuel it. Courage goes unnoticed until there is adversity. It does not take courage to be morally pure until there is a Potiphar’s wife. It does not take courage to pray until there is a lion’s den. It does not take courage to stand until there is a burning fiery furnace. It does not take courage to preach until there is a flogging tool, stocks for your feet, and an inner prison. Adversity does not produce courage, but it does reveal it—or the lack thereof:
"If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small."
(Proverbs 24:10)
The Wickedness of Ahab’s Reign
The nation of Israel was spiritually and morally bankrupt when Elijah arrived on the scene in 1 Kings 17. The prior chapter tells us:
"And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him. And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him."
(1 Kings 16:30–33)
Later, the Bible says:
"But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up."
(1 Kings 21:25)
This was a complete sellout of Israel’s heritage—and more importantly, their God. According to 1 Kings 18:19, there were 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the groves, leading the people into false worship and spiritual depravity.
Elijah’s Courage in the Face of Corruption
Yes, "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived."
(2 Timothy 3:13)
We are not promised a godly utopia in which to raise our children, minister in our churches, and seek to win others to Christ. "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known."
(Romans 3:10–17)
What could possibly have motivated Elijah, in the midst of such a corrupt and vile culture, to courageously stand up to the evil of his day?
Elijah: A Man Like Us
The Book of James gives us insight into this remarkable man:
"Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months."
(James 5:17)
Amazingly, Elijah was a man just like us—subject to sinful flesh, prone to discouragement, and swayed by emotions and feelings. Courage does not begin in public; it begins in private. It does not start on a platform; it starts in the prayer room.
The Private Preparation of Courage
1 Kings 17 pulls back the curtain and reveals the cultivation of courage in Elijah’s life, long before his public appearance on Mount Carmel in 1 Kings 18:
- At the brook Cherith
Elijah learned to rely on God as ravens delivered his meals daily.
(1 Kings 17:3–7) - At the widow’s house in Zarephath
He witnessed God sustain the meal and oil, day after day.
(1 Kings 17:8–16) - When raising the widow’s son
Elijah’s courage reached its height as God gave him the power to bring the dead back to life.
(1 Kings 17:17–24)
Why Do You Desire Courage?
Why do you desire the courage to lead? Why do you want God’s power and blessing in your life, family, and ministry? Why do we, as Christians, long for an awakening in our culture and revival in our churches?
If we seek applause without an appetite for being alone with Christ, we reveal a selfish, prideful motivation behind our quest for courage. Consider Elijah’s journey:
- There were no onlookers at the brook Cherith.
- There were no witnesses in Zarephath to God’s provision for Elijah and the widow.
- There were no spectators as Elijah raised the young boy from the dead.
God is preparing the stage for Christian courage to be on display, that He may prove Himself to be the true and only God. Are we allowing God to prepare us for that moment?
Courage is not born in the Coliseum calling for the lions; courage is born in the closet calling on the Lord.