Times were hard in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Wicked King Ahab and his ruthless wife, Jezebel, led Israel down a dark path. It’s a biblical adage that when the godless reign, wickedness increases. Unprecedented wickedness was definitely on the rise in Israel.
That’s when the prophet Elijah waltzed into the royal throne room and announced to Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!” (1 Kings 17:1). And with that, the prophet left town.
What followed was a miserable drought that lasted 3 1/2 years (James 5:17). It was well into the third year of the drought that Elijah requested a meeting with the king. 1 Kings 18:17 notes, “When Ahab saw him, he exclaimed, ‘So, is it really you, you troublemaker of Israel?’”
Isn’t that interesting. Wicked King Ahab called Elijah a troublemaker and accused him of being the source of Israel’s problems. Elijah quickly set the record straight in verse 18, “‘I have made no trouble for Israel,’ Elijah replied. ‘You and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the Lord and have worshiped the images of Baal instead.’”
When the wicked have their way, sin increases. And when sin increases, so does trouble! But then, a righteous man or woman comes along. They dare to take a stand and speak the truth in love. They refuse to look the other way. And for this they are looked upon as a troublemaker.
In case you haven’t noticed, there is a new narrative in America today. According to this narrative, Bible believing Christians are the real troublemakers in the country. Not the drug dealer. Not the peddler of smut. Not the violent gang member, or crooked politician. No, the source of America’s problems are those who cling to God and the Bible.
A wise king once said, “Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). We get that, in spite of what others say. But may I make a suggestion? When it comes to Satan’s kingdom of darkness, go ahead and be a troublemaker!
Give the devil a migraine. Disrupt his plans. Create havoc in the corridors of hell. Pray down confusion upon his evil strategies. Check him at every turn. Turn his world upside down. Throw his diabolical program into a state of disarray by exposing satanic lies with biblical truths.
Was Elijah a troublemaker for Israel? Of course not! But he was a troublemaker for a wicked king and queen who were intent on dragging their nation into unmitigated evil. So go ahead and be a troublemaker in a righteous way. Resist the wrong. Stand for the right. Fight the good fight of faith.
Pastor Todd Weston
That’s when the prophet Elijah waltzed into the royal throne room and announced to Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!” (1 Kings 17:1). And with that, the prophet left town.
What followed was a miserable drought that lasted 3 1/2 years (James 5:17). It was well into the third year of the drought that Elijah requested a meeting with the king. 1 Kings 18:17 notes, “When Ahab saw him, he exclaimed, ‘So, is it really you, you troublemaker of Israel?’”
Isn’t that interesting. Wicked King Ahab called Elijah a troublemaker and accused him of being the source of Israel’s problems. Elijah quickly set the record straight in verse 18, “‘I have made no trouble for Israel,’ Elijah replied. ‘You and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the Lord and have worshiped the images of Baal instead.’”
When the wicked have their way, sin increases. And when sin increases, so does trouble! But then, a righteous man or woman comes along. They dare to take a stand and speak the truth in love. They refuse to look the other way. And for this they are looked upon as a troublemaker.
In case you haven’t noticed, there is a new narrative in America today. According to this narrative, Bible believing Christians are the real troublemakers in the country. Not the drug dealer. Not the peddler of smut. Not the violent gang member, or crooked politician. No, the source of America’s problems are those who cling to God and the Bible.
A wise king once said, “Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). We get that, in spite of what others say. But may I make a suggestion? When it comes to Satan’s kingdom of darkness, go ahead and be a troublemaker!
Give the devil a migraine. Disrupt his plans. Create havoc in the corridors of hell. Pray down confusion upon his evil strategies. Check him at every turn. Turn his world upside down. Throw his diabolical program into a state of disarray by exposing satanic lies with biblical truths.
Was Elijah a troublemaker for Israel? Of course not! But he was a troublemaker for a wicked king and queen who were intent on dragging their nation into unmitigated evil. So go ahead and be a troublemaker in a righteous way. Resist the wrong. Stand for the right. Fight the good fight of faith.
Pastor Todd Weston
