Special People for Special Times - God looks for special people at difficult times

Ahab Reigns in Israel

29In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. 30And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. 31And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him. 32He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. 33And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. 34In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.

1Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” - 1 Kings 16:29–17:1

God looks for special people at difficult times. 

God needed a special man to shine the light in the blackness of those days. 

But God didn't find him in the palace or the court. He didn't find him walking around with his head down in the school of the prophets. 

He didn't even find him in the homes of the ordinary people. 

God found him in Tishbeh, of all places. A man who would stand in the gap couldn't be suave or slick; he had to be rugged — soft-hearted with a tough hide.

God looked for somebody who had the backbone to stand alone. 

Someone who had the courage to say, "That's wrong!" 

Someone who could stand toe to toe with an idolatrous king and his wicked wife and proclaim, "God is God."

I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one. (Ezekiel 22:30)

In our culture — our schools, our offices and factories, our lunchrooms and boardrooms, our halls of ivy and our halls of justice — we need men and women of God, including young people of God. 

We need respected professionals, athletes, homemakers, teachers, public figures, and private citizens who will promote the things of God, who will stand alone — stand tall, stand firm, stand strong!

How's your stature? 

How's your integrity? 

Have you corrupted your principles just to stay in business? To get a good grade? To make the team? To be with the "in" crowd? To earn the next rank or promotion? 

Have you winked at language or behavior that a few years ago would have horrified you? 

Are you, right now, compromising morally because you don't want to be considered a prude?

Those who find comfort in the court of Ahab can never bring themselves to stand in the gap with Elijah.

by Pastor Chuck Swindoll

Taken from Great Days with the Great Lives 

by Charles Swindoll.

insight.org

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