And yet, both men were perfectly consistent. It is in each case what you
would expect, and yet how differently it might have been. What a
different story it would have been if only Ahab had listened to the
teaching of God! How often we see men having chances of turning round
and beginning a new life; failing to do this, they seem to become the
worse for the lesson of Providence and the advice of those who warn them!
Has it ever been so with you? Can you remember a time when God stopped
you, and made you think, thus giving you a chance of reformation?
Wretched Ahab! he had just seen which is Master. How contemptible Baal
seemed now! The heavenly fire, which leaped in answer to Elijah's
prayer, disdained to notice the victims on the altar of the idol, while
the blood of the false priests dyed the waters of the brook Kishon, a
sacrifice to their own wickedness and deception. One would have thought
Ahab's good sense would have prevailed, and that he would have said,
"Elijah, I will go with thee, and on Carmel's top will unite with thee in
prayer." Alas for the history that might have been!
But some of you will say, "Did not Elijah say to Ahab, 'Get thee up, eat
and drink?'" Yes, he did. A few hours before, he had said, "If Baal,
follow him." Does not God allow us to be tempted continually? Did He
not, in His wisdom and goodness, place the tree which bare forbidden
fruit in the garden of Eden? Does He not say, by natural appetites and
propensities, enjoy yourself? There was nothing wrong in eating, but if
Ahab had but