Our God or Our Troubler?

1 Kings 18.1-19

After three long years without any rain, Elijah and Ahab finally meet. In the eyes of Israel, Elijah (and God) have been the source of their problem, the enemies of Israel. The land has been devastated and the people have been suffering a severe famine.

During these years, both Israel and Elijah have developed a stronger sense of God's character and involvement. In the case of Elijah, he has continually been humbled and surprised by God's miraculous provisions—from being fed by ravens and a widow to resurrecting the son of the widow. Despite Elijah's fickle faith (as we saw in previous weeks), God has been patiently discipling him to become a prophet of God. He shows no fear in confronting Ahab.

Israel, on the other hand, has developed a stronger distrust in God. Rather than responding to the drought with repentance, they blame the prophet of God as the source of all their problems, calling him "the troubler of Israel" (1 Kings 178.17). They seek to kill all of the prophets of the Lord, while worshipping Baal. Because they distort God's character and involvement, they fail to repent and are not restored by God.

In our context, God is also working powerfully. Sometimes it's through difficulties like a long drought or sometimes it's through miracles like being fed by ravens. Through the varying circumstances, how are we perceiving God's character and involvement? Is he our God who is worthy of worship or a troubler who is not doing what we expect him to do? Are we growing in our trust or distrust in him? Sadly, we often see him as a troubler, which leads us to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Spirit of Christ enables us to see God more accurately and because we are in Christ, God will never give up on his people despite our misperceptions of him.

Questions:

1. What is repentance and why is it so important in our relationship with God?

2. How have you been led by the Spirit to repent over the past few months? In what ways have you experienced God's grace and love in a more meaningful way through repentance?

3. Think back three years ago from today (maybe look at a picture that you took). What has grown more over the years: your trust or distrust in God?

4. Which of these two truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ resonates with you more and why?
a) If you are in Christ, then your perception of God will become progressively more accurate thereby making your faith in him grow.
b) If you are in Christ, then he will never give up on you and will continue to work powerfully in your life so that your faith in him grows.