I was recently reading some chapters from I Kings and two times I fell in the above phrase. Ahaab was king of Israel at that time and he was one of her worse. He was walking after the steps of Jeroboam and after the steps of his own wife, Jezebel, one of the most wicked women ever. God’s spokesman at that time was Elijah. Despite the state Israel was at the time, God didn’t stop making Himself known to His rebellious and following other gods people. To the contrary, in various ways He tried to draw their attention to Him… In fact not only that but to make them know that He is the Lord. And this is what impressed me from these chapters: the people of God for years had rebelled against Him… for years had abandoned him worshiping golden calves and other idols, and yet the Lord had not abandoned them. He wanted them to know that He is the Lord and not the idols they were worshiping.
The phrase “and you will know that I’m the Lord” occurs various times in the Bible. God used it when He moved His people out of Egypt. And He used it for the Egyptians. The Egyptians would know that He is the Lord. It is also used when the people of Israel were in the wilderness and they were murmuring, doubting him. God promised to them that they would know that He is the Lord. It is also used, very extensively in Ezekiel: there this phrase is used in connection to God’s judgment: they would know that He is the Lord through His judgment.
God makes himself known. He let man know that He is the Lord. He let His people know that He is the Lord and He changes not. And this He did to Israel in those two occasions of I Kings. Let’s see them.
I Kings 18
Elijah had told Ahaab that there would be no rain in the land but only through the word of his mouth (I Kings 17:1). Three years passed by and there was not a single drop anywhere in Israel. King Ahaab with Obadiah, a godly man that was the governor of his house, went out searching for food for the horses. It was at that time that Elijah came to Obadiah and asked him to go and tell the king to come and meet him. After some discussion between Elijah and Obadiah, Obadiah went and told the king:
I Kings 18:16-24
“So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah. And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim. Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table. So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.”
“So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah. And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim. Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table. So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.”
Elijah was specially commissioned by God to demonstrate God’s presence and power to His people who had forgotten Him. God wanted to show to His people who He is God. He wanted to turned them to Himself and for this He brought them altogether to see what He was going to do. The dryness had made His people suffer for three years. Imagine three years without rain. Water and food had become very scarce commodities. I’m sure under such conditions many hearts had softened and God wanted to bring them back, to tell them that He is the Lord. So all Israel and the false prophets of Baal came all together to this “test”. Who would see this demonstration and would doubt that Jehovah is God? The verses that follow tell us what happened:
I Kings 18:25-45
“And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.”
“And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.”
The people came to know that He is God. He is the Lord. God does wants us to know that He is the Lord. He wanted to show to the rebellious Israel that He is God and you can be sure: they knew. A great rain followed the above events, the first after three years.
Turning the above to us, God wants us to know that He is God. He is the Lord. When I became a Christian, the invitation of the Lord given in Matthew 7:7-11 was one of the passages I had and still have in heart:
Matthew 7:7-11
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”
God wants to show you that He is the Lord. It is actually those who are far from Him, not those who are near that especially need to know this. Those who are close to him, they do know that He is the Lord. Elijah didn’t need a demonstration to know that He is Lord. However he also got one later in I Kings 19. He was with the Lord all day. But those people of Israel did need to know this. They were far from the Lord and they had forgotten Him. They needed to know that He is God and God made a special demonstration to them. The above verses of Matthew are for everybody. God will never cease to answer prayers and bless His people. He will never cease to be a Father to His children. But I would like, if you are far from him, if you are even not of his household, ask Him, give your needs to Him. Knock His door. God is a prayers answering God always and especially for those who are far from Him and want to approach Him, He wants to make known to them that He is God. He is going to answer to you in marvelous ways that will leave no doubt that He is the Lord. So approach him, seek Him and He will be found!
I Kings 20 The above miracle was not the only demonstration of God’s power, during those dark times of the northern kingdom of Israel. Chapter 20 contains two more times the phrase “and you shall know that I’m the Lord”. There we find Benaad the king of Syria coming against Israel. He came against Samaria with a lot of army and power. At that crisis time a prophet of God came to Ahaab. Verse 13 of I Kings tells us:
I Kings 20:13
“And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD. ”
“And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD. ”
God would once again show to this King that HE IS THE LORD. The Syrians came with great power and with a numerous army. But as Romans 9:16 tells us it is not of the one that wills or the one that runs but of God that shows mercy. As also Psalms tell us:
Psalms 127:1
“Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”
“Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”
The Lord is the final factor that determines a result. A great army came against Israel but God would use this to show to his people who HE is the Lord. Not their idols bur HE. As Paul said in another point:
II Corinthians 12:9
“my [God’s] strength is made perfect in weakness”
“my [God’s] strength is made perfect in weakness”
When we have the power then we run and move and try to obtain, though again it is not of the one that wills or runs but of God that shows mercy. However in the weakness, when we can’t do much, HIS strength made PERFECT. So here are the Syrians, with a great army and great power. In the opposite side however they don’t have just the people of Israel but the God of Israel, Who wanted His people to know that HE is God. The verses that follow us tell us the outcome:
I Kings 20:14-22
“And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou. Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two: and after them he numbered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand. And they went out at noon. But Benhadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him. And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Benhadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria. And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive. So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them. And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen. And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter. And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.”
“And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou. Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two: and after them he numbered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand. And they went out at noon. But Benhadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him. And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Benhadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria. And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive. So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them. And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen. And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter. And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.”
The Syrians suffered a great defeat. Despite this however they would return. The prophet of God warned the king of Israel that they would return again. But with no different result:
“And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Benhadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight [again] against Israel. And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country. And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD. And they pitched one over against the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined: and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians an hundred thousand footmen in one day. ”
The people of Israel were very few in comparison to the great multitude of the Syrians. But God was with them and He wanted them to know that He is the Lord. The Syrians lost the battle and their king was running to hide himself. For once again we see that it is not of the one that wills or the one that runs but God that gives mercy. For once again we see that God wants the people to know that He is God, even if His people are far from him. In fact it is they that need most of all to know that He is God.
It may be that you try to do everything yourself. It may be that you doubt whether God can help. Well, HE CAN. God wants to bless you and to know that He is God. This was His will for Israel and He did it by demonstrations of His power, by deliverance and miracles and covering of needs. Here is the invitation to you:
Matthew 7:7-11
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”
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