1 Kings 18:15-19: a reflection

15Elijah said, “As the LORD of Armies lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.” 16So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?” 18He answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house, in that you have forsaken the LORD’s commandments and you have followed the Baals. 19Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel to Mount Carmel, and four hundred fifty of the prophets of Baal, and four hundred of the prophets of the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

When Elijah at last confronts the wicked King Ahab, Ahab greets him with an accusation: Is that you, you troubler of Israel? He blames Elijah for the drought and hardship, casting the prophet as the cause of the nation's trouble. But Elijah does not accept the false blame; he turns it back to where it belongs: I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father's house, in that you have forsaken the LORD's commandments and followed the Baals. Elijah refused to accept blame that was not his, and named the real cause of the trouble: Ahab's own forsaking of God. He stood for the truth before the king, not cowed into accepting a false accusation.

Notice Elijah's courage to refuse false blame and name the real cause. Ahab tried to make Elijah the scapegoat, the troubler of Israel; but Elijah did not accept the blame that was not his. He turned it back, naming the real cause of the trouble: Ahab's own forsaking of God's commandments. It took courage to stand before the king and refuse his accusation, to name the real cause rather than accept a false one; but Elijah did it, not cowed into taking blame that belonged elsewhere. He stood for the truth, refusing to let a false accusation stand, naming the real source of the trouble. The courage to refuse false blame and speak the truth, even to a king, marked Elijah's stand.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too may need the courage to refuse false blame and name the truth, even before those with power. When we are blamed falsely, made the scapegoat for troubles that are not our fault, we can be tempted to accept the blame, cowed by those who accuse us; but Elijah refused the false blame and named the real cause, even before the king. There is a courage that refuses to accept blame that is not ours and stands for the truth. Do not be cowed into accepting false blame; have the courage to refuse it and name the truth, as Elijah answered Ahab. Have the courage to refuse false blame and stand for the truth, even before those with power, as Elijah refused Ahab's accusation and named the real cause of Israel's trouble; for we may be made the scapegoat for what is not our fault, and there is a courage that refuses to accept blame that belongs elsewhere and stands for the truth rather than being cowed into silence.

Lord, when Elijah at last confronts the wicked King Ahab, Ahab greets him with an accusation: is that you, you troubler of Israel? He blames Elijah for the drought and hardship, casting the prophet as the cause of the nation's trouble. But Elijah does not accept the false blame; he turns it back to where it belongs: I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father's house, in that you have forsaken the LORD's commandments and followed the Baals. Elijah refused to accept blame that was not his, and named the real cause. Show me Elijah's courage to refuse false blame and name the real cause. Ahab tried to make Elijah the scapegoat; but Elijah did not accept the blame that was not his. He turned it back, naming the real cause of the trouble: Ahab's own forsaking of your commandments. It took courage to stand before the king and refuse his accusation; but Elijah did it, not cowed into taking blame that belonged elsewhere. He stood for the truth. Take that to my heart, for I too may need the courage to refuse false blame and name the truth, even before those with power. When I am blamed falsely, made the scapegoat for troubles that are not my fault, I can be tempted to accept the blame, cowed by those who accuse me; but Elijah refused the false blame and named the real cause, even before the king. There is a courage that refuses to accept blame that is not mine and stands for the truth. Keep me from being cowed into accepting false blame; give me courage to refuse it and name the truth, Lord, as Elijah answered Ahab and named the real cause of Israel's trouble.