Keys to the Kingdom
By Carolyn Tucker
My Dad was a horseman and he taught my daughter and I to ride and love horses. I always rode my Missouri Foxtrotter at one of two gaits; either a foxtrot or running walk. I don’t recall ever coaxing my horse into running so I could experience the powerful speed of the animal. I’ve watched a lot of Western films where the bank robbers ride out of town at breakneck speed and soon a posse leaves close behind them. No man ever headed out of town on foot when he was in a hurry — he always rode a horse.
God’s prophet Elijah had just called out all the false prophets of Baal. Everyone watching found out that Baal was not the great god his followers thought he was. Elijah made certain the people understood that Jehovah God, and not Baal, was sending the rain to end the three-year drought. The showdown at Mount Carmel was like a called-out gunfight in the street of Dodge City — and God had Elijah‘s back.
After Elijah’s prayer, God answered by fire, which proved He was (and still is) Almighty God. Then the false prophets of Baal were led down to the Kishon Brook and Elijah killed all 450 of them. “Then Elijah said to King Ahab, ’Now, go and eat. I hear the roar of rain approaching.’ While Ahab went to eat, Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel, where he bowed down to the ground, with his servant, ‘Go and look toward the sea.’ The servant went and returned saying, ’I didn’t see a thing.’ Seven times in all Elijah told him to go and look. The seventh time he returned and said, ’I saw a little cloud no bigger than a man’s hand, coming up from the sea.’ Elijah ordered his servant, ’Go to King Ahab and tell him to get in his chariot and go back home before the rain stops him.’ In a little while the sky was covered with dark clouds, the wind began to blow, and a heavy rain began to fall. Ahab got in his chariot and started back to Jezreel. The power of the Lord came on Elijah; he fastened his clothes tight around his waist and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel [about 25 miles]” (1 Kings 18:41-46 TEV).
Only once in the Bible do we find a man outrunning a horse. Elijah was given added strength by the Lord to outrun a chariot. I’m impressed. Do we really pause to think about what these scriptures mean? It takes a lot of energy to kill 450 men by yourself. It takes a lot of faith to pray seven times about the same thing until the expected results happen. It takes a lot of energy to outrun a king’s horse for 25 miles. Either we believe our God is big enough to give us what we need, or we do not.
Tough experiences in a believer’s life are comparable to a showdown between the devil and Jesus. Isaiah 43:2-5 states “when” you go through deep waters, rivers of difficulty, and fire of oppression, not “if.” It’s during these tough times that God will give strength and grace for the task — if you ask. I have buried my parents, my husband, and my brother, and I look back on those experiences and ponder, “How did I do that and not crack into a million pieces?” The answer is GOD. He promises to give what you need when you need it. If Elijah could outrun a chariot, we, too, can outrun a broken heart or any other problem in life. God’s Word tells us that what starts as mourning can end in joy (Jeremiah 31:13). If we will continually look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, we will find increased strength and grace to face everything that comes our way.
The Key: The prayer of faith provides grace and strength to outrun a horse (problem).