Elijah: The God Time

By Rhodan Durrkey

This is a book based on events that occurred in the Bible. The writer weaves a story around these events as to what could have possibly happened. The writer not only writes of the battles but also the feelings and emotions that occupy the hearts of men of war. The writer gives an account of the miracles that took place and how they happened and why. The writer tries to show a God that was very active in protecting his chosen ones from the false god Baal. The writer also shows that God is seeking a relationship with people of the ninth century. God also demonstrates his power and concern for justice. The heart of the story is about a prophet that is seventy-five years of age and lives over 140 years. This is the story of him, Elijah, the devoted prophet of God or Yahweh. Yahweh was known as God from the time of Moses. A very sacred time to this day is called Passover. The writer tries to reveal the relationship between Yahweh and Elijah and how significant it was. God does not send chariots and horses of fire for the prophets that served him. In all the history of the Bible, this had only happened once. The writer tries to connect the events to the people who lived in the ninth century. Ahab and Jezebel are key participants in this book because, without them, there would have been no God time. The promotion of Baal was a factor in the worship of Israel and Samaria. The writer encourages the reader to remember this book is a story about the ninth century and the people who found themselves living in God time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hawes & Jenkins Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 6, 2024
• ISBN: 9781637843390

Book preview

cover.jpg

Elijah

The God Time

Rhodan Durrkey

ISBN 978-1-63784-338-3 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63784-339-0 (digital)

Copyright © 2024 by Rhodan Durrkey

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Hawes & Jenkins Publishing

16427 N Scottsdale Road Suite 410

Scottsdale, AZ 85254

www.hawesjenkins.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

The Beginning

Chapter 2

The Alliance

Chapter 3

The Calling of the Prophet Elijah

Chapter 4

The Drought

Chapter 5

The Challenges

Chapter 6

The Exile

Chapter 7

Wedding

Chapter 8

The Vineyard

Chapter 9

The Syrians Are Coming

Chapter 10

The Rule of Jezebel

Chapter 11

The Return of the Prophet

Chapter 12

Elijah and the God Time

About the Author

An Inspirational thanks

To Yahweh, and to Joel Osteen, for Elijah's and Ahab's race.

Chapter 1

The Beginning

Israel and Samaria

It was the ninth century in the land of Samaria and Israel, known as one kingdom. It was the time of Ahab and Jezebel. It was the time of the prophets of Yahweh and Baal. It was the time of Elijah. It was the God time. It was a time when two beliefs collided with one another for the hearts and minds of the Israelites.

Elijah was a man of many distinctions. This is a story about God and Elijah and the events that took place. Most of these events took place during the time of Ahab, a king that ruled for over twenty years. The story opens with King Ahab beginning his rule at the age of thirty-eight. Ahab, like his father, did not rule in favor of Yahweh. Ahab did not rule with the blessing hand of God like David and Solomon. Ahab ruled at his own volition. This is an account of the prophet of Elijah, who did God's bidding and a King who did not.

The story of Ahab opens on a battlefield and closes on Ahab on a battlefield. He fights with the Syrians both times. One with Yahweh and one without. The measure of Ahab's rule is determined by his actions.

The Syrian king was the most ambitious in the war. He was territorial like a dog. He was a true war dog. He had his eyes and ears on an area between Samaria and Syria. Ahab had inherited Samaria from his father. Ahab made this land his capital, and he had an ivory palace that stood in the splendor of great wealth, an attraction for those within the borders of Ahab's kingdom and those outside the borders. Ahab quartered his army and chariots in the city of Jezreel, known as the city of chariots. Ahab's personal protection came from the captain of the palace guards. Ahab had about fifty men well-trained, and they served to the death. Ahab was the seventh son, and he followed in the ways of his father. Ahab's nature was to please himself, which sometimes happened at the expense of his kingdom. Even though Ahab wandered on his path of evil and worshipped Yahweh, known as the God of Moses, the land he ruled was protected by God. The reason for the hand of God was that this was the land of the chosen ones.

So the Syrians came in great numbers led by King Bed-ha-dad. The army was large because Syria was not unfamiliar with the Israelites. The king of Syria was cautious and suspicious of Yahweh because of past encounters. The king was in his pavilion drinking with his commanders when he called for his advisers or soothsayers. He was most confident, for his army came like a train stretching for miles. Every able man that could handle a sword or bow was there for the home fires burning for only women and children. Two hundred thousand men marched under the Syrian banner. He wanted a quick battle; this should be an easy victory and plunder. So when his five wise men entered, Bed-ha-dad was eager to hear their predictions.

So how do the men that walk in the future call this battle?

My king, answered the leader of the group, we have been reading the signs, and we feel the Israelites fight in the hills.

The king laughed and lifted his cup and said, We will be fighting on the plain with the only hill at our command. The daily scouts were bringing news that the army that opposed them on the plain was about seven thousand. Bed-ha-dad's black eyes gleamed with satisfaction. There were four fingers that spoke wealth through the jewels in the rings. He wore the finest garments, and gold chains adorned his neck. There was no question when he rode in his chariot that there was a king in the lead, for those were the days when kings took the front of the battle. Well, except for these two kings in this story, they are more background fighters. The Syrian king felt he should be there for the fighting men. Where was the question? His commanders did the leading; the king did the directing. Their encampment was about five miles away from the tents of King Ahab. The smaller army had only a few tents, and the Syrians' tents were beyond count by the scouts for King Ahab.

King Ahab did not share Bed-ha-dad's attitude about a sure victory. His scouts were reporting an army beyond count. Ahab did consider folding up his tent and heading for home. He, unlike the Syrian king, did not dress in finery. Ahab had come for a fight. His men knew him on sight. He knew his men would not run from the Syrians who occupied the other end of the valley. However, the question that kept Ahab up at night was Would his army survive? Ahab's heart was weak from the prospect of total annihilation. There were no thoughts of victory in the chosen one's camp. Ahab considered retreating, but the Syrians would most likely pursue them. The Syrians had come for blood, plunder, and land. They were not going home before they wrecked King Ahab and his men. Ahab paced his quarters with much fear. This was a time when being king was not all that great.

While Ahab was considering a surrender, a message came from the Syrian king, What was yours is now mine. That did it. Ahab would not concede to such a bragger. Ahab contemplated his predicament. The captain of his guard came forth to his king and announced that there is some kind of prophet to see the king.

Ahab hung his head; some more bad news. Ahab motioned to his captain to bring the man in. Remain outside close by in case I will need you. I want to hear this man's words in private.

The man entered the presence of the king. I come in peace.

Ahab nodded his head. What words do you have for your king?

The prophet was neither old nor young but seasoned. There was an air of holiness about him. For the reader of this, many Catholics believed that of certain popes. Ahab questioned his visitor, Who are you, and why are you here?

I am a messenger from Yahweh, the true living God. The hand of God will aid your warriors in battle, and victory will be theirs.

How do you come by this?

The Syrian king believes the words of fools.

What does Bed-ha-dad have in his greedy mind?

The king of Syria has been led to believe that Yahweh does not fight in the valley or plain but only in the hills.

So what does it matter where we fight?

It does not matter, for God fights where he pleases. Ahab stared at him in disbelief. The prophet sensed Ahab's temperament. The Lord thy God of the chosen ones, and no one else will deliver the Syrian army and the king into your hands. Tell your army that Yahweh fights with them, and they should take heart that their God is with them. The prophet turned to leave.

Wait, Ahab begged. I want my commanders to hear this. Ahab called for his captain. This messenger has brought information for the army. Go gather the leaders. The captain departed, and Ahab turned back to the messenger, but he was gone. The captain returned with the men. Ahab addressed the group, A messenger from Yahweh came. He was just here.

What did he say? asked the captain.

That Yahweh fights on the plain.

Did you say Yahweh asked one of the leaders?

Yes, this prophet seems to think we will have victory.

Many of his army leaders were not strangers to the deeds of Yahweh, unlike the king who stood before them. These men who had lost hope in victory from the scout's report now regained their vigor, for they would be fighting with Yahweh.

Ahab departed and did not feel that hopeful. He again paced in his tent.

Ahab was a stranger to the ways of the true living God.

So two armies approached one another, both high in the fever of victory. The clash of weapons and horns could be heard in the distance. Death cries mingled with anger, and anguish came from the combatants. Blood, sweat, and tears mixed together on the faces of the engaging armies. From sunrise to sunset, they battled the men from Syria, not bending or folding to the Syrian's endless supply of men.

Ahab watched his men return from battle, shouting, Yahweh fights on the plain!

Ahab called for his captain of the guard over for an account of the day's fighting.

O my king, you are not going to understand this report, for even I find confusion in the making of it.

Why is this?

Our army has suffered very few losses while the Syrian army blood is scattered all over the green plain, well, more now like a red carpet.

Ahab sat down on a nearby bench and remarked softly to himself,