National Standards I: Economic recession

How God used the economic recession to deal a blow on Baal

At the foundation of the first standard God raised in the land of Israel was the presence of a man called Elijah and his initial antics were clear,

Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! James 5:17

But we need to ask, why was stopping rain important to Elijah? Of what purpose was praying for a draught that could lead to famine? In a time when farming and animal rearing was key, how could God answer such a prayer? Or why would Elijah even consider such a prayer? The answer is in understanding the worship of Baal.

Baal is known as the universal god of fertility, and invariably had other nicknames like the ‘Lord of Heaven’, ‘Lord of the Earth’. He was also called the ‘Lord of Rain and Dew’. Therefore, Elijah’s prayer and God’s response was a direct fight against the god Israel had turned to. God wanted to incapacitate the strength of Baal. And dear me, Baal failed miserably. No wonder Elijah later asked,

“Cry out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied, or he is out [at the moment], or he is on a journey. Perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened!” 1 Kgs 18:27

Baal had 3.5 years to produce rain and failed to live up to his title. Failing to produce rain in 6 months to a year can be forgiven, 1-2 years can begin to raise doubts, but 2-3.5 years was a disaster. The faith in Baal would have started wearing thin, the prophets would have prayed and done all manner of rituals, but Baal was silent. There would have been murmuring and gossip about the genuineness of this new god who cannot produce basic rain. The people would have remembered the tales of the past — how the God of their fathers played with the waters of the Red Sea, produced water from the Rocks, and even rained down manna and quail. Beyond all, this same God (whom they have divorced) opened the windows of heaven and caused a global flood for 40 days. And yet the so-called lord of the heavens (Baal) could not produce rain for 3.5 years. What a mess of a god!

Maybe Baal was not entirely at fault, there was just a higher power interfering with his affairs because the word of Elijah was more powerful than the prophecies of Baal. Imagine that all this disaster started just by a single pronouncement,

Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” 1 Kgs 17:1

And though by his word the rain came back (1 Kings 18:41-46), it is clear from 1 Kings 18:1 that these were not his words but that which was received from God.

So God raised the first standard against the god of the land. Every country has a principality, or a god that rules over that country. In some countries it is the 'god of war', and war never ceases. In some other countries, it is the 'god of infidelity' or of corruption, immorality, mammon etc. Whatever the god or principality or power that prevails over a country, if God can find men that can pray and act like Elijah, then these gods can be defeated.

I believe God’s desire for every country of the earth is clear and my prayer for every Christian is simple,

Irrespective of the gods of my country, God will raise me as a praying man/woman - raising an altar of intercession that will lead to a supernatural move against the gods of my country in Jesus' name, amen.

Previously: Intro to national standards Next standard: The battle of Reason