Key Lesson: Beware! The Devil often attacks after a victory.

The Evening of Victory Day

That afternoon, Elijah had won the victory, or rather God had. God had sent fire from heaven that devoured Elijah’s sacrifice, the wood, the altar and the water. The people returned their loyalty to Jehovah. They killed the 450 prophets of Baal. God answered Elijah’s prayer and sent a downpour of rain. God gave Elijah strength to run before Ahab unto Jezreel. Ahab did not put up the victorious prophet in the Grand Hotel in Jezreel that evening. Instead, he left Elijah at the entrance of the city to fend for himself. What a day! Elijah was exhausted.

Ahab Reported to Jezebel

Jezebel, who remained at home in Jezreel, may have seen the fire fall from heaven and then the tremendous rainstorm. She may have assumed that her god Baal and finally prevailed. If so, her thoughts were soon to change.

Upon entering the palace, Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done (1Ki 19:1). Like a typical media reporter, he only told her the part of the story that he knew would excite her emotions. To keep her devilish wrath from focusing on his weak leadership, he placed all the blame for the day’s failure on Elijah. He told her of Elijah’s contest, of how he mocked her prophets, of how he prayed fired from heaven when her god had failed. He related that all the people had turned back to Jehovah and proclaimed Him the true God. He then gave her a graphic report of how Elijah had slain all the prophets of Baal with the sword. He noted that Elijah had then prayed and the rain came down. His report gave no glory to the Lord for sending fire down from heaven. He gave no praise to God for sending rain in abundance. Like all of his people, Ahab should have humbled himself, repented and turned back to Jehovah. Instead, his hard heart continued in the path of rebellion.

Certainly, Ahab knew that losing the contest, the people returning to Jehovah, and the death of all her prophets would put her in a rage. “Jezebel wore the crown in that castle! She was the boss; he was her puppet!”1 Because he was a weak, milquetoast, yes-man husband, he worded his report to make sure that Jezebel aimed her sword at Elijah and not at himself. This he succeeded to do.

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