1 Kings 18:17-18 (NASB95) — 17When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is this you, you troubler of Israel?” 18He said, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, because you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and you have followed the Baals”
“I didn’t do it, well OK maybe I did but it’s their fault.” “They made me mad.” All my life I have heard and made excuses. Haven’t we all? It is a common fault of men to not want to accept responsibility for our actions.
In today’s reading Ahab wants to blame the prophet for the lack of rain in Israel. He just happened to leave out some important facts. One, the drought was not Elijah’s idea. He was simply following what God had told him to do. Elijah knew the lack of rain would be hard on everyone not just a wicked King and Queen.
Second, Elijah was not the one following false gods and persecuting the real prophets. These are the actions that caused God to withhold the rain from Israel.
Today we still see man wanting to blame someone else for the decisions we make. I am no different. I like to think I follow God’s will everyday but from time to time I find myself in a mess. I pray God will extend His grace a little longer and allow me to one again repent and accept that I and I alone made the decision to sin.