Human Response 413: Trouble the people of God

1 Kings 18:18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel, but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.

Elijah came before Ahab, and Ahab said, “Art thou he that troubleth Israel?” Not me, but you; you have troubled Israel by your sin and idolatry, breaking God’s commandments and following the Baal gods. Ahab called Elijah the troubler of Israel, accusing him of bringing famine on the land. Of course God did it, and he was just the messenger of God.

Elijah throws the word back to Ahab: you are the troubler. Your sin and idolatry has brought this trouble on the land and its people. You have disobeyed God, worshipped Baal, and led the people into idolatry. This sin caused the Lord to send the three years of drought. Take the responsibility on yourself.

When we experience troubles we tend to blame God or others, but never ourself. We need to take responsibility, confess our sin, repent, and believe the gospel. We see our own self as the troubler. It is our sin that causes trouble, pains, problems, and trials of various kinds. “Count it all joy, my brothers [James 1:3],” for trials can lead you to repent, believe the gospel, and come to the Lord who sees you through. The testing of your faith makes it stronger.