When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals. (I Kings 18:17,18 ESV)
Fear Not, Then Say Hard Things
Sometimes God gets us past our fear so that we can speak difficult truths. This was the case for Elijah. He had been afraid. He had been pursued. He had been in danger. He had been alone.
But God showed Elijah the answer to fear: it is the presence of God, Himself. (I Kings 17:6, 13, 16, 23) Elijah knew what Paul later wrote, that if God is with us, who is strong enough to be against us? (Romans 8:28)
And afterwards, Elijah was able to speak the truth. Elijah was able to answer confident, kingly, powerful Ahab’s accusations with God’s truth. Elijah was able to disregard popularity, worldly acceptance, and public opinion.
He told Ahab what Ahab did not want to hear.
He told Ahab the hard truth.
After fear, we can speak the truth, too. Not our own truth, certainly. Not our human opinion, certainly. Not our favorite soap-box presentation, certainly.
But God’s truth. Sin is sin. And God’s mediator, Jesus Christ is necessary.
Most folk do not want to hear it.
But we get to speak it, after fear is gone!
Fear not, then say hard things.