4. Suffering under corrupt leaders.

This famine lasted 3 1/2 years and was very severe. Rain had stopped, and the economy had stopped. The people were suffering under the corrupt leadership of Ahab and Jezebel.

The famine got so bad that Ahab sent his palace manager Obadiah to scour the countryside for any grass available to feed his own livestock. Ahab was thinking only of himself.

Now, Obadiah was a devoted follower of the Lord. He has previously found enough money to feed 100 prophets who had hidden from the cruel king and queen in caves.

Obadiah found Elijah, who went to King Ahab and told him that the reason for the famine was the refusal of the king to worship the Lord. Instead, he worshipped the images of Baal.

Elijah demonstrated the power of God with a pyrotechnic display, ‘so that all people will know that you are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.”

God was using economic pain and suffering to bring people back to worship the one true God.

People acknowledged God to be in control of fire, rain, and the economy! Neither Ahab, Jezebel, nor Baal was able to change their circumstances.

We have a very strong temptation to serve the wrong god these days. Jesus said that we cannot serve two masters and unmasked a power behind money which competes for our devotion. This power behind money was for us to serve and be devoted to him; it would have us believe that money is the solution to all our problems. If only I had more; if only my employer would raise my salary; if only I didn’t have to pay so much tax; if only I could get a better-paid job; if only someone would help me pay my debts, and so on.

Money will not solve economic problems. It may temporarily alleviate the symptoms, but the problem lies deeper – within our hearts. Jesus said, ' where our treasure is, our heart will be right there.’ That means that if we focus on money as the solution – our heart will be on a financial solution.

If we focus on God, our hearts will be focused on His way of dealing with financial crises.