The prophet, as God’s messenger, had reproved the sins of the people, denouncing upon them the judgments of God because of their wickedness. And now, standing alone in conscious innocence, firm in his integrity, surrounded by the train of armed men, Elijah shows no timidity, neither does he show the least reverence to the king. The man whom God has talked with, and who has a clear sense of how God regards man in his sinful depravity, has no apology to make to Ahab nor homage to give him. As God’s messenger, Elijah now commands and Ahab at once obeys as though Elijah were monarch and he the subject. {3T 278.2}

Som Guds budbringer, har profeten irettesat folkets synder, udtalt Guds domme over dem på grund af deres ondskab. Og nu hvor Elias er klar over at han står alene i sin enfoldighed, fast på sin renhed, omgivet af veltrænede bevæbnede mænd, viser han ingen frygtsomhed, han viser heller ikke den mindste ærefrygt for kongen. Det menneske som Gud har talt med og som har en klar fornemmelse af hvordan Gud betragter mennesket i sit syndige fordærv, har ingen undskyldning ej heller hyllest at give Akab. Som Guds budbringer, befaler Elias nu Akab på en gang lydighed som om Elias var monark og han var undersåtten.