21Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”
But the people said nothing.
22Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”
Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”
37Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”
38Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
39When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”
40Then Elijah commanded them, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let anyone get away!” They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there.
41And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” (1 Kings 18)
Thoughts: Elijah had a tremendous witness for God. He was the only prophet of the Lord left. He was outnumbered, but God and one makes a majority. One truth is greater and truer than a thousand lies. Elijah asks the people to choose the Lord or Baal. The problem is they were choosing both. They had degraded their faith into a cafeteria religion that chose a little bit of Baal when they wanted rain, and a little bit of the Lord when they wanted forgiveness. Today many believe they can choose their own God and make up their own religion. Some want a little bit of Christianity when we want grace, and a little bit of deism when we want to be in control, and a little bit of materialism when we want more stuff to come up with what we practice and believe. There are those who feel like Christianity is in full retreat today. But we should remember Elijah who was by himself and God used to show what He could do. John Calvin said that Christianity is a story of a thousand resurrections. It is true. God raises the church up over and over by His grace. Elijah did not waver or shrink back from his witness. He was discouraged some times. But he remained faithful. Christ told the remnant in Thyatira who lived among people who were sexually immoral to "only hold on to what you have until I come." Being faithful among faithless people is our calling in the West today.
Prayer: Lord, though all are faithless, be faithful still. Help me to be faithful by your great grace.
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