The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Kings 18:21,
"Elijah 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."
This challenge brought by Elijah against the people of Israel comes in a passage that is perhaps one of the most dramatic scenes the Bible documents.
In this account, Elijah had wicked King Ahab bring the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah to a challenge he set before them. The idolatrous priests were to build an altar with an offering and Elijah would do the same. Elijah's challenge was that they would call on their worthless idols to light the fire under their offering and Elijah would call on the Lord to light the offering he made.
The scene is breath-taking as we read how Elijah gave the idolaters every advantage, but where there was no answer from the idols, the Lord completely consumed Elijah's offering.
Perhaps the question asked above is a good one for today. "If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." While we don't have Baal worship today, idols abound nevertheless. People worship the imaginary Allah of Muhammad. People worship twisted concepts of who God is and what he is like in so many cults, and "-isms". People worship their things, their wealth, their dreams of prosperity and health. People worship both power and the powerful. People worship their political perspectives.
All kinds of worship going on in our society today, but how often do you here the one true God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob worshiped in truth in the public square today? How often do you hear the extolling of God's pristine and wonderful character and nature? How often do you hear the extolling of the amazing things God has done and is doing today?
I am not suggesting we don't hear any public expressions of praise for the one true God, but compared to how often we hear how great a sports team or player is, or a movie or a music group, an actor or movie, or the food at a certain restaurant, the politician we may like, (or, what I am so often heard extolling) how great some IPA is - we might want to ask ourselves (certainly I do) the question, "If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him."
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
"Elijah 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."
This challenge brought by Elijah against the people of Israel comes in a passage that is perhaps one of the most dramatic scenes the Bible documents.
In this account, Elijah had wicked King Ahab bring the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah to a challenge he set before them. The idolatrous priests were to build an altar with an offering and Elijah would do the same. Elijah's challenge was that they would call on their worthless idols to light the fire under their offering and Elijah would call on the Lord to light the offering he made.
The scene is breath-taking as we read how Elijah gave the idolaters every advantage, but where there was no answer from the idols, the Lord completely consumed Elijah's offering.
Perhaps the question asked above is a good one for today. "If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." While we don't have Baal worship today, idols abound nevertheless. People worship the imaginary Allah of Muhammad. People worship twisted concepts of who God is and what he is like in so many cults, and "-isms". People worship their things, their wealth, their dreams of prosperity and health. People worship both power and the powerful. People worship their political perspectives.
All kinds of worship going on in our society today, but how often do you here the one true God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob worshiped in truth in the public square today? How often do you hear the extolling of God's pristine and wonderful character and nature? How often do you hear the extolling of the amazing things God has done and is doing today?
I am not suggesting we don't hear any public expressions of praise for the one true God, but compared to how often we hear how great a sports team or player is, or a movie or a music group, an actor or movie, or the food at a certain restaurant, the politician we may like, (or, what I am so often heard extolling) how great some IPA is - we might want to ask ourselves (certainly I do) the question, "If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him."
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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