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Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
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1 Kings 18:21
“Elijah went before the people and said, ‘How long will you waiver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him, but if Baal is God, follow him.’ But the people said nothing.”
By this time Solomon had died and God had fulfilled His prophecy to David.
The Tribes of Israel had been divided. Consequently, there were kings of (the Tribe of) Judah and kings of Israel (over the rest of the Tribes). The book of Kings’ main theme is now focused upon Israel and gives a brief description of the successive kings. This one did right... and then this one did evil... in the eyes of the Lord.
The kingdom was ‘lost’, not because of economics but because of loose morals and a lack of godly spirituality. David failed in the area of morality from time to time. Solomon had so many wives he was unable to maintain his spiritual integrity. He started allowing worship to the gods of his wives. He had been told - as all the people had - not to inter-marry with pagan women but he had thrown that advice out the window and ended up with hundreds of them and they individually and collectively led him astray. The result was inevitable.
A leader models his lifestyle to his followers whoever they may be. As I have learnt, very acutely, over the last few years - as a leader, whatever you do or don’t do ‘sends a message’ - and people follow, whether you expect them to or not. It isn’t easy being a leader. Everything you do comes under a microscope and then seems to be broadcast on widescreen T.V.
The people followed in pagan worship and, as surely as night follows day, the earth failed to give its crops and the weather its rain, so famine ensued. It is a divine principle that where there is spiritual and moral decline, the natural world goes into turmoil - it is a natural consequence. (See also Romans 8:20-22 and Genesis 4:10.)
However, even in the darkest night, God still loves His people and raises up His leaders. Here, God brings Elijah, His prophet, on the scene to challenge the people. As a lone voice, Elijah challenged all the false prophets to a contest. He challenged them to prove that their god had any credence. They all went up Mt Carmel overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Each was to call on their god and see what happened.
Elijah allowed them to go first - to show that their god was real. They both had to prepare animal sacrifices and the God who produced ‘fire from Heaven’ would then have to be accepted as the only true God. All day long the prophets of Baal shouted, chanted, danced and cut themselves trying to get attention and an answer. Naturally enough, they failed miserably.
So Elijah gave his God an impossible task. He drenched his sacrifice with so much water it would be impossible to burn, let alone catch fire. Added to that, he filled the trench around it with water.
But his God was a God of miracles. He answered by fire, which consumed the sacrifice, the water in the trench and the stones as well.
Whom do you serve? Who is your God?
For if the Almighty is your God, don’t compromise - He is an awesome God. Follow Him. Be ‘Sold Out For Him’. Serve Him alone and give Him your life and your all.
He is able to protect and stand up for Himself. You need fear nothing.
He is still the Only One True, Almighty, and Awesome God.
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