How Long will You Falter
“And Elijah came to
all the people and said, ‘How long will you falter between two opinions?” 1 Kings 18:21
In 1 Kings 18, three years have gone by and Elijah returns
to Ahab with the Lord’s promise to send rain.
In verse 19, Elijah requests that the prophets of Baal and Asherah
(numbering 850) meet him on Mount Carmel, the place where pagan worship
occurred. It is noteworthy that Ahab
called all of Israel to also come.
Elijah then uttered words that speak to us today, “How long will you
falter between two opinions?” In
other words, choose sides! He proceeded
to challenge the prophets of Baal to see whose God was greater, by virtue of
creating fire to consume a sacrifice.
Note that Elijah let the prophets of Baal choose first and be first in
offering their sacrifice. After hours of
nothing happening, Elijah built an altar with 12 stones, made a trench, put
water over the burnt offering three times and then prayed. Instantly the sacrifice was consumed by
fire. Elijah then told Ahab to go eat
and drink for the sound of rain was in the air.
Elijah then prayed seven times and the rain came.
Ahab shared with Jezebel everything that had taken place
with Elijah and she sent a message to Elijah that caused him to run for his
life and want to die! Chapter 19
indicates that Elijah hid, was fed by angels and then journeyed for 40 days and
nights to Horeb, also know as Sinai.
This is the same place where God met Moses and spoke with him. Now God met with Elijah and instructed him to
return to the Wilderness of Damascus and anoint Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha as
future leaders. The Lord also told
Elijah that he wasn’t alone in this battle – that God had reserved 7000 in
Israel who did not worship Baal.
We are called to choose and remain steadfast with our
choice.
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