1st Kings 18 THE CHALLENGE OF FAITH There are varying degrees of faith in the people of God. Even a very little act of faith is able to please God, but it is not uncommon for people of faith to hide that when there is serious opposition. Ridiculous, angry opposition united against us is often the reason we do not come out in to the open as to our faith compared to other believers who are not so intimidated by opposition and can endure conflict. There is no difficulty understanding why some of the prophets during the reign of Ahab were hidden in caves and fed by Obadiah. After many of their fellow prophets were killed by Jezebel's people, it is likely they were marked men.
About halfway through what was usually a seven-year drought, Elijah got a specific message from the Lord. Even though there had been no repentance on the part of Ahab nor the whole nation, God moved in grace towards them. Grace is not something that is earned or deserved in any way. It is an act of benevolence on the part of God to bring about that which is delightful and good for us.
Ahab was fearful lest his army became weak and the nation become vulnerable to attack from the enemies of Israel. His many horse to pull his chariots and the mules needed to support his troops were essential to his defense. He was more concerned about political situation of his kingdom than the people for whom he was responsible. Obadiah ("servant of the Lord") was in a dangerous position because, even though he was in charge of Ahab's palace, if Jezebel knew he was a dev out believer in the Lord, she would have had him killed. To go public with out faith is no popular among those who live for the world, the flesh and the devil. Elijah's boldness of faith and Obadiah's faith are contrasted, but both were real. God's people are not all alike. We do not need to criticize each other nor to make comparisons. It is just our responsibility to do what the Lord has placed in our hands in the best possible way. The Spirit of the Lord was in control of the whole event.
Unbelievers usually look for someone to blame for their problems rather than face their own guilt. They have to be openly faced with their responsibility for the problem their sin has brought upon them. On those occasions the more precise we are with our words, the better the understanding on the part of the guilty party. Elijah made it plain to Ahab who was responsible for the present problem in which the whole nation was found. They were all guilty of abandoning the word of the Lord. When leaders of people pass on their opinion of a matter, it is not long before others are affected by their words and influence. They in turn will do the same and the spiritual infection quickly permeates the whole society.
Dealing with an important matter that has a negative effect on a lot of people usually has to be done in a public way. Too many people were involved personally in the departure from the Lord's commands, and too many had followed the Baals, to not face them all with the sin they had committed. Elijah had the people come to the place where Baal worship was strong. When we act in faith, we see beyond obstacles to our Lord who has "all power in heaven and in earth." The wavering between two opinions" had to be stopped. Theological compromise is in vogue today and has to be challenged by fundamental truth. To accommodate to wrong beliefs and practices in the worship and service of God simply to make it more acceptable to people is a deceptive practice and tactic of Satan.
A great Problem has arisen in "modern Christianity" in which those who once knew what it meant to "buy the truth" at a high price, have surrendered to "Christian intellectuals" who mix biblical truth with their own reason and logic that is attractive to the natural man. They choose to make a "private interpretation" of scripture to suit their opinions of a passage or a recorded event. Taking the Bible literally and conducting life by its standards is not acceptable to those who are condemned by its unchanging truth. "No man can serve two masters."
The challenge on Mt. Carmel was a classic indictment of compromise. Elijah's challenge to Baal's prophets left no grounds for vague interpretations. To make predictions that are open to personal opinion and interpretation is misleading and deceptive. There was no way to avoid the consequences of this challenge of faith. But the people of Israel had enjoyed the sinful pleasures of Baal worship and the benefits they thought they had from following Ahab's idolatrous worship. It is easy to drift into complacency when something is pleasant and easy and make no serious demands on us. That is characteristic of counterfeit religion.
The raving and dancing of the false prophets of Baal was a wild and futile effort that drew sarcastic remarks from Elijah who knew the difference between the false and the true. All of the fanciful ideas and practices of compromised truth and counterfeit Christianity are only bringing mockery and contempt in our day. Many unbelievers form opinions of the Christian faith from the various extreme practices of both conservative and liberal Christianity. Those who are undecided sometimes even convert to other humanistic religions because the reality of biblical Christianity is missing. The striving for power, status, material possessions and appearance becomes the objective of those who embrace modern idolatry. There are no real answers - no real wisdom or guidance for life when false gods are the objective of human endeavor.
The fallen altar was rebuilt by Elijah with twelve stones symbolic of the twelve tribes of Israel still being under the eye and authority of the Lord God of Israel, not just those tribes under the leadership of Ahab. In spite of divisions, God is looking for the recovery of all His people. The twelve barrels of water poured over the altar and offering reaffirmed the same thing. This proof that no trickery was involved in Elijah's actions left no doubt in the minds of the people that God answered Elijah's prayer by fire. The crater in the ground was all that was left of the offering, the altar, the water and the ground after "the fire of the Lord fell." The demonstration of divine power removed all hesitation from the minds of the people as to who was the God of power and authority. Perhaps Ahab stayed there because of fear of what Jezebel would say or do. Perhaps he was still wavering between two opinions until after Elijah finished praying for rain. When the prophet ran past him and told him rain was coming and kept ahead of him for the sixteen miles to Jezreel, quickly changed him mind and headed for home.
The "effectual fervent prayer" of Elijah teaches us still that such praying "availeth much." A mind and heart of faith; actions of faith; produce the prayer of faith, and God acts according to His divine purpose. We are aligned with the will of God when we pray in faith. That challenge is perhaps the most important one of our day. We become cognizant of the will of God when we are in communion with Him and communicate with Him on a consistent and constant basis.
The challenge of faith is always before us. In every situation in life, it is the actions and assurance that God is working in these dark days of departure. that encourages those who want to please God to press ahead in faith with what they are doing. We may thin we are standing alone, but God has His people, most of whom we will never know, shedding light in this world. Our commitment to our Lord and His word is probably the strongest testimony we have to pass on the "light of life."
1Kings 18:21. “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.”
BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS. A critical place for a mind to be found, Is between two opposing thoughts. One will help us to conform to all around The other tells me I should not. I need to make a decision soon, Others wait to hear my voice.
Serious consequences before me loom It is time for me to make my choice.
The alternatives are plain to be seen – One is very hard, the other is expedient. One allows me to be every man’s friend, The results of it are very convenient. The other is a difficult, upward path, And means I will often walk alone. Both are easily within my grasp – One leads up to God; the other always leads down.
The time to make the final decision has come. God and men for my decision now wait. I know this will affect not only me, but some Who wonder even now why I seem to hesitate. It is clear to me God’s will is this way, The other is the way of the world. My decision is this; I’ll obey what God has to say, My flag of allegiance to my Lord is unfurled.
“I understand Father, there are different ways people measure success, I want to be numbered with those who confess Thee like Joshua did, ‘As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.’ In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”