On Mount Carmel, Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal and the prophets of Asherah, to expose the impotence of false gods while showcasing the power of the Almighty.
Scripture Passage: 1 Kings chapter 18 - Months passed without a single drop of rain, and King Ahab found himself in a state of desperation. He searched high and low for prophet Elijah, but the man of God was nowhere to be found.
Within the king’s court, Obadiah served as the household manager. A devoted follower of the Lord, he navigated a treacherous political landscape where openly expressing his faith was fraught with danger. When Jezebel instigated the massacre of the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah bravely hid one hundred of them in caves to protect them.
Our world today is rife with corrupt leaders whose actions lead to untold suffering among the common people. Yet, like Obadiah, we can make a positive difference by being the salt and light of the world.
As Ahab and Obadiah searched for Elijah, fate brought Obadiah face to face with the prophet. Elijah instructed him to announce his presence to Ahab, but Obadiah hesitated, fearing that if Elijah went missing again, Ahab would blame him and take his life. Elijah reassured Obadiah that he would indeed present himself to the king that very day.
In Eastern religions, it is common for practitioners to worship as they choose, with the Canaanites willingly incorporating multiple gods into their faith. Unfortunately, many Israelites did the same, adding pagan deities alongside the worship of the Lord. This is not open-mindedness; it is a grave sin. Elijah stood firm in his commitment to worship the one true God. When Ahab finally laid eyes on Elijah, he exclaimed, “Is that you, the troublemaker of Israel?” Ahab believed that he and his nation were innocent and free from sin.
Today, many twist the Word of God to fit their own lifestyles, giving rise to numerous cults and false doctrines. We are called to step forward with faith and determination, proclaiming the true God and preaching sound doctrine as revealed in Scripture.
On Mount Carmel, Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal and the prophets of Asherah, intent on exposing the impotence of false gods while showcasing the glory and power of the Almighty. The question that confronts every Christian today is: Do you have the faith to believe that with God, nothing is impossible? Do you possess the confidence of Elijah in God’s power?
Elijah granted the prophets of Baal every advantage. For hours, their frantic prayers filled the air; they shouted and even resorted to self-harm, yet nothing happened. The scene was so absurd that Elijah mocked them.
When the time came, Elijah prepared his altar of sacrifice. He prayed earnestly, and the fire of God descended, accomplishing what no human-made fire could achieve. It consumed the sacrifice, burnt the wood, incinerated the stones, and evaporated the water in the trench surrounding the altar.
Elijah then commanded the execution of the false prophets, avenging the slaughter of God’s prophets at Jezebel’s hands.
Ultimately, the drought came to an end as rain poured down from the heavens.
Dedicate your lives to the living God today, and blessings will rain upon us like refreshing water if we faithfully follow Him.
Selie Visa
(The writer can be reached at: selievisa@rediffmail.com)