When Julius Caesar landed on the shores of Britain with his Roman legions, he took a bold and decisive step to ensure the success of his military venture. Ordering his men to march to the edge of the Cliffs of Dover, he commanded them to look down at the water below. To their amazement, they saw every ship in which they had crossed the channel engulfed in flames. Caesar had deliberately cut off any possibility of retreat. Now that his soldiers were unable to return to the continent, there was nothing left for them to do but to advance and conquer! And that is exactly what they did. (Source Unknown).[1]
There comes a time in life when we have to make crucial decisions. In our text today, the people of Israel is facing such a time. Perhaps this is the most dramatic and spectacular episode of the Old Testament, after the crossing of the Red Sea. Prophet Elijah faced the false prophets of Baal. He presented them a challenge. It is a challenge with some lessons for them and for us:
1. It is impossible to worship two Gods
v. 21 – “How long will you waver...” – It conveys the idea of a crossroad or a junction. It is impossible to follow two different directions. The result will be indecision, like a person limping between two options.
The people of Israel was oscilating like a pendulum between God Jehovah and Baal. The Lord doesn’t appreciate a double-minded behavior. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other” (Mt. 6.24).
During the War Between the States, a man lived near the Mason-Dixon line. Wanting to find favor with both the Union and the Conféderacy, he hit upon [descobriu] what he though was a good plan.
After putting on the blue coat of the Union army, he put on the gray pants of the Confederates. But his plan did not work.
The Union soldiers saw his gray pants and shot him in the pants.
The Confederates shot at his coat. The poor fellow got it from both sides.[2]
Jesus talks of two gates: one narrow, one wide. If you enter through one, you cannot enter through the other. It is so simple that even a child can understand it.
2. It is not always that the majority is right
In verse 22, we have an awkward situation: according to Elijah, how many prophets Baal had? (Answer: 450)
How many prophets Asherah had? 400 (v. 19). If you add both of them together, you have 850. See, 850 AGAINST ONE. That was a crowd.
Now you tell me why in the world the worship of Baal attracted so many people? So Baal’s temples were packed all the time? For some reasons easy to understand:
2.1. Baal was considered the god of the climate. That is why he was always represented with a lightning bolt in his hands.
Whenever a storm came up and it thundered they said, “That's Baal.” When a lightning flashed across the sky they said, “Look, that's Baal. That's Baal!” He was the lord of the fire in the sky. Is there anything a god of fire can't do? If he is really the god of fire, ought he not be able to, let’s say, light a fire?
Keep in mind they haven't seen the lord of the fire in over three years. The Baalites went before their altar wearing expensive, beautifully colored garments with pieces of bright shiny metal designed to catch the rays of the sun and reflect it. They are ready to do business.[3]
That was an agricultural society. Therefore, everybody was interested in having a good harvest. If Baal could control the weather, then it was an inteligent policy to please that God. It would be profitable to have him by the side of the farmer, not against. This was a factor that filled the temples of Baal. In other words, a financial concern was involved. (I make a parenthesis to ask you: do things have changed?)
2.2. Another factor: the worship to Baal was heavily sensual. Imorality was rampant in his services. It was an almost irresistible temptation to the Israelites. If you promise prosperity PLUS pleasure, indeed you will have a full temple.
2.3. One more factor: The king himself was a follower of Baal.
This is an old story: where the king is, there is a crowd around him with disguised interests. That happened to Constantinus. That happened to French king Louis XIV:
Every Sunday, the Church was packed. People came from afar to the services. François Fenelon was the preacher. King Louis XIV was among the church attendants. One Sunday morning, King Louis came to church, and almost nobody was there. He found it strange and asked Fenelon what had happened. Fenelon explained: “During the week, I’ve published that you wouldn’t be present at the service this Sunday. This way you will know who comes because of you and who comes because of Christ”.
Serving God is to be part of a stubborn minority, the minority of faith, the minority of commitment.
3. The true God communicates
Let us go back to Carmel Mount. What happened there?
3.1. Baal did not answer
Twice the text says, “But there was no response; no one answered” (vv. 26 and 29). Elijah tried to give a hand:
Perhaps he overdosed on Nyquil last night. Or perhaps he is on vacation in Hawaii. Maybe his battery in his hearing aid is dead. It may be he is out “pursuing.” The word means to be in the process of hunting for his food. Maybe he is busy with someone else's problems and he can't be bothered with you right now. You know he can't listen to two people at the same time. Shake him. Maybe he is asleep![4]
One thing you have to agree with:
“Those folks were sincere. It was serious business with them. How many times I am told about someone being sincere in his or her religion. If sincerity saves, these people should be saved. They were the most sincere people you would ever like to meet. They were fanatical”.[5]
But THERE WAS NO ANSWER. How sad! Let me be nosy for a moment and ask you a very personal question: the God to whom you address, does HE answer your prayers?
3.2. Elijah prayed
3.2.1. Elijah didn’t show off when he prayed (vv. 30-39)
3.2.2. Elijah prayed without a lot of noise – without theatrical gestures. It was a simple prayer.
3.2.3. Elijah prayed without being long-winded (v. 38) – He didn’t pray all night. His prayer lasted 40 seconds (we counted it). I like to hear sermons on line. Yesterday, I was listening to a preacher preaching on our text. Before the sermon, he prayed. His prayer lasted 14 minutes and 26 seconds. It was a public prayer. Let me be clear about this: If you want to spend an entire night praying, that’s wonderful. But in public our prayers must be brief, like the prayer of Elijah.
3.2.4. Elijah prayed without repetitions, without tricks.
3.3. God answered unmistakably, clearly
There was fire from the Lord. Because of that, the people changed their song (v 39): “The Lord¾he is God! The Lord¾he is God”.
After that, we have the radical reaction of Elijah. He commanded them to seize the prophets. And he slaughtered them (v. 40). Do you think this is too severe? Perhaps, in our sight today. But I have a question for you:
“Why is your surgeon so serious about the cancer in your breast, or stomach, or brain tumor? Why does your physician get so serious about the infection raging throughout your body? There was a malignancy in the nation. Elijah was called upon to be the surgeon. God often has to hurt in order to heal.[6]
Billy Sunday said in one sermon: “I’m against sin. I’ll kick it as long as I’ve got a foot, and I’ll fight it as long as I’ve got a fist. I’ll butt it as long as I’ve got a head. I’ll bite it as long as I’ve got a tooth. When I’m old and fistless and footless and toothless, I’ll gum it till I go home to Glory and it goes home to perdition”.[7]
Conclusion
Elijah was a man of God. Today, God is looking for men and women like that. “That is the kind of man God uses. That is the kind of woman God uses. That is the teen that will make a difference at school tomorrow. That is the kind of president the U. S. needs! We need to repair some broken down altars”.[8]
Are you serving God or are you still wavering between two or more ideas?
[1] From site: http://www.higherpraise.com/illustrations/commitment.htm April 16, 2005.
[2] DANIEL, E. J. E. J. Daniel’s choice illustrations. Orlando, Florida: Christ for the world Inc., 1987, p. 66.
[3] From site: http://www.abideinchrist.com/messages/1kin18v1.html April 16, 2005.
[4] Idem, ibidem.
[5] Idem, ibidem.
[6] Idem, ibidem.
[7] WIERSBE, Warren W. With the Word — The chapter-by-chapter Bible handbook. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991, p. 533.
