- May 9, 2011
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Elijah was one of Israels great prophets, bringing Gods message to a sinful and arrogant world. He is perhaps best known for challenging and defeating the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel, defying King Ahab and his queen Jezebel. That day on Mount Carmel Elijah also challenged the people of Israel to choose which God they would worship, Baal or the God of Israel. "How long will you waver between two opinions?"
What would be our response to Elijah's question today: "How long will you waver between two opinions?" How long will we waver between the true Word of God and the worthless traditions established by men? The Holy Scripture says: "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. You cannot serve both God and money." (Matt. 6:24) We cannot mix serving the Lord God and serving an empty religion. "How long will you waver between two opinions?"
That day on Mt. Carmel, through the wind, and the rain, and the fire, the power and glory of God was demonstrated for all to see, including King Ahab. Elijah had acted as Gods servant in what should have been a transforming event for the King and the nation of Israel, but that wasnt what happened. When Jezebel was told what had happened on Mt. Carmel, she became furious and vowed to kill Elijah. Elijah became terrified and fled for his life to a cave in Be'er Sheva, far to the south in Judah.
This seems confusing to us that Elijah, after seeing the power of faith in Gods word, would then lose faith and fear for his life. I dont know why Elijah failed in his faith just then, but here is where God intervened in Elijahs life again, and intervened in a way that led to what I think is Elijahs greatest service to God, and his greatest legacy; raising the next generation of righteous men.
In Elijahs exhaustion and despair God came to him, nourished him, revealed His glory to him, and commissioned him to raise up spiritual sons in Israel, a younger generation who would hold back the judgment on the nation that had turned its back on God.
Particularly poignant to me is how God gave Elijah time to rest, nourished him, and then asked What are you doing here, Elijah? Elijahs response seems so understandable to me Im exhausted, and weak. The whole nation of Israel has forsaken you. Im the only one left to believe in you, and now Ahab and Jezebel want to kill me. God doesnt rebuke Elijah, but send him on a new mission, a mission to build up the remnant of righteous men to bring Israel back to God. It was a mission that must have seemed impossible in the face of the power and overwhelming pressure of the corrupt and immoral world of his time. The land had indeed become cursed through the idolatry of the government and the people. But through the obedience of Elijah and Elisha God was about to transform a new generation. Elijah and Elisha were to train other prophets to learn the scriptures, and provide spiritual leadership for Israel.
God calls us today, as He called Elijah, to a new, important mission; to train the next generation of righteous young men and women to bring us away from our sinful and arrogant world, back to Gods will.
What would be our response to Elijah's question today: "How long will you waver between two opinions?" How long will we waver between the true Word of God and the worthless traditions established by men? The Holy Scripture says: "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. You cannot serve both God and money." (Matt. 6:24) We cannot mix serving the Lord God and serving an empty religion. "How long will you waver between two opinions?"
That day on Mt. Carmel, through the wind, and the rain, and the fire, the power and glory of God was demonstrated for all to see, including King Ahab. Elijah had acted as Gods servant in what should have been a transforming event for the King and the nation of Israel, but that wasnt what happened. When Jezebel was told what had happened on Mt. Carmel, she became furious and vowed to kill Elijah. Elijah became terrified and fled for his life to a cave in Be'er Sheva, far to the south in Judah.
This seems confusing to us that Elijah, after seeing the power of faith in Gods word, would then lose faith and fear for his life. I dont know why Elijah failed in his faith just then, but here is where God intervened in Elijahs life again, and intervened in a way that led to what I think is Elijahs greatest service to God, and his greatest legacy; raising the next generation of righteous men.
In Elijahs exhaustion and despair God came to him, nourished him, revealed His glory to him, and commissioned him to raise up spiritual sons in Israel, a younger generation who would hold back the judgment on the nation that had turned its back on God.
Particularly poignant to me is how God gave Elijah time to rest, nourished him, and then asked What are you doing here, Elijah? Elijahs response seems so understandable to me Im exhausted, and weak. The whole nation of Israel has forsaken you. Im the only one left to believe in you, and now Ahab and Jezebel want to kill me. God doesnt rebuke Elijah, but send him on a new mission, a mission to build up the remnant of righteous men to bring Israel back to God. It was a mission that must have seemed impossible in the face of the power and overwhelming pressure of the corrupt and immoral world of his time. The land had indeed become cursed through the idolatry of the government and the people. But through the obedience of Elijah and Elisha God was about to transform a new generation. Elijah and Elisha were to train other prophets to learn the scriptures, and provide spiritual leadership for Israel.
God calls us today, as He called Elijah, to a new, important mission; to train the next generation of righteous young men and women to bring us away from our sinful and arrogant world, back to Gods will.
