At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “ Lord , the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord , answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord , are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” (1 Kings 18:36-37 NIV)
When the people of Israel entered the land the Lord promised to them, Joshua ended his successful stint as leader of the people. In his final address recorded, he clearly warned the people to follow the Lord who had taken them out of slavery and into this pleasant land. He was clear that that they needed to choose who they would serve as he committed himself and his household to serving God.
Generations later, the Northern Kingdom of Israel were said to be wavering between two opinions. The man who had the temerity to challenge the people on this issue faced overwhelming odds. The state religion was Baal worship as endorsed by royalty. There had been efforts to purge the land of representatives of Yahweh. Those efforts, however, would never be successful, because God had a man for the moment.
Elijah was considered public enemy number one by King Ahab. His pronouncement of a drought on the land was not taken well by Ahab and even an insider in the Royal Court who supported the people of Yahweh feared for his life at the thought of telling Ahab that Elijah was around. It takes great boldness to follow the instructions of the Lord to challenge the religious status quo. Yet Elijah was able to take his stand for God and help them recognise where they were coming from. Recognise who got them there. Recognise who alone was worthy of worship.
Much can be said about the nature of this epic contest. What I find striking I’m this reading, is the prayer Elijah makes. Here was the heart of a man who recognised the power of unity and saw where they were coming from and what they should be. Here is the cry of a man whose desire was for nothing less than the turning of the hearts back to God. That’s a powerful prayer.
This landmark prayer actually did not change much where the state religion was concerned, despite the killing of the prophets of Baal. What it established, however, beyond doubt was the one true God who was to be worshipped and who was to be followed wholeheartedly.
Prayers like that still need to be made today where people remain stuck between two opinions. Talk of religious affiliation is one thing, but practice of idol worship in one way or another depicts people who are not focused on the true and living God. We may not need an answer by physical fire, but we certainly need acts and signs of spiritual fire in the lives of people so that their hearts can be turned to God.
We need that today for the Lord, Yahweh – He is God!
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
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