Sermon Tone Analysis

Choose Wisely

 

*1 Kings 18:21*-39

 

November 26, 2006

 

Let’s read today’s Scripture.

If you have your Bible with you, please turn to 1 Kings 18:21: /“And Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you go limping between two different opinions?

If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him."

And the people did not answer him a word.“/

*Let’s go back to the Old Testament story of Elijah and the Prophets of Baal.

It is one of my favorite Old Testament accounts.*

It was a religious shootout on the slopes of Mt.

Carmel.

Some choices feel like confrontation.

Some choices are made clear because of confrontation.

The moment is suddenly thrust upon us by a person or by circumstances., and we have no option but to make a choice.

Such is the climate of our lesson for this morning.

A confrontation takes place between Ahab and Elijah.

The men and the moment have merged for a momentous decision orchestrated by God.

As far as God was concerned, enough was enough.

The worship of idols with the backing of the king (Ahab) and queen (Jezebel) had been introduced in the land and Baal-worship was flourishing.

The shrines, the temples, the altars could be seen everywhere.

The reality of pagan gods was an affront to God, and Elijah was empowered now to act.

He’d already said, in 1 Kings 17:1, /“There will be no more rain until I say so.”/

Elijah says to the king, /“I have some good news.

The rains will come again.”/

Ahab and Elijah meet; Elijah is quickly accused of causing the problem.

/“There is famine and drought in this land, and you, Elijah, are the man who brought this upon Israel.”

/Claims Ahab in verse 17 of chapter 18.

/ /

In the next few verse, Elijah explains to Ahab what God is going to do.

There will be a confrontation of choice at Mt. Carmel.

Choose Baal or choose God.

Enough is enough; the issue must be decided.

We must not picture this in our minds as taking place on the slopes of a majestic mountain like Mt. Robson, which you see on the way to B.C.. It’s not like that at all.

It was on a plateau where traditionally sacrifices had been offered at a place called “the place of burning,” a flat plateau on Mt.

Carmel.

The scene is set.

A choice must be made.

Let’s refresh our memory by reading together verse 19-25: /“Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table."

\\ So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel.

\\ And Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you go limping between two different opinions?

If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him."

And the people did not answer him a word.

\\ Then Elijah said to the people, "I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal's prophets are 450 men.

\\ Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it.

And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it.

\\ And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God."

And all the people answered, "It is well spoken."

/

The terms are agreed upon.

Whichever god sends the flash of fire to consume the sacrifice is the true god of Israel.

It began early in the morning.

The priests of Baal prepared their altar, with growing frustration and frantic frenzy, called out to Baal until three o’clock in the afternoon, but not a word was heard from heaven.

Let’s read verses 26-29: /“And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, "O Baal, answer us!"

But there was no voice, and no one answered.

And they limped around the altar that they had made.

\\ And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, "Cry aloud, for he is a god.

Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened."

\\ And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them.

\\ And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice.

No one answered; no one paid attention.”

/

After Elijah’s mocking, the priests of Baal became louder and more determined to bring down fire from heaven to consume their sacrifices.

Of course, nothing happens.

/“Your God is on vacation.

He’s hard of hearing.

Perhaps he needs a hearing aid.

He’s not listening”/— all just to increase the anxiety level of these pagan priests.

Then it was Elijah’s turn.

Let’s look at verses 30 to 35: /”Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me."

And all the people came near to him.

And he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been thrown down.

\\ Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, "Israel shall be your name," \\ and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord.

And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs of seed.

\\ And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood.

And he said, "Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood."

\\ And he said, "Do it a second time."

And they did it a second time.

And he said, "Do it a third time."

And they did it a third /time.

\\ And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water.”

Elijah prepares his altar carefully under the tutelage of God – 12 stones, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel.

The wood.

The bull.

But then, unlike the Baal sacrificial altar, Elijah orders the soaking of the wood with water.

He intentionally puts his God at a definite disadvantage.

Three times the water is poured over the wood.

It does not take a camping enthusiast to realize that wet wood does not burn well.

But, as we shall soon see, all things are possible with God.

Let’s read verses 36-39: ” And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, "O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.

\\ Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back."

\\ Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

\\ And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, "The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God."

What happens next is truly amazing.

When God demonstrates His power, all knees bow and tongues confess that He is Lord of heaven and earth.

Then, in verse 36, Elijah prayed.

Fire flashed.

The people who had uttered not a mumbling word were now ready to sign on the dotted line.

Who wouldn’t have been?

They fell to their faces upon the ground, shouting, “Jehovah is God!”

And what about us?

Our God is still the God of miracles!

Remember, every time our God reaches down from heaven to supernaturally intercede for us, it is a miracle.

Have you chosen yet to believe in the God of miracles?