“At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.” Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!””
1 Kings 18:36-39 NLT
It is time for the people of the Lord to choose. When this time comes, Elijah sets up a direct and overwhelming admonishment. The choice will not be done in secret and it will not be made without evidence. He calls his enemies to the table, gives them choice preferred options. He chooses fire as a demonstration, one of Baal’s powers. He gives ample time and freedom for them to complete their trial. He makes his own opportunity worse. He drenched his altar. He does all this with confidence and to prove a point. Not only is his God superior to Baal but he is immeasurably so. Often, when fighting opposing and combative views, we are too political. We are too timid. Elijah’s tactic worked with God’s holy character. He knew that God would not be mocked. We often believe that God is God, without believing what that means. When God is placed next to another god, he and his will always triumph. It may be the underdog in the fight, wet altar and one man, but it is always the winner in the end.
JOSH McGARY. COM 