1 Kings 18:32-35 - With the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold
two seahs of seed. He
arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the
wood. Then he said to them, "Fill four large jars with water and pour it
on the offering and on the wood." "Do it again," he said, and they did
it again. "Do it a third time," he ordered, and they did it the third
time. The water ran down around the
altar and even filled the trench.
It is one of the
most amazing stories of the Bible.
Elijah is sent to tell Ahab that rain will come soon…but God allows him
to weld together the most unbelievable ….supernatural way of lighting an altar. The people had worshiped other gods so long…Yahweh
had to prove to them he was the only one who had any power over their lives.
So he instructs
Elijah to gather all the people on the mountain….and have all the prophets of
Baal and Asherah come to call on their god.
Elijah has them build two altars….and he even gives choice to the prophets
of Baal….and lets them go first. They wait
all day for Baal to come light the bulls on their altar….Elijah even making fun
after the sun was high in the sky.
But around evening….when
the sky was beginning to darken he says enough.
He arranges his bulls….digs a ditch around the altar…and has the priests
pour around 6 gallons of water on the wood and bulls….the excess filling up the
ditch….making the sacrifice an island of sorts.
Then he lifted his face to the heavens and called out to God to light
his own sacrifice.
I so wish I could
have seen the faces of the people as fire came from the sky…burned up the bulls…and
evaporated the water in the ditch.
People fell to their knees in awestruck fear at the sight….empowered to
believe once again in the power of the one God that was real. A soaking rain followed…renewing the land he
had allowed to be parched and dry for so long…..perfectly timed to show how God
would renew the love these people once had for him. I will never think of a lightning
storm the same again. The huge streaks
of fire in the sky I might be lucky enough to see ….will be a permanent
reminder of the power God has over the world and it’s evil.
Father….I thank you
for the reminder that you are in control of the evil in this world I live. Give me the faith of Elijah…so that I can be
bold in sharing your love with others. Bind all of us who believe together to work
as one to spread the story of how you died on that cross to save all of us from
our sins…and supernaturally conquered death…and rose from the grave to give us
all new life. Strike a bolt of lightning
through us all…and light a fire within our hearts….so that we will be renewed
in our faith…..empowered to do your work here on Earth…till the time you call
us home to your side. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment