The Call to True Worship
by Chad Pennington
Advent Devotional ~ Day 15
Read 1 Kings 18:17-46
The primary role of the prophets was not to predict future events, even though many of them did. The primary role of the prophets was to serve as covenantal enforcers. The way they did this was by enforcing the Mosaic law, most succinctly laid out in Deuteronomy. The prophets announced to God’s people, particularly the kings, when they were being unfaithful, and they exhorted them to obedience. This was as true for Elijah as any of the other prophets.
In the days of Ahab, king of Israel, and his queen Jezebel, Elijah enforced the covenant by announcing the punishment of drought for the northern kingdom’s idolatry. The king and queen had turned to the worship of Baal. After three years of no rain, the Lord chose to end the drought. For those three years, the Israelites saw that Baal, the supposed god of the storm, was powerless to bring rain, but now it was time to cause the water to fall again. The Lord, however, would not do this without proving one more time that He is God, and Baal is not. A dramatic sign would show Israel that the rain was coming not because Baal finally sent rain, but because the God of Israel was the true God.
Elijah went to Ahab to demand a showdown with the prophets of Baal. The winner in the contest would prove which deity should be worshiped. The contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal is well known. The contrast between the prophet Elijah and the false prophets of Baal couldn’t be starker. The false prophets tried to manipulate their deity into action by raving and cutting themselves and received nothing. After mocking Baal, Elijah simply prayed, and God responded (vv. 20–38).
In this trial Elijah issues one of the most damning statements in all of Scripture. Addressing the gathered Israelites, he asks them “How long will you go limping between two different opinions?” Elijah then says, “If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” Ultimately, God only demands one thing, our full commitment to Him. We were made for our Creator, and He will not share us with another. In Elijah's day, many in Israel tried to serve God and someone else on the side. In our day many do the same. The deity we serve may not be called Baal. It may be called ego, fame, wealth, power, government, or any other of a thousand things that demand our worship. It is no less false and corrupt that the Baal worship of the Israelites. Let us remember the One for whom we were made that we might realize that we can be satisfied in Him alone.
Reflection
As we wait upon our King and his glorious second coming, may our hearts be open, tender and joyous for the working of the Holy Spirit, by whom we will be led into servant leadership in our homes, communities, neighborhoods and our jobs. He will teach us to live humbly, he will mature our hearts and actions, so we can be the people after His own heart, as we obey him out of love. We love, because He first loved us.
Application questions
1. Are you limping between two different opinions? Is there anything that is diverting your full worship from the Lord?
2. Do you think you would have the strength to stand up to the modern “prophets of Baal?”