Elijah’s Challenge – Part 4, God’s Response
2004 : Week 34  |  Website Version  

This is part four in our series about Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal; last week we reviewed the first two contrasts we were studying in this story:

This week we will look at the final two contrasts we will be studying in this series:
    3. Baal’s sacrifice is dry, but Elijah soaks God’s in water. Despite that, Baal is unable to light his sacrifice, but God provides a fiery response that consumes the sacrifice drenched in water
    4. God’s name is glorified and lifted up by the crowds; Baal’s is not.
There are many more contrasts and comparisons within this story, and we urge you to take the time to study them.

3. God’s Fiery Response
The contrasts in this story continue to teach us important lessons. These are lessons God is trying to drive into our hearts, souls and minds, so that we will never forget them. Remember the silence that followed the prayers to Baal:
 
         29 …there was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention.
 1 Kings 18:29 (NASB)
 
God was emphatically stating that Baal would never answer. Just as emphatically, God wants us to understand how complete and total His response to Elijah’s prayer is, so He consumes everything near the sacrifice with fire:
 
         38 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.
 1 Kings 18:38 (NASB)
 
God’s response is complete and exceeds anyone’s expectations. Not only did God consume the water-drenched sacrifice, but also His fire was so hot that it also consumed the wood, the stones, the dust and all the water in the trench. When God answers a prayer, He does it in a manner that takes our breath away. Can you imagine how hot the fire had to be in order to consume the stone alter used in the sacrifice? This was no ordinary fire, and it would have been awesome to see.

Elijah had prayed for a fire to consume the sacrifice, but our God can do so much more then we could ever imagine. The story is a perfect example of the truth contained in the verses of the book of Ephesians:
 
         20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,
21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen
 Ephesians 3:20-21 (NASB)
 
This is our God. He answers our prayers in a ways that exceed our expectations and we would never think of.

4. “The LORD, He is God”
What was the result of this day of confrontation and contrast in responses? God, because of His mighty hand, made new believers that day; Baal was exposed as a fraud and made no converts. When the people saw the power of God, and how He answered Elijah’s prayer, they fell to the ground to worship Him and cried out, "The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God." (1 Kings 18:39) After that display, they could have no other response.

This is always the way it will turn out when God is compared to anything or anyone; they will pale in comparison, and He will shine in the darkness. This is a great lesson for us; we should never fear bringing our God to the attention of others, even if they believe in a false god. Let them compare what they believe in to our God. The truth, purity and power of our Lord will shine through, and He will always be victorious. Look for the truth of this in your life; there was a time when you didn’t believe in God. The same truth and grace that won over your heart, will win over the hearts of others.

The last few weeks we have reviewed an amazing story. It shows us how people of God are supposed to react in times of turmoil. It shows us the reality of false gods laid bare. Further, we see that when God is involved, you don’t need to put on a show. The truth of God will capture the hearts and minds of people. Our job is to tell others of Him. We need not worry about God answering our prayers for Him to be glorified and lifted up. God will always honor the prayers of His servants when they are meant to bring honor and glory to Him.

Next week we will review another surprising aspect of this story. We will follow Elijah to see what happens to him after the Lord’s victory over Baal.

May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you today and always…

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1 Kings 18: 31-39 (NASB)

31  Elijah took twelve stones according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, " Israel shall be your name."
32  So with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD, and he made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two measures of seed.
33  Then he arranged the wood and cut the ox in pieces and laid it on the wood.
34  And he said, "Fill four pitchers 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.
35  The water flowed around the altar and he also filled the trench with water.
36  At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said," O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word.
37  "Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again."
38  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.
39  When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said," The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God."

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