22 October, 2023
Elijah lived at a time when evil was rampant over the land of Israel. Queen Jezebel was running amok, killing the Lord’s priests and forcing the God’s people to worship a pagan god, BaaL
As punishment, God sent a severe drought over all the land – everyone was suffering.
This was now the correct time for the Israelites to make a firm decision whether to worship God or Baal.
So the Lord instructed Elijah to go to Mt Carmel and challenge the priests of Baal to a duel by fire. Whichever God could light the fire for a burnt sacrifice would be proved to be the real God. The other would be a charlatan.
Although the priests of Baal tried hard, they could not pursuade their (non-existent) god to light the fire. However, Israel’s God was easily able to light the fire (in a spectacular fashion).
Thus, the Israelites aligned themselves with their God. The chose to serve Him.
In the choices we have to make on a regular basis, do we consciously choose to serve God, to do His will?
Let us support and encourage each other to be able to do this.
Peter Barnes