THE LORD, HE IS GOD


 Image result for clip art of Old Testament altar

 I love all the narratives of the Old Testament.  I am still digging into the events of 1 Kings 18 as Elijah has come to Ahab to confront him and to offer a challenge between the gods of Baal and their priests and Jehovah, the God of Israel. Present are 450 priests of Baal, 400 prophets to Jezebel, and all of Israel who had been rallied for attendance. 

The priests of Baal build an altar and put the meat of one ox on it and now must pray down fire from the god of Baal.  Ahab is close by watching.   The priests called on the name of Baal from morning until noon and there is no voice to reply to their requests, "O Baal, answer us."  By afternoon, their cries have become louder and they begin to cut themselves with swords and lances "until the blood gushed out on them".  By the time of the evening sacrifice, there is no voice, no one answered, no one pays attention, and there sits raw meat!  

Elijah finds an altar which has long been discarded in worship to God.  He takes 12 stones, one for each of the Twelve Tribes, and he builds the altar in the name of the Lord.  Elijah builds a trench around the altar and directs men to pour four pitchers of water on the wood 3 times.  Now the wood is thoroughly soaked.  Elijah prays,"O Lord, the God of Abraham, Issac, and Israel, today let it be known that Thou art God in Israel, and that I am Thy servant, and that I have done all these things at Thy word."  He continues to beseech the Lord to answer him so that the people will know that the Lord is God.  THEN the fire of the Lord fell, consuming the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, the dust, and licked up the water in the trench. THE PEOPLE SAW IT, FELL ON THEIR FACES AND SAID, "THE LORD HE IS GOD; THE LORD, HE IS GOD."

James 5 says that Elijah was a man just like you and me and he prayed "earnestly" the Greek gives the word picture of repeated prayer to God.  I do not know what God has purposed for us individually, yet I do know that it is HIS desire for us to meet with HIM in prayer.  Elijah was a man of faith and you can just bet that his faith had grown over the years as he was willing to pray and hear from God.   Growing faith and prayer are linked.  Our God is a the God of communication desirous to speak with us and us speaking to Him. Thank You, Father for hearing my prayers.  Ever learning!  In process, still!  #IHAVETHREESONS

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