“How long will you waver between two opinions? (18:21)
1
Kings 18:20-40
The story of Elijah
challenging the king and the Baal worshipers is breathtaking. It is so dramatic
that it appeals to our mind and challenges us, time and time again. I am
challenged by the fact how could someone dare to try the unusual and
demonstrate the power of God standing alone as a protagonist. What an audacity
to stand the ground firm and keep bombarding with propositions to challenge
their dumbness and infidelity towards the living God. The story is so dynamic
and animated that it makes a great sermon, even motivating for children. But I
am afraid if anyone today would want to try something closer to show how big God is.
Magicians and
illusionists perform live and are so spontaneous but note, prior to the
public show they make a rehearsal in private with all the specifications
sketched and drawn in the mind. They are sure of every move while they trick
the audience. But in the case of Elijah it was completely different, this is a
first time, on the spot, unique act. What makes so special about this whole incident is his
daring faith on God, He knew God better than the situations. If you notice in
this incident, Elijah
made the challenge easier for the people who wouldn't acknowledge the true God
but increased the severity of the challenge unimaginably difficult for himself. The water was overflowing all
over the altar, the trench was overflowing too. (1 Kings 18:35).
After making the situation extremely challenging, he makes a simple, short
unselfish Prayer, immediately heaven opens and people see the mighty power and
act of God, rest is history which we are all familiar with.
As people of God at the
foremost, are we convinced that our God is living and Big enough? And do we
possess the required faith that He will never let us down however intimidating
the situation can be? Most of the times we are not successful because we give
specification to God to makes things happen as per our expectation and that’s
the disappointment unfortunately. David Bowden quotes “God is often absent in the ways
we desire, but present in the way we most require”. How often we want to hide and go
invisible when we are in a plight and in some desperate situation. If we come
out victorious we make a public testimony, otherwise we align our perspective
based on the situation and continue to remain invisible. Can we ask God to
increase our faith in order to live an extraordinary supernatural life? The
only successful way to have so is to soak oneself in the word and build an
unselfish relationship with God. In Romans 10:17 it says “..faith comes from hearing
and hearing by the word of Christ.”’ NASB.
His power and acts are
timeless. Acknowledge Him with a sincere and honest heart. British preacher
Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy used to say, “Faith is not believing in spite of evidence-that’s
superstition-but obeying in spite of consequences.”. Having faith does not mean never
having doubts or questions. It does mean remaining obedient. The same Elijah
after the magnificent performance in Mount Carmel was intimated when Jezebel
challenged to kill him the very next day. Elijah ran from
there and asked God to take his life, but the Lord did not give up on
him. He sent his angel and provided a hot meal to nourish him and
then instructed him to resume his journey to 'Horeb' the mountain of
God. After every challenges you throw to satan you are likely
to be attacked by the evil in order to crush your faith you demonstrated
recently. Henry Kissinger quotes "Every
success only buys admission ticket to a more difficult problem", but be of good courage,
God will not abandon you. God is bigger than all your misfortune, most
difficult challenges and unfavorable contexts, just trust on him for a
breakthrough each time.
Blessings,
David Raj
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