Love That Never Fails

69. The Lord -He is God!

During this pandemic, while so many churches have been closed, God has continued to work amongst His people. Online services and Zoom small groups have been available but there are bound to be many people who have missed out and have possibly felt their faith waning as the months have gone by. This is when a strong personal faith and determination to stay in God's Word comes in!

However, sadly, it's possible that there will be many who will fall away and find other things to take the place of worshipping our Lord. God's people the Israelites had wavered in their faith time after time, choosing to follow other gods, despite the many wonderful signs of God's presence with them. At this time in the midst of a terrible drought, God's prophet Elijah, shows his incredible faith to the nation as he gives the prophets of Baal, a very interesting challenge! This would show without a doubt, who worshipped a true, living God!

As you read the account of this challenge, remember that Elijah had a very close walk with the Lord and was following His lead. The people of Israel had been wavering between worshipping Baal and sometimes acknowledging the Lord as God. The time had come for them to make up their mind!

"Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him."

But the people said nothing. Then Elijah said to them, "I am the only one of the Lord's prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. Get two bulls for us. Let Baal's prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God."

Then all the people said, "What you say is good."

Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire."

So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. "Baal, answer us!" they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.

At noon Elijah began to taunt them. "Shout louder!" he said. "Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened."

So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.

Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come here to me." They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down. Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, "Your name shall be Israel."

With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed. He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, "Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood." "Do it again," he said, and they did it again. "Do it a third time," he ordered, and they did it the third time. The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench. At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed:

" Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."

Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The Lord —he is God! The Lord —he is God!""
‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭18:21-39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In a very clear and powerful way, the Lord had demonstrated that indeed He was the only true God! I love how this showdown highlights the importance of having a strong unwavering faith as Elijah had. He had great confidence that his God would come through and show Himself to the Israelites. We too can have the same confidence because we serve the same God who sent fire from Heaven on that day!

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him."
‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:14-15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Elijah was operating according to God's will. The outcome would have been very different had this not been the case! Notice that God went above and beyond, consuming everything with His Fire, even the water which technically should have inhibited the strength of the flames, but nothing is too hard for our Lord!

Why not spend some time talking to God today? Get to know and trust Him with the big and small things in your life. Know He is the one true God and leave behind your doubts as You choose to worship Him instead of the things of the world. Remember that He is more than able to deal with the difficulties you may be facing. Nothing is too hard for God!

""I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?"
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭32:27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Let's pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You so much for this reminder that I can put all my confidence in You! Nothing is too hard for You and You are the same yesterday, today and forever!

I am challenged to be sure in my faith and not waver between worshipping You and the things of this world. I'm aware that this can easily happen, especially at this time when it's been so many months since I walked into my church!

Today I choose to give You the place of honour that only You deserve. I am so thankful for Your love and patience with me. Thank You that I can have complete confidence in You, just as Elijah did —I know You will turn up at just the right time!

I lay at Your feet, all of my cares and concerns in this season and choose to let You deal with them —nothing is too hard for You!

In Jesus' Name,
Amen.