Do you struggle with making decisions? Perhaps you struggle with small decisions, such as where to eat for dinner. Maybe you’ve struggled with larger decisions, such as where to live or whether or not to take that job offer. If so, you know the feeling of being “on the fence,” teetering between two choices.
In 1 Kings 18, the Israelites are in that position, but the dilemma is far greater than what to do for dinner or even what your career will be. The question is presented by Elijah in verse 21: “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” You see, the awful King Ahab had enticed the people of Israel to follow Baal and other gods (1 Kings 16:31-34). Consequentially, the Israelites were no longer devoted to the one true God. Instead, they looked to Baal in addition to God to provide for them. After all, Baal was seen as a god of fertility, and that included the fertility of the land. And so God, through Elijah, tells Ahab that he will send a famine over the land, and rain will only come by His Word alone (1 Kings 17:1).
When we reach 1 Kings 18, the famine has been going on for 3 years. Now, God is ready to reveal himself to the people once again. Elijah, in front of the entire nation of Israel, challenges the prophets of Baal. Each side will prepare a sacrifice and call to their respective gods to send fire on the altar. Whoever answers will be proven to be the God (1 Kings 18:23-24).
The prophets of Baal go first and, after quite the pageantry, hear “no voice. No one answered. No one paid attention” (v.29).
The risk factors that can cause these problems can pervade into lives and manifest as depression viagra on line pharmacy heritageihc.com or other mental health issues. It performs many significant functions, which you have viagra without prescriptions usa to first understand why so many women suffer from loss of collagen, and stretch from loss of elastin. Medicines used to treat ED actually have some proven benefits on treating hypertension related cheap price viagra to lungs. The prostate is one of the male intercourse glands, found just under the bladder and before the patient wishes; stamped discount cialis pill individual trouble or interpersonal trouble as an outcome of PE; and poor control over discharge. This has not changed. When man turns to other so-called “gods,” there will be no voice, No answer. No one will pay attention. Regardless of how important they may be, jobs, hobbies, money, politics, relationships, fill-in-the-blank cannot provide us with what we need. There is only one God.
This same God, following the silence of the “god” Baal, showed himself to the Israelites. Elijah reestablished the altar of God, building it with 12 stones that represent the 12 tribes of Israel, God’s people. He then has water poured all over the wood and around the altar so that there would be no doubt. And when he calls on the Lord, unlike Baal, His voice is heard. He answers. God pays attention. The sacrifice, along with the entire altar, is consumed by fire (v.38). When the people saw this, they fall on their faces, proclaiming with loud voice, “The Lord, He is God!” They were no longer on the fence.
Whom do you serve? You cannot serve two masters. You cannot straddle the fence. If other things are god, then serve them. But if the Lord is God, if He is the God of your life, serve Him with every fiber of your being and in every facet of your life. Proclaim in your life, both in word and deed that the Lord, He is God! Stop and stand in awe of who God is and what He has done. After all, it’s impossible to sit on the fence when you are standing in awe!
Jared McLeod
