Bathroom gods
June 21, 2007
Continuing on with Elijah, we find among other things God has a sense of humor.
After challenging the prophets of Baal, Elijah then sets the ground rules. Two bulls, one for each, prepare them for sacrifice but do not light the fire underneath. What ever God answers by fire will be the true God.
When ever you know you are in the right, you can walk with God in confidence that he can do the seemingly impossible. You can also do a lot of smack talking. Elijah let them go first They did there thing all morning and then Elijah does a champion put down.
1Ki 18:27 CEV
(27) At noon, Elijah began making fun of them. "Pray louder!" he said. "Baal must be a god. Maybe he's day-dreaming or using the toilet or traveling somewhere. Or maybe he's asleep, and you have to wake him up."
I do not know about you, but the idea of a god day-dreaming, or even worse, going to the bathroom just seems not to god-like to me. My youngest two children laughed loudly when we read this the other day. But, is this not much different than what so many of us do in day to day life. We think that the money we have will keep us going. Or that the TV will keep us happy. They will not.
The prophets never did get Baal to show up. In stead, Elijah steps up:
1Ki 18:33-39 CEV
(33) He placed the wood on the altar, then they cut the bull into pieces and laid the meat on the wood. He told the people, "Fill four large jars with water and pour it over the meat and the wood." After they did this,
(34) he told them to do it two more times. They did exactly as he said
(35) until finally, the water ran down the altar and filled the ditch.
(36) When it was time for the evening sacrifice, Elijah prayed: Our LORD, you are the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Now, prove that you are the God of this nation, and that I, your servant, have done this at your command.
(37) Please answer me, so these people will know that you are the LORD God, and that you will turn their hearts back to you.
(38) The LORD immediately sent fire, and it burned up the sacrifice, the wood, and the stones. It scorched the ground everywhere around the altar and dried up every drop of water in the ditch.
(39) When the crowd saw what had happened, they all bowed down and shouted, "The LORD is God! The LORD is God!"
Elijah not only did the impossible, he added to it. The salt water drenched the wood and all around it. God came down in fire and not only consumed the sacrifice but destroyed all around it as well.
When you need a miracle in your life know two things. God can provide more than you need for what you need. The other is that when people see that miracle, they will turn to God.
