Praise the LORD He Knows!

“Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.” (1Ki 18:37 AV)

This statement by Elijah is rather interesting.  Let me give a bit of background here.  Ahab, king of the northern ten tribes of Israel, had married a pagan wife who was a daughter of a very wicked neighbor of Israel.  Consequently, they introduced worship of the false god Baal.  There were prophets of Baal.  There were altars built to him.  The LORD judged Israel by inflicting them with a  drought that was running three years to the day of this event.  Elijah calls all of Israel to Mt Carmel.  He challenges them to build an altar to Baal, dress a bovine as an offering, and call on their god to send fire from heaven.  They do so to no avail.  It was not Elijah’s turn!  He repaired the altar of God.  He dressed his cow and placed in on the altar.  He then dug a trench around it and filled the altar and trench with water.  When he was ready, he asked the question of Israel of whom they would serve.  Would they finally follow Jehovah, or follow a god who did not exist.  They said not a word. They never committed one way or another.  This is why Elijah’s statement above is so remarkable.  Before the people were willing to commit, the LORD knew they eventually would.  What an encouraging truth!  Even when we do not know what is in our heart and how deeply we will follow the LORD, the LORD knows!

Another remarkable thing regarding this passage is the faith Elijah shows in the prayer he just prayed.  He is convinced that what the LORD is about to do would indeed turn the hearts of Israel back to the LORD.  He knows this as sure as the sun will rise.  He knows what the LORD is about to do.  He doesn’t know how spectacular it will be.  When the LORD answers from heaven, the offering is consumed.  The stone altar is burned to ash.  Even the water is completely dried up.  In a word, there is nothing left of that offering.  Elijah knew what the LORD was capable of.  He knew Israel would repent and turn again to God.  Like the wilderness, it didn’t last long.  But at least they repented.  Elijah was an amazing prophet.  He was harder on himself than he needed to be.  The LORD used him for some pretty amazing things.  One thing about Elijah was that he never gave up on his people.  He worked so hard that he would eventually burn out.  But he never gave up that God could do something with a particularly wicked people.  There was always hope.  This man of God saw that no one was beyond God’s ability to reach them.  Otherwise, he would not have prayed the prayer that he prayed.  I cannot help but see tremendous hope.  Not just for myself, but for all who are called children of God.

From time to time, I am tasked with helping some who seem beyond change.  Their life pattern has been one of repeatedly rejecting God and His law.  But if we are honest, it could probably have been said of us as well at some point in our lives.  In fact, there are times when it could still be said that we are slow learners.  Sometimes, those who are ahead of us spiritually could assume the same of us.  They could simply assume we will never get it.  Whether it is simple obedience or trusting the LORD for trials of life.  Those who have gone one before might assume we are beyond change.  Praise be to the LORD that there are spiritual men and women who do not share that same opinion.  Praise be to the LORD that He does not share the same opinion.  It doesn’t matter how hard-headed we are, there is always hope.  As long as there is a God who can send down fire from heaven, there is hope for the hardest and slowest of us all!  Praise be to His name.  So, either we are the ones praying in faith for the walks of others, or we are the one standing in need of prayer.  God is the answer!  May we pray that the LORD would send the fire that transforms the life!  And dramatically so!