1 Kings 18:20-29 ESV
20 So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal's prophets are 450 men. 23 Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. 24 And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.” 25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” 26 And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. 27 And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” 28 And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. 29 And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.

SILENCE.
In the eyes of man, the contest at Mt. Carmel was lopsided. How can one man stand against the 400 prophets of Baal and 450 prophets of Asherah combined? But, in the eyes of God, it was nothing. Elijah with Yahweh is more than conqueror. His fight is the Lord’s.

What they thought could be a laudable victory for the prophets has made them a laughing stock. Remember, Baal for them was the god of fire. As they set the bull sacrifice at the altar, they cried from morning to to noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. Silence. And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention. And still, silence.

Idols are nothing before God. Thus, Elijah had made fun for them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” However, this does not warrant us to be disrespectful to idol worshipers. Peter has warned us, “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”[1 Pet 3:15]

The psalmist had articulated the futility of trusting idols, as he wrote;
‘Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
Our God is in the heavens;
he does all that he pleases.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak;
eyes, but do not see.
They have ears, but do not hear;
noses, but do not smell.
They have hands, but do not feel;
feet, but do not walk;
and they do not make a sound in their throat.
Those who make them become like them;
so do all who trust in them.
[Psa 115:1-9]

Worshiping idols will make us like them – nothing before God. It’s futility to put our trust on nothing. Conversely, it’s the wisest to put our whole trust upon the Lord Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God.

Listen and FOLLOW on podcast
Spotify: http://bit.ly/glccfil_spotify
Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-applepcast
Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-googlepcast
Audible Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-audible

Follow us in various media platforms: https://gospellightfilipino.contactin.bio

#gospellightfilipino
#godswordfortoday
#bookofkings