Elijah, what a man of GOD. 1 Kings 18 records his showdown with the prophets of Baal – one man against 850 pagan prophets. For some reason i can see Clint Eastwood playing the role of Elijah. Here he is sending Obadiah to go fetch Ahab, reasurring him that he’ll be right here, he ain’t goin’ nowhere.

When Ahab shows up and tries to blame Elijah for Israel’s troubles Elijah holds his ground. He’s not quakin’ in his boots. Then again why should he? He’s standing for truth. . .for GOD. Instead of trembling with fear, Elijah confronts Ahab with the truth of his actions. It is Ahab and his family that has brought trouble upon the folks of Israel. They are the ones who have abandoned GOD’s commands and pursued the Baals. For some strange reason I see Elijah’s eyes squinting, head cocked to the side just a little, hair gently blowing in the breeze as he confidently confronts Ahab.

Then Elijah calls him out!! He wants a showdown – cue background music, think the whistle from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. So everyone gathers at Mt Carmel – Elijah, prophets of Baal (all 850 of them), the folks of Israel, and Ahab.

Remember, not only was Elijah confronting Ahab and the prophets of Baal, but he confronted the people of Israel – “How long will you waiver between two opinions? If the LORD is GOD, follow him; but if Baal is GOD, follow him” (v. 21). And the people said nothing. I imagine they ducked their heads, shuffled their feet in the dirt, and gathers their children in front of them, as though they were using them to hide behind.

So the showdown takes place. The prophets of Baal get the pick of the bulls to sacrifice and offer up to Baal. By the end of the day nothing has happened. All they are left with is a smelly, fly-infested offering, bleeding and bruised bodies from where they have beat and cut themselves to get Baal’s attention, and beat up pride and egos from Elijah’s public and open taunting – all day long!

Then. . .cue music. . .Elijah takes his place. He rebuilds the altar, offers up the leftover bull as a sacrifice to the LORD, He commands that water be poured over the entire altar and offering until the trenches around the altar are full. Then he prays to the GOD of heaven. What happens next is truly amazing. The fire of the LORD burns up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the soil. It even laps up the water around the altar. Want to imagine with me the look on the faces of the prophets of Baal, Ahab, and the folks of Israel? Oh my, oh my.

GOD’s Word says that the folks from Israel fell to their faces and worshipped GOD and the prophets of Baal went down – literally. Elijah commanded that not one of them should live.

Boldness. . . Guts. . .GOD – that’s how you become a man of GOD. We can’t do it on our own, but we play a part. We have to decide to fight for the heart of our King. We have to pick up our sword, even when no one around us will fight.

What about you? Picked up your sword today? Willing to fight for the heart of your King? Want to see GOD do something amazing?

Boldness. . .Guts. . .GOD – that’s how it happens.

Mike

A little background on Ahab.

• He had become king of Israel (1Kings 16:29-33).
• He was even more evil than any of those before him.
• He married Jezebel and began worshipping Baal and erected Asherah poles to be worshipped.
• He did more to provoke the LORD and his anger than all the kings before him.

THIS was not good king – get the picture?So what’s so great about Obadiah? Great question. Well. . .as the story goes on Jezebel is tired of the prophets of the LORD and begins to take it upon herself to rid the country of them. While Jezebel is out killing the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah is saving 100 of them by hiding them in two caves – fifty in each. Not only is he hiding them ,he’s also providing food and water – he’s keeping them alive.

Obadiah wasn’t just taking a risk by keeping them safe, he was taking an even greater risk by providing sustenance to a hundred men! Think about that for a moment. We usually go, “ahhhh, isn’t that nice?” right about here. But it was much more serious than that. He didn’t just put them away and forget about them. Whether he used his influence or he personally provided food and water we don’t know, but it took more guts to keep them alive than just hiding them. What if word had leaked out? What if word of Obadiah’s actions seeped into the ears of Jezebel? Not only would a 100 men of GOD had lost their lives, but so would have Obadiah!

Obadiah was a great man of GOD. And while he may have feared Jezebel, I get the sense he feared GOD even more. He stood for GOD when no one in the kingdom, except Elijah, would stand for Him. He exhibited boldness. . .guts. . .and a fear of GOD that goes beyond showing up for worship and Bible study on Sunday morning. He lived out his faith, risking everything for GOD.
Would you risk everything for GOD? Many men have over the years. What about you? Willing to risk the safety of your job? The status you enjoy in your community? The stability of your home or finances? The position you have in your church? What are you willing to risk for GOD?

This is a question I am wrestling with even now. I know what it’s like to wrestle with the commitment question. . .the risk question. I am right up there with you. Pray for me. Let me know what GOD is asking you to risk for him and I will pray for you.

Remember it takes boldness and guts to be a man of GOD.

Mike