Everyday Miracles: 20 Day Journey With Elijah And Elishaنموونە

You don’t have to make sacrifices to move God on your behalf; God Himself has already moved on your behalf by making the ultimate sacrifice.

It was an epic showdown. On one side, 450 prophets of the Canaanite storm god Baal. On the other side, the lone prophet of Yahweh. They assembled on Mt. Carmel with an agreement: each side would erect an altar and call upon their god to consume it by fire; whichever god brought the fire would be proven to be the true god. 

The Baal prophets were pitiful to the point of being comical. They called upon Baal from 6 a.m. until noon. Elijah mocked them. Shout louder, Israel’s prophet said with a chuckle. Perhaps Baal is musing or maybe he’s just using the bathroom. Maybe your god is on a vacation or perhaps he is asleep.

What’s more comical than Elijah’s taunts is the fact that the pagan prophets took Elijah’s advice. They called louder and louder. They cut themselves. They raved. 

Nothing happened. 

When it came Elijah’s turn, the prophet prayed a simple prayer of faith and the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the offering and the altar. Seeing the fire put the Baal prophets on their faces and proved Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to be the one, true God. 

It’s not just a story about the power of God; it’s a story about the power of the Gospel. 

The Baal prophets’ ridiculous, painful antics provide an apt picture of dead religion. Every empty religious system is a human attempt to move God by ritual, vows and sacrifices. But the Good News of Jesus Christ is an announcement of how God has moved on your behalf by making the ultimate sacrifice Himself. The Good News is good because it isn’t about your ability to do something for God; it’s about God’s ability to do something for you. You don’t need to rant and rave and lacerate your self-worth in order to move God on your behalf; God has already moved on your behalf. He’s given you Christ --which means He’s given His all. And that’s the Gospel!

Questions for Reflection

1) When are you most tempted to think “it’s all up to me” – that you need to do more in order to please God or move Him on your behalf? What makes you feel that way?

2) Have you ever felt like you experienced a “Mt. Carmel” moment – a time in which God proved Himself the true God? Write down your memories/reflections about it. In what area of life today do you need God to show Himself mighty as He did for Elijah?

3) If the great illusion of all empty religion is that more sacrifice will bring more blessing, what are the deep assurances of the Gospel that prove the opposite? Journal about the assurances of God’s love to you as seen in the sacrifice of Jesus. How has God already shown Himself mighty and gracious?

Prayer for the Day

Lord, forgive my feeble attempts to add to the grandeur of the sacrifice you’ve made for me in Christ Jesus. I choose this day to trust in your finished work and your sovereign grace. Let all my good works be expressions of gratitude and authentic partnership with you rather than pitiful attempts to garner your favor. I thank you for the unmerited favor that you have shown me through the cross and resurrection of Christ. Take me to Mt. Carmel in my faith and show me your power so that, through me, a bold, bright light will shine. I pray in Jesus’ name, AMEN.