Two Opinions
Today’s Verse:
And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. ~1 Kings 18:21
It was Edwin Markham that said, “Choices are the hinges of destiny.” Life is about the choices we make. We must choose between right and wrong. We must choose to live for God or live for self. Our choices are the results of our opinion about the matter that we are considering. Elijah asked the nation of Israel, “How long halt ye between two opinions?” They needed to decide to either follow God or follow Baal. Let us see, this morning, the matter of two opinions.
We see the culture.
Ahab and Jezebel were the king and queen of Israel. They brought in an antichrist culture. They made it illegal to have the names of Jehovah and God anywhere in Israel. Preachers were censured from preaching God’s message, and they were persecuted and killed if they did. The people were deceived and forced to make the worship of Baal their worship. You might even say that Ahab introduced the concept of cancel culture. We live in a similar culture that is hostile to God, Christianity, and truth.
We see the called.
“And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.” Elijah was God’s man who was called to represent the Lord to Ahab. He was a cultivated man. God cultivated him in the rugged mountains of Tishbe. Elijah was a consecrated man. He was holy and set apart for God’s work. He was a courageous man. He boldly stood in front of Ahab and declared that “the LORD God of Israel liveth.” He was called to give God’s Word and point his anti-God culture back to the Lord.
We see the confrontation.
“And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word." It was time for a showdown between Elijah and the false prophets of Baal. The test was to see which God answered by fire. The false prophets prepared their altar and did all of their shenanigans, but to no avail. By the time of the evening sacrifice, it was Elijah’s turn. He repaired the broken altar of the Lord, placed the sacrifice upon it, and drenched it three times by pouring barrels of water on it. After this, Elijah prayed to God and asked Him to show the people that He is God and to turn their hearts back to Him.
We see the combustion.
“Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.” God answered by fire! He still answers by fire: the fire of revival, the fire of refining, and the fire of retribution. The Lord came down in mighty power in consuming the altar and its sacrifice. It was God-sent fire, and not anything fabricated by man.
We see the confession.
“And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.” The response of the people demonstrated a revival of their fear of the Lord. They only had one opinion: "the LORD, he is the God." Are you between two opinions? “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” God’s Word and authority are the sole and reliable opinion on all matters of faith, practice, and life. Experience for yourself that the Lord, He is the God!
Have an awakened God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: 2 Kings 4-5