1 Kings 18:21, “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.”
The cause of Israel’s idolatry had to be addressed. Jezebel had infected the pure worship of Jehovah with the idol worship of her ancestral god, Baal. She used her position as queen to force all of Israel to worship Baal. The time had come for Israel to choose who they would follow and the evil influence of apostate religion had to be eliminated. Elijah ordered that all the priests of Baal be killed to rid the kingdom of their evil influence. Good call, right?
1 Kings 19:1, “And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.” Jezebel promised to do to Elijah what he had done to her priests and he ran for his life. He found himself all alone hiding away in a deep dark cave but it is there that he encountered the Almighty Lord God Jehovah. 1 Kings 19:12, “And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 13And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?”
There are two issues that Elijah was challenged to address. One, how could he justify his hasty retreat in the face of such a victory at Mt. Carmel? And second, could he be used by God to finish his mission? Elijah began to justify his behavior and defend his cowardly retreat. He had been very zealous for God when the children of Israel had forsaken His covenant. They turned to the worship of Baal, having thrown down the altars of the Lord and slain the prophets of God. Elijah proclaimed that he was the only one left therefore they sought to take his life. God assured Elijah that there were “7000” that had not bowed to Baal or worshiped his image. God's command was to return to action and finish what God had started.
God was getting ready to administer His judgment upon this wicked government and apostate religion and He wanted Elijah to know his role. God was compelled to let him know what He was preparing to do. God was not finished with Elijah just yet and wanted Elijah to know that He still had large numbers of the faithful who had not bowed to Baal. Elijah had a role in bringing God's plan to its completion. God said, go and anoint Hazael to be king over Syria, Jehu to be king over Israel, and Elisha to be the prophet in Elijah's place (1 Kings 19:17-18).
God’s purpose was to turn the heart of Israel back to Himself! The Apostate Religious rituals offered on her altars were the epitome of Evil and He was setting the stage for the judgment of spiritual leadership. Those responsible for the perpetrated Evil were suddenly and utterly destroyed.
God is setting the stage to perform a cleansing in the earth. The apostate religious rituals offered on the altars of many churches today are the epitome of evil. God is preparing for judgment of the spiritual leadership. Those responsible for the evil perpetrated will find themselves suddenly and uttering lost, turned into a desolate darkness where deliverance is not possible. 2 Peter 2:13, “...Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;”
The time for correction and change is now! Just as God gave Israel the opportunity to confess and profess the sovereignty of God, He is calling all who will hear to return to the straight and narrow path. Who will heed His call? Luke 13:24, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:” God Will Address The Evil Of Apostate Religion!
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