Two Many Opinions
How Long Will You Waver Between Two Opinions? Lessons from Elijah on Mount Carmel
In 1 Kings 18, we find one of the most dramatic showdowns in biblical history. Elijah confronts the people of Israel with a challenging question: "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." The people's response? Complete silence.
This silence speaks volumes about where Israel stood spiritually. They had abandoned their covenant with God and were following the exceedingly wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, who promoted Baal worship throughout the land.
What Happens When God's People Turn Away?
Israel's apostasy didn't go unnoticed. God had already warned them in Deuteronomy 11 that if they turned away from Him to serve other gods, He would shut up the heavens so there would be no rain. This wasn't an arbitrary punishmentâ”, it was the natural consequence of breaking covenant with the God who promised to provide for them if they remained faithful.
Through Elijah, God announced a drought that would last until Elijah gave the word. James 5:17 tells us this drought lasted three and a half years. Imagine that, no rain, no dew, nothing for over three years. The land would have been reduced to dirt, with crops failing and livestock dying.
Who Was Elijah and Why Did God Use Him?
What's fascinating about Elijah is that he wasn't extraordinary in himself. James describes him as "a man with a nature like ours." He put on his sandals the same way we put on our shoes. He had the same human emotions and struggles we do.
What set Elijah apart was his burden for God's people. Before God ever sent him to confront Ahab, Elijah was likely on his knees asking, "Lord, what do I do? Your people aren't following you. They're not loving you as they should."
Elijah understood something crucial: there's no formula or special words that invoke God's power. There's only one way through complete surrender and obedience to God's will.
What Does a Spiritual Drought Look Like in Our Lives?
Spiritual droughts don't just happen in biblical times. They happen whenever we choose to follow our own path rather than God's. When we know what God wants but refuse to do it, we enter a season of spiritual dryness.
This might look like:
Just as Israel experienced a physical drought because of their spiritual condition, we experience spiritual drought when we turn away from God.
How Does God Bring His People Back to Himself?
After three and a half years, God was ready for His people to repent. He instructed Elijah to arrange a showdown on Mount Carmel between Himself and Baal.
The challenge was simple: two altars, two sacrifices, but no fire. The prophets of Baal would call on their god, and Elijah would call on the Lord. Whichever god answered by fire would be proven the true God.
The 450 prophets of Baal went first. They danced, shouted, and even cut themselves, trying desperately to get Baal's attention from morning until noon. Nothing happened.
Then came Elijah's turn. He:
The result? "Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench."
What Happens When We See God for Who He Really Is?
When the people saw this display of God's power, they fell on their faces and cried out, "The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!" Their response wasn't casual or delayed—it was immediate and wholehearted.
This is what happens when we truly see God for who He is. We don't stand around pondering what to do or waiting for another sign. We fall on our faces in worship and surrender.
The problem is that many of us want God to prove Himself to us before we'll fully commit. We want fire from heaven when we already have His Word. We want a physical manifestation when faith means trusting without seeing.
Why Do We Struggle to Fully Commit to God?
Why do we waver between two opinions? It could be:
The truth is, we shouldn't need fire to fall from heaven to claim that God is Lord of our life. His Word should be enough. Faith isn't about trying, it's about dying to ourselves and presenting our bodies as living sacrifices to God.
Life Application
The story of Elijah on Mount Carmel challenges us to examine where we stand with God. Are we wavering between two opinions? Are we experiencing a spiritual drought because of disobedience?
Here are some questions to consider this week:
In 1 Kings 18, we find one of the most dramatic showdowns in biblical history. Elijah confronts the people of Israel with a challenging question: "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." The people's response? Complete silence.
This silence speaks volumes about where Israel stood spiritually. They had abandoned their covenant with God and were following the exceedingly wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, who promoted Baal worship throughout the land.
What Happens When God's People Turn Away?
Israel's apostasy didn't go unnoticed. God had already warned them in Deuteronomy 11 that if they turned away from Him to serve other gods, He would shut up the heavens so there would be no rain. This wasn't an arbitrary punishmentâ”, it was the natural consequence of breaking covenant with the God who promised to provide for them if they remained faithful.
Through Elijah, God announced a drought that would last until Elijah gave the word. James 5:17 tells us this drought lasted three and a half years. Imagine that, no rain, no dew, nothing for over three years. The land would have been reduced to dirt, with crops failing and livestock dying.
Who Was Elijah and Why Did God Use Him?
What's fascinating about Elijah is that he wasn't extraordinary in himself. James describes him as "a man with a nature like ours." He put on his sandals the same way we put on our shoes. He had the same human emotions and struggles we do.
What set Elijah apart was his burden for God's people. Before God ever sent him to confront Ahab, Elijah was likely on his knees asking, "Lord, what do I do? Your people aren't following you. They're not loving you as they should."
Elijah understood something crucial: there's no formula or special words that invoke God's power. There's only one way through complete surrender and obedience to God's will.
What Does a Spiritual Drought Look Like in Our Lives?
Spiritual droughts don't just happen in biblical times. They happen whenever we choose to follow our own path rather than God's. When we know what God wants but refuse to do it, we enter a season of spiritual dryness.
This might look like:
- Going through religious motions without heart
- Knowing what's right but not doing it for the right reasons
- Running from God's calling on your life
- Missing out on God's blessings because of disobedience
Just as Israel experienced a physical drought because of their spiritual condition, we experience spiritual drought when we turn away from God.
How Does God Bring His People Back to Himself?
After three and a half years, God was ready for His people to repent. He instructed Elijah to arrange a showdown on Mount Carmel between Himself and Baal.
The challenge was simple: two altars, two sacrifices, but no fire. The prophets of Baal would call on their god, and Elijah would call on the Lord. Whichever god answered by fire would be proven the true God.
The 450 prophets of Baal went first. They danced, shouted, and even cut themselves, trying desperately to get Baal's attention from morning until noon. Nothing happened.
Then came Elijah's turn. He:
- Repaired the altar of the Lord that had been neglected
- Arranged the sacrifice according to God's law
- Had the sacrifice drenched with water three times
- Prayed a simple prayer of faith
The result? "Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench."
What Happens When We See God for Who He Really Is?
When the people saw this display of God's power, they fell on their faces and cried out, "The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!" Their response wasn't casual or delayed—it was immediate and wholehearted.
This is what happens when we truly see God for who He is. We don't stand around pondering what to do or waiting for another sign. We fall on our faces in worship and surrender.
The problem is that many of us want God to prove Himself to us before we'll fully commit. We want fire from heaven when we already have His Word. We want a physical manifestation when faith means trusting without seeing.
Why Do We Struggle to Fully Commit to God?
Why do we waver between two opinions? It could be:
- Blaming leadership or culture
- Love of self
- Rebellious hearts
- Wanting proof before faith
- Simply not wanting to be ruled by anyone
The truth is, we shouldn't need fire to fall from heaven to claim that God is Lord of our life. His Word should be enough. Faith isn't about trying, it's about dying to ourselves and presenting our bodies as living sacrifices to God.
Life Application
The story of Elijah on Mount Carmel challenges us to examine where we stand with God. Are we wavering between two opinions? Are we experiencing a spiritual drought because of disobedience?
Here are some questions to consider this week:
- In what areas of my life am I serving "Baal" (anything that takes God's place) rather than the true God?
- Am I experiencing spiritual dryness? Could this be related to disobedience in my life?
- What "altar" in my life needs to be repaired, what spiritual disciplines or commitments have I neglected?
- Do I require God to prove Himself before I'll fully commit, or am I willing to take Him at His Word?
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