1 Kings 18:20-40
In 1975 World Heavyweight Champ Muhammad Ali fought Joe Frazier in what was arguably the biggest title defense in boxing history. Because it was taking place in Manila, in the Philippines, Ali dubbed it, “The Thrilla in Manila”. It was a huge media event grabbing worldwide attention. Ali won the fight on a TKO in the 14th round. To this day it’s considered to be one of the greatest fights of all time.
But I know of one that was even bigger and badder with way more at stake than just a championship belt.
In the Old Testament book of 1 Kings, we meet in chapter 17, the man who becomes arguably the most important of the Old Testament prophets, Elijah. He appears out of nowhere. All we know about him is that he comes from a place called Tishbe, in Gilead. And in this first appearance Elijah is facing off with the evilest king in the history of Israel, Ahab. Elijah tells Ahab that if he doesn’t get it together and start living in obedience to the LORD and stop worshipping the false god Baal and bowing down to false idols like the Asherah pole, a devastating drought and famine would take place.
Well, guess what? Ahab ignores Elijah and a devastating drought and famine take place.
Years into the drought the LORD sends Elijah back to Ahab to let him know that rain is coming. When he shares this news, Ahab insults and threatens Elijah. With that, Elijah tells Ahab to gather the nation on Mount Carmel. There, they will stage a one-on-one battle between the 450 prophets of Baal and Elijah, the lone prophet of the One, True God of Israel.
Baal doesn’t do well against God. Baal’s prophets set a slaughtered bull on a makeshift altar and call for Baal to set fire to the altar and receive the sacrifice. They chant and yell and scream to no avail. When that fails, they begin cutting themselves with swords. Soon, they’re nothing more than are a mass of voiceless, bloodied prophets without a legit god.
Which is such a picture of us when we’re given over to sin, isn’t it? We cry out for our sin to fulfill us and make us happy. And when we get no response, to feel something, we do like these crazy prophets, and take to acts of self-destruction.
Elijah, when it’s his turn to ignite his sacrifice first has the followers of Baal soak his altar and his bull with water, making it that much harder for the LORD to light it up. But as Elijah prays earnestly to His Father in Heaven, the LORD is faithful. He not only burns the soaking wet offering, but even the stone altar is burned up.
And Elijah let’s the followers of Baal know that God will grant them grace and welcome them back to Himself. For the prophets of Baal, it doesn’t end quite so well. They are rounded up, taken to a nearby valley and put to death.
This Old Testament account reminds us that the false gods we try to place before Jesus will never provide us with all that Jesus provides us with. The false gods we wrestle with – maybe an addiction, maybe something else – will never offer us grace and mercy. False prophets are sent our way by Satan and all Satan wants is to lie to you, take you prisoner and sentence to you to death.
When you come to see that you’re bowing down to something that offers you nothing compared to what Jesus can, do like Elijah. Pray. Fervently. Earnestly. And no matter what you’ve done, no matter where your sin has taken you, He will draw you back unto Himself. And you will know that joy that can come only through following Jesus.