Introduction: It follows one of the most dramatic events in the Old Testament. Elijah has just been used by God to humiliate the false prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). It is impossible not to respect Elijah’s courage and his clarity of thought, as he confronted idolatry in his day. Listen to the way history records Elijah’s mighty words:

And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. (1 Kings 18:21 ESV)

The tension increased. The drama built. What would happen? Was God up to the challenge to vindicate his sovereignty and vanquish false religion? Was Elijah going to follow through on his courage and clarity? Who would be shown to be true and standing at the end? Here’s what happened:

³⁶ And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. ³⁷ Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” ³⁸ Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. ³⁹ And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.” ⁴⁰ And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there. (1 Kings 18:36-40 ESV)

Connection to Our Day: Yesterday I was able to do one of my favorite things as a chaplain: I was asked to address a myriad audience on topics that matter to people, and to present the hope of redemption via the truth. The audience was comprised of veterans, the families, of older folks down to high school JROTC cadets, men and women of multiple races, Christians, and non-Christians. I was asked to address (4) main themes: 1) ministry amidst rapid cultural change; 2) some rigors of military life; 3) peace; and 4) hope. I addressed each theme and connected them all back to the heart of problem, and to the only means of reconciliation, redemption, and restoration.

And here’s how this connects to the story of Elijah. Elijah understood the lay of the land in his day at Mount Carmel in northwestern Israel. He understood the theological battle he was in, and he understood—more even than the idolaters did—the worldviews of secularism and paganism.

So much of Elijah’s ministry hinged upon his clarity of thought and his courage. Those were essential. But ultimately, even evil people can have clarity of thought and courage. What was and is required is the God of truth who rules history. When that God acts via demonstrable and often dramatic events (like at Mt. Carmel), even the pagans cry out, “The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God” (1 Kings 18:39 ESV). The same thing happened but in the final and ultimate way at another mountain in Israel, you see, but it was Mt. Calvary. There again, God acted. He raised the God-man from the dead, in precise fulfillment of hundred of prophecies.

Clarity of thought? Yes. Courage? Yes. But truth, folks—stark, unadulterated truth. The God who rules the nations, raises the dead, upholds the cosmos by the word of his power, and calls us sinners to be reconciled through the work accomplished by Jesus—this is message that started with God, is executed by God, and redounds to God’s glory, and yet He invites us to come. May we have the intellectual integrity, courage, and humility to say the same as people in 1 Kings 18: “The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God.”