Turn Back To God

20 So Ahab summoned all the people of Israel and the prophets to Mount Carmel. 21 Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent. … 36 At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant. Prove that I have done all this at Your command. 37 O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that You, O Lord, are God and that You have brought them back to Yourself.” 38 Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord—He is God! Yes, the Lord is God!” 1 Kings 18:20-21, 36-39 (NLT).

The Prophet Elijah was a man that loved and walked faithfully with God. He had a single-minded commitment and devoted relationship with God. Elijah worked for spiritual purposes to serve God and the people. God accomplished many miracles through Elijah. With God’s help, Elijah predicted the three-year rain drought, restored a dead child to life, and represented God in a face-off with priests of Baal and Asherah on Mount Carmel. Elijah witnessed a windstorm, an earthquake, and fire. Moreover, God displayed His presence to Elijah in a gentle whisper. Most important, Elijah appeared with Moses and Jesus Christ in the New Testament transfiguration scene (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36). In Revelation11:3-12, the two witnesses are considered Moses and Elijah. Malachi predicted the return of Elijah before the Last Judgment (Malachi 4:5-6). Elijah’s life characterizes God’s love, faith in God, and the power of prayer (Luke 4:25-26; Romans 11:2-6; James 5:17-18).

Elijah served as prophet of Israel during the reigns of King Ahab and King Ahaziah (1 Kings 17:1–19:21; 2 Kings 1:1-2:25). God sent Elijah to Israel to tell the people to return back to Him as the one true God and remain faithful to Him. Also, Elijah spoke against sin and idolatry to Israel, the northern kingdom.  At that time, Israel had no faithful king to God. Each Israel king was wicked, corrupt, and ineffective.  Even worse, these kings and their leaders led the people to worship other gods and disobey God’s commands. With no king or priests to bring God's true word to the people, God called prophets like Elijah to rescue Israel from evil and to return faithfully to the Lord God. Elijah challenged the people to faithfully follow, love, and obey the true God (Exodus 20:1-5). Many people of Israel knew that the Lord was God, but they enjoyed the sinful pleasures that came with following other gods. Even today, other gods may be money, power, prestige, possession, treasure, or status that we trust and depend rather than the one true God of Israel. During times of difficulty or crisis, these other gods offer no answer, guidance, nor wisdom.  So, let everyone return to God and trust in Him with our whole hearts!