Today’s Devotion
Topic: A Passionate Prophet Vrs His Evil King (Part 9)
(Self Assessment 209)
Background:
Last week we studied that upon Elijah’s request, King Ahab sent word throughout Israel and assembled the prophets of baal on Mount Carmel.
We may also recall how Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” Yet the people said nothing.
What is the prophet going to do about this? Why has he made all Israel gather at Mt. Carmel in the first place? How long till Ahab can not tolerate him any more?
For answers to these and more, let us zoom straight into today’s bible discussion.
Text: 1 Kings 18: 22- 24
22 Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets.
23 Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it.
24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—He is God.” Then all the people said, “What you say is good.” Amen
Questions:
1. To this point, Elijah believed he was the only one of the Lord’s prophet remaining. From your knowledge of previous text in this series and other related texts from the bible:
a) Was Elijah really the only one of the Lord’s prophets remaining?
b) If not, where were the others and how come Elijah didn’t have an idea about them?
c) How many were they and how were they being sustained?
d) What is the lesson in here for ministers who could easily think they are the only true ones standing for God in a perversed and crooked generation like ours?
e) How dangerous is this thought and perception if not checked?
2. Kindly read 22- 23 again. In this ‘contest’, Prophet Elijah asked that they provided 2 bulls, make a choice of one and prepare it for sacrifice. Why do you think it was better this way than if Elijah provided the bulls and went ahead to make the first sacrifice?
3. Kindly read verse 24 again.
a) Please explain what Elijah meant by the God who answers by fire- He is God.
b) We know that our God is a consuming fire. But why do you think Elijah was not afraid that baal could answer by fire too?
4. And when the said people to Elijah, “what you say is good”, juxtaposed with their earlier attitude of silence when Elijah asked them to choose between the two opinions:
a) what kind of people will you say they were and how do these two examples throw light on their spiritual situation at the time?
b) How similar, or otherwise, is our generation to them?
5. What have you learnt from today’s disscussion?
Kindly share your answers with us through this same social media platform (WhatsApp/Facebook). We also learn a lot from what you share.
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