At the time of the offering of the oblation, the prophet Elijah came near and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your bidding. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and even licked up the water that was in the trench. When all the people saw it. they fell on their faces and said, “The LORD indeed is God; the LORD indeed is God.” 1 Kings 18: 36-39, NRSV.
Blessed LORD, please come divinely close, and open our eyes that we might see You indeed as God, and may we fall down before You and worship You, as God. In the name of Jesus we humbly pray. Amen.
Our thought for today is taken from the familiar story of the prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. The fearsome duet were reigning during this time: King Ahab and Queen Jezebel sat on the throne. That statement was intentional, because Jezebel indeed, sat on the throne, alongside her husband.Together, they became the “Terrible Two.” Evil was so prevalent in the land, that God withheld the rain. The heavens were closed up for three and a half years!
It is significant, that in a time of drought, Elijah would use four jars of water to prove his point! These were not the regular size jars that we are accustomed to see. They were rather large. The Bible informs us that, “the water ran all around the altar, and filled the trench also with water” (35). Then Elijah prayed; a short and fervent prayer, and God heard, and answered in a most miraculous way – fire came down from heaven and consumed the entire offering, including the wood, the dust, the stones, “and even licked up the water that was in the trench[!]”
Dearest friends, when our prayers are for the purpose of bringing God glory, God will bring glory to Himself, by answering those prayers! The LORD indeed is God! And God has no problem in answering our prayers. The next time we pray, let us ask ourselves: For whose glory am I praying? What I failed to add, is that what brings God glory, is always for our good!