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.” But the people said nothing.

Learning to make up your mind and stand for something is a great attribute in the Legislature. On the other hand, taking a stand can leave you a little lonely, even feeling like the ‘last man standing’ on occasion.

Nothing made me more irritable than fellow legislators who could not make up their mind. Whether it was whom they were going to vote for to become Speaker or how they were going to vote on a bill or amendment, it was just exasperating to deal with a ‘weak kneed’ and often ‘two-faced’ Member. These Members would tell some folks they were for a bill and others they were against the bill.

For example, a Member who is campaigning to become Speaker of the House will print pledge cards for Members to sign as a pledge of their support. It was almost funny in the Speaker’s race after me several Members had signed pledge cards for both Speaker candidates!

Taking a stand can have consequences, too. I remember some lonely moments as a freshman member when I had a face-off with a senior Republican healthcare committee chairman who wanted to pass more needless regulations. The regulation that he wanted would have made it almost impossible for the widespread dissemination of lifesaving automated external defibrillators that are so prevalent today. On a committee with over twenty members, I was the lone man standing against the proposal. Somehow I eventually convinced the other members to go my way, but I paid the price for the next two years.

As we continue our study of 1 Kings we are introduce to Elijah the Prophet. Solomon died in 930 B.C and was succeeded by his son Rehoboam under whose poor leadership nation of Israel was divided to avoid a civil war. The northern ten tribes became the nation of Israel, and the southern two tribes encompassing Jerusalem were know as Judah. The chronicles of the succession of the kings of Israel and Judah provide many abject lessons about the character of God and human nature.

A continuing theme was the people’s ambiguity of allegiance to God as they were followed any exciting fad, including the worship of pagan deities worshiped by the non-Israelites and neighboring countries, the citizens of which they seemed to have freely intermarried. Of course, this ongoing flagrant violation of the first commandment would be their undoing.

This week we are introduced to King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, a Sidonian princess who worshiped Baal. It is worthy to note that although there were many evil Kings of Israel, Ahab was said to be worse than all who went before him. Jezebel was an ardent worshiper of Baal and used her considerable influence on Ahab to increase the number of places of worship of Baal. Jezebel also greatly multiplied the number of priests who served Baal to the point the where Baal worship threatened to completely eclipse the worship of Israel’s true God.

Fed up with the religious ambivalence of the Israelites, Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest between God and Baal on Mount Carmel.

“…and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17 When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”

18 “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the LORD’s commands and have followed the Baals. 19 Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

20 So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21 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.”

But the people said nothing.” I Kings 18:16-21

Elijah set up a showdown between the priests of Baal and himself to settle once and for all whose god was the true god. However, it seems that Elijah’s angst was directed more toward the vacillating Israelites than the prophets of Baal. Elijah knew God could take care of Baal, but what about the lukewarm hearts of the people? Elijah demanded that the people choose one god or the other, but they simply were unwilling or unable do it. How do you think Elijah felt? How do you think God feels when you and I try to have one foot firmly planted in the world and the other in the Kingdom of Heaven? John relates Jesus’ message to those who run hot and cold in Revelation 3:16, “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

Elijah was plenty brave enough to stand up to King Ahab, but how did he deal with the deafening silence of the people? Well, he turned it over to God, like we should – through prayer:

36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” 1 Kings 18:36-37

Elijah did what he could and turned the rest over to God, and God did what he does best - he did the awesome, improbable and miraculous thing! Then, the people fell down and acknowledged that Yahweh was God! Some of us have to feel the scar in Jesus’ side; others of us have stronger faith. Our goal should be moving our personal faith in the positive direction of putting everything in God’s hands.

Yet, after a great victory we can be vulnerable. Within a few hours Elijah went from a literal mountain top-experience to a hunted man on the run. How could this be?

1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. 1 Kings 19:1-5

After defeating the prophets of Baal, Queen Jezebel swore to kill Elijah. Hearing the threat, Elijah fled to hide out in the wilderness. Jezebel was no idle threat. She meant business. Elijah’s witness was neutralized by his fear. His fear then became self-pity, and then hopelessness.

God spoke to Elijah in the wilderness asking, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” This question is very similar to God’s question to Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:8-9. Sometimes it is difficult to remember that God is always here with us. When we think all is lost God has a plan.

“And the word of the LORD came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

11 The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

15 The LORD said to him, “Go back the way you came, …” I Kings 19:9-15

In an ironic turnaround God had to show His strength to Elijah the Prophet just as He did for the people of Israel at Mt. Carmel. Even a prophet can ‘hit a wall’ it seems. In the rest of the story, God helps Elijah shake off his fear and hopelessness by reengaging Elijah in a meaningful task, putting hope back in Elijah’s heart and purpose to his life.

This story shows that as humans our faith comes and goes, just like Elijah. Who then is always faithful? God is always strong, always present, always available to those who seek Him.

Remember, when you’re down and out God is there. Give Him a shout! He will put hope in your heart and give purpose to your life. Trust Him. Read More...

Tags: Elijah the Prophet, 1 Kings

"People are difficult to govern because they have too much knowledge." Lao-tzu, The Way of Lao-tzu, Chinese philosopher, founder of Taoism

Information leads to knowledge, and knowledge is power.

I was perplexed when I first heard the term "Information Age." Now I get it. The Internet has been the greatest weapon against ignorance in the history of mankind. (By the way, the inventor of the Internet was Tim Berners-Lee.)

When I was first elected in 1996, there weren't many ways for constituents to know what was going on in the Capitol. In fact, the only way was reading articles in the local papers written by the Tallahassee press corps. Having seen how the print media reporters and editorial boards 'filtered' the news during my campaign, I knew that direct communication with constituents was going to be essential.

I began to spend about half of my monthly House expense allotment on postage for the thousands of letters and updates mailed to the folks in my District. At one point the House administration cut off my allotment of House letterhead and envelopes!

When I became Speaker, I reassigned a number of House staffers to form a communications department to assist the House Members in communicating directly with their constituents through TV, radio, direct mail and email. Of course, the Tallahassee print media corps went ballistic when they realized I was doing an ‘end run’ around their ability to ‘filter’ what news got out of Tallahassee. In fact, that was the old print media’s main source of power – controlling what information came out of Tallahassee. Until this day, when I run into former legislators they thank me for the ability to speak unfiltered to their constituents.

Today, I am pleased to see that the information age has completely washed the foundation from under the heretofore powerful, and biased, print media. Suffice it to say that the advent of the information age confirms the age-old notion that power needs to control information.

The art of communicating ideas is no new thing. In 2 Corinthians 10, Paul continues to defend his ministry with the church he started in Corinth by clearly addressing the ancient Greeks’ ingrained acceptance of the art of rhetoric as an end unto itself. To the Greeks the medium was the measage. The Greeks at Corinth knew Paul’s oratorical skills were lacking, but ... Read More...

Tags: Rhetoric, Paul, 2 Corinthians, Tenacity