God at Mount Carmel, Part 2

Part 2 of a sermon I wrote for preaching class at Southern Seminary:

Much of what we know about God's character is revealed at Mount Carmel. God's attributes are those elements which describe his nature. Elijah was the most dominant prophetic figure of his time, the early Ninth Century B.C. The wicked king of Israel, Ahab, and his infamous wife, Jezebel, provoked the wrath of the Lord with their aggressive idolatry worship. Elijah responded to this by calling down a famine on the land, and then he fled to the brook known as Cherith, where God miraculously took care of him by having ravens deliver him food. Likewise, Elijah subsequently performed miracles for a widow in a city called Zarephath by supplying food and raising up her dead son.

Three years of drought passed while Elijah was in hiding, and the famine became severe. God commanded Elijah to show himself to Ahab, and to expect rain. Elijah sent notice to Ahab of his return through a servant of Ahab's named Obadiah, who was a righteous man. It was probably a great surprise to Ahab to hear that Elijah, whom he had looked for so long without finding, was now seeking him. Would Elijah bring news of relief from God, or some other more dreadful judgement on the land?

King Ahab and the nation of Israel, God's chosen people, were worshipping the god know as Baal, which brings us to our text. When Elijah finally met with Ahab, because of the drought and famine he was referred to as "troubler of Israel." Elijah, of course, was quick to boldly point out that it was not his fault. He may have called the famine down, but he was merely doing God's work as a response to Israel's unfaithfulness under the leadership of the king. Those who come under God's judgement are the real troublemakers, not the one who gives the warning. It is not unusual for the best among men to be known as troublemakers. Even Christ and His apostles were misrepresented in such a way. God's people had a chance to repent and prevent the judgement they endured.

Elijah told Ahab to bring all the prophets of Baal who were scattered around the countryside together on Mount Carmel, where at one time there had been an altar built to worship God. Ahab issued orders for the meeting to occur, presumably because he feared Elijah and dared not oppose him, or because he thought if he did what Elijah told him to do, Elijah would ask God to end the drought. Elijah also required that all the people of Israel be present to witness the proceedings.

Ahab and the people of Israel expected Elijah to bless the land and pray for rain, but Elijah had other work to do first. In order for the judgement to be removed, the people had to repent and change their ways, and then they could hope for the removal of judgement. Those who have removed themselves from the range of God's grace need not expect to be under the umbrella of His protection until they come back to Him. If you have made a commitment to God to live your life with Him as Lord, you better honor that commitment. God expects you to keep the promises you make to Him and will accept nothing less.

Elijah knew which end to start from. You cannot expect the blessings of God if you still need to repent and ask His forgiveness. God is just, God is in control, God is sovereign, and God is worthy of worship. Elijah rebuked the people for mixing their worship of God together with their worship of Baal. They would sometimes worship One and then the other. This Elijah called in verse 21 "halting between two opinions," or thoughts. Then he challenged them, "If the Lord is God, follow Him." And the people said nothing.

They worshipped God to please the prophets, and they worshipped Baal to please Jezebel, and to stay in good standing in her court. There is only one infinite, supreme, OMNIPOTENT, all-sufficient God.

God possesses all power. He can do anything in keeping with His nature and purpose. The only limits to His power are self-imposed. He cannot lie or act contrary to His own laws, character and purposes. These limitations are evidences of God's power, not of His weakness.