"The People Were Completely Silent"

Scripture Passage

1 Kings 17:8-20:22

Scripture Focus

“…the people were completely silent.” (1 Kings 18:21 NLT)

Observation

Where to start?  There's so much to note!  When we get to Elijah (as someone has said), “It’s like drinking from a fire hose!”

Don’t you love it when Elijah says to the widow woman, “…make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son” (1 Kings 17:13 NLT). What an opportunity for that woman to express whole-hearted trust in God! Will I see that opportunity when it comes my way today, Lord?

And then Elijah prepares to present himself to Ahab and challenge the prophets of Baal. I love the wonderful, honest, almost comical image of Obadiah’s appeals to Elijah—“And now you say, ‘Go and tell your master, “Elijah is here.”’ But as soon as I leave you, the Spirit of the LORD will carry you away to who knows where” (1 Kings 18:11-12 NLT).

Who doesn’t love the great confrontation between Elijah—and Elijah’s God, really—and the prophets of the false god Baal? “At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed… (1 Kings 18:36 NLT)” God answers—definitively!

I love Elijah’s faith—when, to him, a cloud “the size of a man’s hand” (1 Kings 18:44 NLT) signals a thunderstorm that would make a Kansan proud. I understand Elijah’s deflated emotions—even after a great spiritual victory (1 Kings 19:10).

But the one (quick, I promise) thing that’s caught my attention today…something I’d never noticed before…was the people’s response when Elijah first issued the challenge to choose up sides—Jehovah or Baal—on Mount Carmel.

“…the people were completely silent” (1 Kings 18:21 NLT).

Bottom line, that’s not where I want to be when the challenge rings out. *Before* the miracle, I want to be where the people were *after* the miracle—

“The LORD—he is God! Yes, the LORD is God!” (1 Kings 18:39 NLT)

So help me today, Lord, to never be slow or silent concerning who You are or faithless regarding Your readiness to act. If I’m not the one issuing the challenge, I at least want to be the one declaring Your praise!