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. — 1 Kings 18:21
There is a limit to what theology can do. Nobody in his right mind is going to give away his life for a creed. Nobody is going to die for a doctrinal statement.
The people said nothing. On one hand they have King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. They have made it politically incorrect to follow the LORD. No, they’ve made it downright dangerous to follow the LORD. Follow Him and you might die. On the other hand, they have Elijah who seems be running this show, who is following the LORD, and who is claiming that Baal is phony baloney.
Not enough data. Any choice was risky. Better play it cool. — This was how they were thinking.
God knew this. He knew that reclaiming His place in their lives would require them to experience God in a fresh new way. And He was ready.
This is one of the reasons, by the way, that God allows Christians to suffer for their faith. Most people can’t relate to a picture of a Jesus on a cross, an event removed by 2,000 years. But they do understand a neighbor, a coworker, a family member who suffers for Christ and by so doing extends to them the depth of God’s love for them.
God invites us to taste and see that He is good. He wants to meet us in the realm of our experience. As we shall see in a few verses, when we experience the real God, true theology will follow.
Be encouraged!
Dwight
Dwight Clough is the author of four Christian books and is an active member of Lake City Church in Madison. This devotional is also available via email and you may review the archives back to 2002. To contact Dwight or Kim, use their contact form. You may also support their ministry.