1 Kings 18.20-21
“So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word.”
It is important to put Elijah’s challenge to the people of Israel into historical context. The people of Israel were not fulfilling their purpose. Contrary to the Lord’s specific commands and warnings, Israel had drifted into idolatry. Through Elijah, God was calling his covenant people back into right relationship with him. The Israelites had forgotten what the Lord had done for them and forsaken their covenant with the Lord.
The book of Exodus gives the account of how, many generations prior to Elijah and Ahab, the Lord had led the Israelites out of Egypt and through the wilderness of Sinai en route to the promised land of Canaan. At Mt Sinai, the Lord met with Moses and gave him instructions on what to say to the Israelites.
“There Israel encamped before the mountain, while Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.” (Exodus 19.2-3).
The Israelites had been in bondage in Egypt for over 400 years when God, in dramatic and spectacular fashion, redeemed them from their slavery and established His covenant them.
“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” (Exodus 19.4-6).
This was the calling of the people of Israel. Their purpose. Their mission. To be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. To be agents of the kingdom. To be God’s treasured possession through whom he would bless all the nations of the world.
Did you get that? God invites the Israelites to be His “treasured possession.” Gathered around Mt Sinai, here is how the people of Israel responded when Moses delivered the invitation:
“So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. All the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” (Exodus 19.7-8).
With this context in mind, we can see that through Elijah, God was calling His covenant people back into right relationship with Him. The Israelites had forgotten what the Lord had done for them and forsaken the covenant.
More tomorrow …
Coram Deo
