ELIJAH

According to the Old Testament, in response to the command of Jehovah, the prophet Elijah confronted King Ahab and his 450 prophets of the god, Baal over the sin of Israel in abandoning God and following Baal. The story culminated in a contest on Mt. Carmel. According to the biblical record, at least at that moment, it appeared that Elijah was alone against a large and politically well-connected group of priests.

The challenge was direct. Select and slay a bullock; put it on an altar of wood; do not light it on fire but pray to your god to ignite the bullock. Elijah did the same, except he poured buckets of water all around the altar and into a trough surrounding it to make sure that the sacrifice did not somehow spontaneously ignite.

The Bible recounts that the prophets of Baal called on their god, cut themselves, and leaped on their altar, all in a frenzy attempting to cause Baal to send fire to consume their offering. After nine hours, they gave up without success.

Elijah had bet the farm—one man against the king and his 450 prophets. He had obeyed God and now it was time. Elijah prayed and the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the bullock, the wood, the rocks, and all the water in the trough.

So what does Elijah have to do with America in 2021, or any other nation on earth? Just this. Ahab rules the earth today. He is ascendant in most, if not all of the nations of the world. Baal in any of his numberless forms is on the rise throughout the world. Has Jehovah gone to sleep as Elijah mocked Baal? Has He taken a vacation or is He simply not listening? Ratcatcher, though no theologian, is pretty sure the answer to each of these questions is a resounding “No.” So what is happening? Where are the Elijahs? Where are the men and women prepared to bet the farm, to risk life and limb to proclaim the Gospel, to lay it all on the line and leave the result to Him?

To be sure, there are voices here and there sounding the alarm, pleading with people to wake up, to turn back from the precipice. There are men and women willing to risk everything for the sake of the Gospel; willing to leave the comfort of their homes and offices and go into the streets and confront those who are dying of their sin. And there are those who are brave enough to challenge authority, government, established forces, to say, with Elijah, “Thus saith the Lord. . .” That takes particular courage since authority, government, and established forces have the power to harm a person, to take his possessions, to embarrass him publicly, deprive him of work.

Ratcatcher will continue listening every day for the cry, “Thus saith the Lord.” Perhaps one or more Elijahs will rise up, listen to the Word of God, and challenge established power directly.

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