It’s easy to look at Mt. Carmel as a triumph for Elijah. He delivered the message, summoned the people, set the parameters for the contest, and called down fire from heaven. Not a bad day. And, from what comes next, it might be safe to say that Elijah looked at it as a personal triumph.
But first, let’s take a close look at what happened from the crowd’s perspective. There was certainly a strong message proclaimed – there is only one true God, only one who is all-powerful! This can’t be said without the obvious note that the worship of man-made gods is nothing short of ridiculous. This powerful demonstration brought out a response of worship from the people who wanted to be on the winning side. They eagerly joined in on the judgment doled out to the purveyors of false gods and headed down the mountain. It was a feel-good moment, even though for many, it wasn’t going to last until the time they reached their homes.
If we can presume on what was on God’s mind it might be something like this. “I care about my people, and I have revealed myself to them (again!). I have given them a choice of whom to follow. Actions produce consequences, silence will not remain silent, the truth will be revealed, I Am Who I Am.” Now the proverbial ball is in their court.
It’s hard to know exactly what Elijah was hoping for at this point. A revival? That would be nice. A cleansing? Well, that had already started. How about a king who would ‘man up’ and rule God’s people in God’s land the way God intended? Now we are talking! Yet all Elijah heard were crickets and all that he saw was, well, nothing. Whatever was in his mind it is fair to say that his discouragement hit an all-time low when the Queen put a bounty on his head. His words (somewhat paraphrased) say it all.
I have held up my end and served you, but the people have rejected you. They have broken their covenant with you, they have torn down your altars and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left and now my life is forfeit. These are the words of a prophet who has come to the end of his rope, whose prayer is now “I have had enough, just let me die”.
In the service of God, we tend to do nothing without our set of expectations in tow. This is what should happen, this is how the story is best written, this is what will change or be better. We are pretty sure we are right because it is a script that ends in favor of God, after all. It fits well and feels good. That is, until it doesn’t.
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