The Jesse Tree - December 14

Today's text - 1 Kings 18:17-39

The MMA event of the Bible.

In this corner weighing 125 pounds dripping wet - Elijah - the "Troubler of Israel."

And in this corner - the tag team Prophets of Baal - 450 of King Ahab's finest.

But wait - in the same corner are the 400 Prophets of  Asherah!

Seems like pretty stacked odds.

But this isn't a test of physical prowess.

This is a test to see whose god stacks up - Yahweh or Baal?

Now the odds are flipped!

The test?

Two bulls to be sacrificed to respective gods.

Placed on wood pile BUT no matches - no one gets to set fire to the wood.

The true God will do that.

Prophets of Baal up first.  Remember no ignition devices allowed.

Prayer and petition from morning to noon.

Nothing.

Dancing and shouting and mutilation with swords and spears from noon until evening.

Crickets chirping.

The spectators got bored with the show.

Elijah's turn.

He rebuilds the alter of Yahweh - 12 stones - wood - a bull and  . . . a trench?

To even the odds, Elijah asked for 12 LARGE jars of water in total to drench the sacrifice.  The trench formed a moat around the altar.

Elijah offered a simple prayer.  No dancing. No shouting. No mutilation.

“Lord, the God of Abraham,Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”

And fire (of the Lord) rained down from Heaven consumed the bull, the wood, the stones, the soil, the water.

And all the spectators of Israel fell to the ground and ate dirt in the face of God's power.

Baal is down for the count.  The Prophets of Baal are bloodied and bruised (or worse).

Do you know the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?  When's the last time you ate carpet lint in his presence?

Have you been chasing after your own baals? Do you need a good "heart turning"?

The Advent Conspiracy talks about worshiping fully. To not superficially, but fully engage with God in this Advent season.  Every purchase.  Every home-made present.  Every act done in devotion to God.  Every decision made in wisdom of God's will.

In this season of Christmas, even Christ followers can get nudged off the path to worship the god of consumerism.

Stay true.  Worship Fully. Spend Less. Give More. Love All.

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