1 Kings 18:20-24: a reflection

20So Ahab sent to all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together to Mount Carmel. 21Elijah came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you waver between the two sides? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” The people didn’t say a word. 22Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left as a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred fifty men. 23Let them therefore give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under; and I will dress the other bull, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under it. 24You call on the name of your god, and I will call on the LORD’s name. The God who answers by fire, let him be God.” All the people answered, “What you say is good.”

On Mount Carmel, before the great contest with the prophets of Baal, Elijah puts a searching question to the wavering people: How long will you go limping between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him. The people had been trying to serve both, wavering between the LORD and Baal, committed wholly to neither. Elijah calls them to decide: stop wavering; choose whom you will follow, and follow him wholly.

Notice Elijah's challenge: stop wavering between two opinions; decide. The people had been trying to keep a foot in both camps, serving the LORD and Baal, committed fully to neither. Elijah exposes the folly of this: you cannot serve both; decide whom you will follow, and follow wholly. The wavering, divided allegiance had to end in a decision; they were called to choose the LORD or Baal, and follow the one they chose with a whole heart, not limping between the two.

That challenge to decide, to stop wavering between God and other loyalties, is one we can need. We can find ourselves, like the people, wavering between God and other allegiances, trying to serve both, committed fully to neither, keeping a foot in both camps. But God calls us to decide: if the LORD is God, follow him wholly, with an undivided heart, rather than wavering between him and other loyalties. Examine whether you are limping between two opinions, wavering between God and other allegiances, committed fully to neither. Do not try to serve both God and the rival loyalties of your heart; decide for God, and follow him wholly, with an undivided heart. Elijah called the people to stop wavering and decide; hear the same call, and choose the LORD, following him with a whole heart, rather than limping between two opinions, trying to serve both God and what would rival him. Decide for God, and follow him wholly, rather than wavering in a divided allegiance that serves neither well.

Lord, on Mount Carmel, before the contest with the prophets of Baal, Elijah put a searching question to the wavering people: how long will you go limping between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him. They had been trying to serve both, committed wholly to neither; and Elijah called them to decide. Show me his challenge: stop wavering between two opinions; decide. You cannot serve both; decide whom you will follow, and follow wholly. The wavering, divided allegiance had to end in a decision. That challenge is one I can need. I can find myself, like the people, wavering between you and other allegiances, trying to serve both, committed fully to neither, keeping a foot in both camps. But you call me to decide: if the LORD is God, follow him wholly, with an undivided heart. Help me examine whether I am limping between two opinions, wavering between you and other allegiances, committed fully to neither. Keep me from trying to serve both you and the rival loyalties of my heart; help me decide for you, and follow you wholly, with an undivided heart. Elijah called the people to stop wavering and decide; help me hear the same call, and choose you, Lord, following you with a whole heart, rather than limping between two opinions. Help me decide for you and follow you wholly.