Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 1 Corinthians 13:6.

“What is truth?” retorted Pilate. John 18:38.

That question has been important in every age of mankind. In 1 Kings 18 Elijah is about to demonstrate exactly what truth is. He is told by God, “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.” v. 1. God is already working.

Ahab has sent Obadiah, his palace administrator, to help him find Elijah because the famine is severe with no rain for over 3 years. When Obadiah meet’s Elijah coming to find Ahab, he is afraid. If he goes back to Ahab and tells him Elijah is here looking for him and then the Spirit of the Lord carries Elijah away, Ahab will kill Obadiah. Obadiah tell’s Elijah that he has hidden 100 of the Lord’s prophets in 2 caves so Jezebel, Ahab’s wife, will not kill them. Can you imagine having to hide in a cave because you speak God’s truth? Obadiah is understandably distraught; he works for Ahab while serving the Lord. Elijah reassures Obadiah. Elijah said, “As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today.” v. 15.

When Ahab sees Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?” v. 16. Isn’t that the way it is? Ahab called Elijah the troubler. Elijah reorients Ahab to the truth. “You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals.” v. 18.

He tells Ahab to summon all Israel to Mt. Carmel which is near the Mediterranean Sea. He also tells him to have the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah…who eat at Jezebel’s table…to come to Mt. Carmel to offer a sacrifice. Elijah will also offer a sacrifice. When everyone is assembled, Elijah asks an important question. “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” v. 21. Sadly, the people say nothing.

So it begins. What if we were alive then and watching this?

The prophets of Baal prepare their bull offering and call on the name of Baal all morning. They danced, they shouted, they cut themselves. Elijah watching, offers suggestions…shout louder…maybe he’s sleeping or maybe traveling? It continues all afternoon and their blood flows from slashing their own bodies to move Baal to respond. Were the people bored by now?

Finally something changes at the evening. Elijah gets up, repairs the altar of God with the 12 stones for the 12 tribes of Israel, digs a trench around the altar, places the wood on top and arranges the bull cut up and for good measure, has water poured over everything until it even fills the trenches. Then a simple prayer. “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.” Was there a hush? Did people stand to see better?

Then fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. v. 36-38.

The rains came later that day.

I couldn’t help but give thanks to God this morning for Elijah and his faithfulness to God. What is truth? God has shown us throughout the account of His dealing with a people He chose to be a light for others. No artificial intelligence, no fake news. Only Truth.

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29.

What is truth? God. Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:30-31.

So the people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again. The Truth is here always. Take His hand. He’s here.