1538) When I approach most things I read, my mind categorizes the information. Some words go into the, “Ah, I’m just in this for the ride,” file and I sit back and enjoy what I read. With other things, I’ll move them into the file of “I need to ponder this a little more”. And, sometimes when I read things, they move into the file of, “I need to write about this” and my mind will start making connections between what I read and other things I have stored in this mental file. This last file is where I placed 1 Kings 18:21.
This verse is part of the famous showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal, and Ahab and Jezebel. Elijah turns to God’s people and says (in my words), “How long are you going to dilly-dally with the decision to follow God or follow Baal? Make a choice! Now!”
When I look at the mental file I have placed this verse, I see another scene. I see a man who has been married for many years and before him is his wife and his lover. This man is being asked, “How long are you going to dilly-dally? Which one do you want?”
OK. So maybe you can see the connection I made in my brain, but I didn’t state the entirety of verse 21. Let’s look at it again. The people of Israel (and the husband in my mind) are being asked to choose and the end of the verse says the people say nothing; they do not choose.
How would you feel if you were the wife of the “mental” man I mentioned, when asked to choose between you and his outside the marriage lover? I can’t speak for you, but I would be crushed. God must have been deeply hurt when his people did not speak up and sided against him because ultimately, not to choose is to choose.
If you’ve ever been “crushed” by someone, you know it’s easy to crawl into a ball and simply exist. God does not choose to do this. Instead, he allows Elijah to continue his demonstration as to who is the true and powerful God, resulting in the people making their choice to follow him.
God is a gracious and loving God and he understands our limitations, but there are choices that need to be made. When those times come, dare to make the choice. This involves faith.
