Dr Paul Allen

English: ELIYAH VISITS KING AHAB AND THE BA'AL PROPHETS 1 MELAKIM 21 KINGS (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) The false god of limitless choices, like those at a coffee shops, is enslaving Christians. Would you prefer to make an ironclad, no-turning-back choice, or one you could back out of if need be?  Do you ever find that you're afraid to commit? Do you reply to party invitations with a ''maybe'' rather than a ''yes'' or ''no''? Do you like to keep your smartphone switched on at all times, even in meetings, so that you are never fully present at any given moment? Will you focus on the person you're talking to after a church service, or will you look over her shoulder for a better conversation partner? If so, you may be worshiping the god of open options 1 Kings 18:21 describes a crucial moment of decision. It's the final showdown between the God of Israel and a false god called Baal. Elijah calls God 's people to c...

Map showing the Kingdoms of Israel (blue) and Judah (orange), ancient levant borders and ancient cities such as Urmomium and Jerash. The map shows the region in the 9th century BCE. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God , follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing ( 1 Kings 18:21). When God set up the kingdom in Israel , He made a condition for the kings: They were always to hearken to the words of the prophets , the emissaries of the true High King of Israel. In a more general way, the prophets were also the ambassadors of God to the people. God always gave the people the kind of king they deserved, so that if there was to be reformation in the land, the people, as well as the king, had to repent. When the kings of Israel and Judah were unfaithful, it was a reflection on the moral condition of the people. The kingdom of northern Israel was separated fr...

English: Jezabel and Ahab Meeting Elijah in Naboth's Vineyard Giclee. Print by Sir Frank Dicksee. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Elijah comes upon the stage of Israel ’s history like a crash of thunder. He disappears from it in a whirlwind. From beginning to end, whenever he appears, the lightning flashes, the thunder crashes, the fire flames, and there is a sound of a mighty wind. So wrote one commentator of this man in whom judgment and mercy were mingled, and whose words were capable of calling down fire from heaven. Elijah is thrust upon the stage of world history to announce before the king that for the next three years there would be neither dew nor rain in an already drought -stricken land. Only repentance from the epidemic spread of Baal worship would cause the heavens to part. Clearly the message of Elijah was that of judgment upon the land and the people for Israel’s unfaithfulness. As horrible as the drought was, it was worse than is usually understood. The absenc...