Chapter Ten -Elijah Stood Up for Pure Worship

The Heights of Mount Carmel commanded a sweeping view of the torrent valley  of Kishon below to the Great Sea (Mediterranean Sea) nearby and to the mountains of Lebanon on the far nothern horizon.  But as the sun rolse on this climatic day. the vista was grim.  A deathly pall  hung over the once fertile land tha that Jehovah had given the children of Abraham. It was now a land baked hard by the merciless sun, ruined by the folly of Jehovah's own people!   As those people thronged, Elijah approached them and spoke: "How long will you be limping upon two different opinions? If Jehovah is the true God, go following him; but if Baal is, go following him." - 1 KINGS 18:21.

What did Elijah mean by the expression "limping upon two different opinions"? Well, those people did not realize that they had to choose between the worship of Jehovah and the worship of Baal.  They thought  that they could have  it both ways-that they could appease Baal by their revolting rituals and still ask favors of Jehovah God. Perhaps they reasoned that Baal would bless their crops and herds, while "Jehovah of armies"  would protect them in battle. (1 Samuel 17:45)    They had forgotten a basic truth-one that still eludes many today. Jehovah does not share worship with anyone. He demands and is worthy of exclusive devotion.  Any worship of him that is mixed with some other form of worship is unacceptable to him, even offensive!  - Read EXODUS 20:5.

So those Israelites were "limping" along like a man trying to follow two pathways at once.  Many people today make a similar mistake, allowing other "baals" to creep into their life and push aside the worship of God. Heeding Elijah's clarion call to stop limping can help us to reexamine our own priorities and worship. 

Next time: Chapter Ten-Elijah Stood Up for Pure Worship - A Climatic Test 

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