This week we are having a soft launch to begin the process of bringing back Vacation Bible School. In partnership with our summer camp, we are helping kids dive into a friendship with God. Today, they are learning that God is a friend who is real, and we are doing this through the life of Elijah.

 

A harsh drought plagued Israel for years due to the wicked deeds of idol-worshipping King Ahab. This king would not heed the warnings brought to him by Elijah; finally, Elijah challenged King Ahab and his prophets to a duel. One man against 450 prophets. Both sides built an altar and whichever god responded would be the one worthy of worship. The prophets of Baal built their altar, did their dances, slashed their bodies, and cried out for hours. Silence.

 

Elijah built the altar, had servants dig a trench around it, then soaked it with 12 huge containers of water. The sacrifice was wet…the firewood was wet…the stones were wet…the trench was filled to the brim with water. He didn’t dance. He didn’t scream. He didn’t slash his body. He prayed: “O Lord, answer me…so that these people will know that YOU, O Lord, are God.” INSTANTLY fire came down from heaven and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the soil of the trench.

 

From there, faith turned to fear as Elijah was hunted by Queen Jezebel. The prophet hid in the wilderness and fell into despair, hunger and depression. God still appeared! This time it was in a gentle whisper. The one true God answered again.

 

Like Elijah, we swim in a culture increasingly resistant to any one source of truth. The integrity of the Bible is doubted, church is often replaced with other sources of entertainment, and many of us grab onto “own your truth,” instead of “own THE truth.” Elijah stood up for truth, fought for truth, went against the cultural norms, and God rewarded that faith by showing up! He showed up to prove himself and he showed up to sustain the prophet. Believing in one true God grounds us, providing stability and firm footing through life’s ups and downs. Who do you choose today? I choose the God who is a friend that is real! Thanks God!

 

Kimberly Jewell