1 Kings 18:21

"And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a word" 1 Kings 18:21

Silence sure does say a lot. "The people did not answer him a word." Why? Remember, this is just before the God of Elijah shows the impotence of the god of Baal's prophets. They have not yet shouted themselves dear. They have not yet mutilated their bodies to get Baal's attention. They have not yet slaughtered animals beseeching Baal to come to their aid and light the fire under their offering.

Nor has Elijah yet called for water to be poured upon the altar he built. Nor has he yet laid the single offering upon that altar. Nor has he yet humbly and quietly asked his God to light the fire under the altar. Nor has his God yet consumed not only the sacrifice, but the water upon the altar and the water around it.

No, the people had not yet seen any of this. And they were silent. I rather suspect that they were waiting to see whose god would win. Would it be the god Baal whom they has worshiped for so many years. He was reported to be a powerful god. But then again, no one had really seen him do anything really great, except strike fear in the hearts of unbelievers.

But then again, it had been years since any of them had heard much from the God of Elijah. Oh, sure, they had heard his rantings. And they had heard tell of the works done by this prophet in the name of Jehovah. But they had not seen any of them. Was this God still powerful enough to part the Red Sea? Was He still strong enough to bring down the walls of a city such as Jericho? Did He really care for His people? It had been so long.

So they waited. And, yes, they wavered for a while longer between two opinions. They would be swayed by the outcome of the test. Which god would be strong enough to out maneuver the other? Which god would come and light the fire in Israel again? Both gods had some history behind them, but both had not shown that power recently. Yes, they would wait a while longer. It shouldn't take long. Any time now and fire would fall.

There hadn't been this much excitement in Samaria for years. The crowds gathered. At the first prayer of the prophets of Baal, they quieted. Silently they watched. Nothing happened. Wait! What was that Elijah said? "Speak louder, perhaps Baal is asleep." A laugh rippled through the gathered audience. "Ah, a bit of a comedian we have in this Elijah." Oh! He spoke again. "Perhaps if you shed a bit of your own blood. Maybe that would get his attention." The multitude gasped at the ferocity of the slashing of the four hundred prophets. Enough blood flowed upon the ground that the prophets were slipping and sliding in the red mud. Nothing. Finally Elijah convinced them to give up. Could he, one man, one solitary man, do any better? He quietly rebuilt the altar, laid fresh wood upon it, slaughtered the sacrificial animal. "What? He called for what? Water? Why? How much? That much? What for? He's wetting the wood with it? He's filling a moat around the altar with it? Has he gone mad?" So the murmuring crowd watched. A simple prayer, a petition to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is uttered. The audience falls back as a flash of lightning and the crack of thunder strikes in front of them. "Fire! Fire from heaven! Look, it has already consumed the flesh! And now it is consuming the wood! Wow! Look at it lap up the water!"

It's gone now, everything, all of it, the sacrifice, the wood, the water, the false prophets - all of it. Now we will worship the one true God. Now we will make up our minds. Now we know and we will worship the Lord our God, because He is the winner, and we all like to be on the side of a winner.

How long will you waver between two opinions? Are you waiting for fire from heaven to convince you? Don't be so foolish. Come on over. Hallelujah, Amen and Amen.