What Good Can Come From Giving Jehovah...EVERY Disadvantage?

[Timl1980]

What an intriguing thought...how odd of a concept.

 

Aren't we supposed to do our best in Jehovah's service?  Aren't we supposed to work on ourselves so Jehovah's holy spirit can flow through us...and we become vessels useful to Him? Aren't we supposed to do everything in our power to not give Satan even an inch of space in our hearts?

 

Yes...to all of those questions.

 

But...there was at least one occasion in the Bible where one of Jehovah's servants gave every single advantage to enemies of Jehovah...then turned around and gave every possible disadvantage to Almighty God. Intrigued?

 

1 Kings 17:25-29: "E·liʹjah now said to the prophets of Baʹal: “Choose one young bull and prepare it first, because you are the majority. Then call on the name of your god, but you must not put fire to it.”26 So they took the young bull that was given to them, prepared it, and kept calling on the name of Baʹal from morning until noon, saying: “O Baʹal, answer us!” But there was no voice and no one answering. They kept limping around the altar that they had made.27 About noon E·liʹjah began to mock them and say: “Call out at the top of your voice! After all, he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought or he has gone to relieve himself. Or maybe he is asleep and someone needs to wake him up!”28 They were calling out at the top of their voice and cutting themselves with daggers and lances, according to their custom, until their blood gushed out all over them.29 Noon was past and they continued in a frenzy until the time the evening grain offering is presented, but there was no voice and no one answering; no one was paying attention."

 

Every single advantage was given to these wicked men...from having the chance to go first...to even having the advantage of picking the best of the two young bulls. He gave them plenty of time, allowed them to work themselves into a frenzy...and he even gave them added motivation by poking fun of their ridiculous antics.

 

And then, when no answer was forthcoming...this faithful man proceeded to turn around and give Jehovah every single disadvantage he could think of:

 

1 Kings 17:30-38 "At length E·liʹjah said to all the people: “Approach me.” So all the people approached him. Then he repaired the altar of Jehovah that had been torn down.31 E·liʹjah then took 12 stones, corresponding to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom Jehovah’s word had come, saying: “Israel will be your name.”32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of Jehovah. Then he made a trench all around the altar, an area large enough to sow with two seah measures of seed.33 After that he put the pieces of wood in order, cut the young bull into pieces, and placed it on the wood. He now said: “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the pieces of wood.”34 Then he said: “Do it again.” So they did it again. Once more he said: “Do it a third time.” So they did it a third time.35 And the water ran all around the altar, and he also filled the trench with water.36 About the time when the evening grain offering is presented, E·liʹjah the prophet stepped forward and said: “O Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, today let it be known that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and that it is by your word that I have done all these things.37 Answer me, O Jehovah! Answer me so that this people may know that you, Jehovah, are the true God and that you are turning their hearts back to you.”38 At that the fire of Jehovah fell from above and consumed the burnt offering, the pieces of wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water from the trench.

 

First, look at the respect he showed Jehovah. Refusing to use the alter of Baal, he instead personally repaired the alter of Jehovah, prepared the sacrifice...and waited until the proper time of the day to offer his sacrifice. 

 

What disadvantages did he give to Jehovah?

 

Most obviously...he had the sacrifice and the entire trench around it doused with water to the point where the entire trench was filled to the brim. Why was this significant? In verse 25...Elijah had told the priests to call upon the name of their God...but not to set fire to it. Interestingly, there was a specific reason for this. Some Bible scholars say that priests of these false gods would build an alter with a secret cavity underneath it, thus making it appear as if the fire was supernatural...while in truth it was actually set off by a trick. 

 

But is that it? Is that the only disadvantage? 

 

Not even close. Verse 30 shows that he called ALL the people to him...he wanted everyone to draw near...to witness was about to happen. Imagine the faith he had in Jehovah!!

 

And yet, even this wasn't the biggest disadvantage he gave Jehovah...that came in verses 23 and 24: "Let them give us two young bulls, and let them choose one young bull and cut it into pieces and put it on the wood, but they should not put fire to it. I will prepare the other young bull, and I will place it on the wood, but I will not put fire to it.24 Then you must call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of Jehovah. The God who answers by fire will show that he is the true God.” To this all the people answered: “What you say is good.”

 

He proclaimed...in advance...what the true God would do...and it came to be exactly as he said.

 

Friends, we have already given Jehovah every single disadvantage possible...we are imperfect...we are immersed in the wicked, death-tinged air of this system of things...we are hunted by Satan and his demons at every turn...and we have declared...over and over and over again...in advance...EXACTLY what Jehovah will do.

 

Jehovah will act...and his name WILL be vindicated.

 

So please, never allow all the disadvantages we deal with to drag you down. Understand what Elijah realized...it doesn't matter who or what is against us...Jehovah has already determined what's about to happen...and nothing anyone says or does can stop Him. Just continue to stand strong, give a witness to anyone who will listen...and keep your heads up...because the fiery stone is on its way...and will strike...any day now. 

 

 

 

{Image removed - Here's why. - Bob}