Road Runner
July 16th, 2012
Forbes Hamilton (Drumchapel)
Elijah stood in front of Ahab the king, the people and the prophets of Baal challenging them to call on Baal to light their alter. He stood all morning watching them call on the idol, beat themselves and cry in desperation until it was clear that Baal was not going to turn up and light the sacrifice. Then Elijah got people to pour three lots of water on the alter of the Lord until the sacrifice was so wet that the trench round the alter was deep with water. Then Elijah called on the Lord. 1 Kings 18:38 records that “the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.” At that point the people realised that the Lord was the one true God and that Baal was nothing more than an idol “made of wood and covered with beaten metal” and the prophets of Baal were gathered and slain in the valley of Kishon.
Having demonstrated this faith and adherence to the will of God and forecasting the end of the drought in Israel, the power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to Jezreel. Can you imagine the speed his legs must have been going at to run ahead of a chariot? We are looking at the Olympic Games and I am certain we will not see a replication of this impressive display of speed by athletes in either the 100M or the marathon.
Yet having proven God’s power we hear in 1 Kings 19 of Elijah running away from Ahab because he was scared of what might happen to him after Jezebel threatened his life.
God’s power is displayed throughout the Bible by amazing feats: Samson displayed amazing strength when the Spirit came on him, Jesus was able to pass through a crowd when the Spirit came on him (Luke 4:30) and Peter was able to heal people and speak in tongues through the power of the Spirit and yet Elijah was scared.
As sinners saved by the grace of God we are Children of God and have the Spirit of God dwelling within us. We have access to all the power that Elijah had and we have the ability to wait on God just as Elijah had when he was on the mount of Horeb and heard, in a period of silence, “a still small voice.”
When do we wait on God? Do we put in the same level of spiritual practice that athletes put in to compete in the Games?
“Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? Is the Psalmists question. And his answer is “only those who have clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.”
Do you meet the criteria to be a roadrunner?
