And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain” So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel.  And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees.  And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times.  And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, “Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.” And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. (1 Kings 18:41-45) English Standard Version

Many of you have heard this story.  A tragic story of corruption and evil in a land meant to bring forth prosperity and blessing.  When wickedness reigns rest assured the rains of blessing will eventually cease. This is the case with Ahab and Jezebel.  They had tried to wipe out completely all the prophets of God in the land.  They had sought Elijah to take his life as well.  Could it be those who try to live righteously prick the conscience of those who choose not to.  Those living in a way that they wish to please God in this wicked world become the itch that the wicked want to scratch. 

You must never forget that the eyes of God are upon His people and His love for them is overwhelming.  But the Lord is no respecter of persons and seeks to embrace all even those who live against His laws. In Ahab’s case God withheld the rain for seven years and a great famine swept over the land. But the nation of Israel still did not seek God.  Poverty and starvation were widespread.  It is then that God challenges wickedness with a challenge of fire. Let the God who reigns over all be the God who sends  down fire upon the sacrifice on the altar you have built. .  Much like the story of Cain and Abel.  Cain’s sacrifice was not consumed and Abels was accepted and the fire came down and consumed it.  Cain’s altar was full of self-righteousness and works covered with the fruit of a cursed earth on it.  Abels was covered with the blood of a perfect lamb. Each one of us gets to choose what we bring to God, that however does not mean that God will accept it.  As Christians there is only one sacrifice that will do for our sin and that was the sacrifice of Christ.  The prophets of Baal that day learned that no matter how loud they shouted nor how much they bled that their man made god could not answer. The fire of acceptance would only come through obedience to God and the blood of a perfect sacrifice given obedience on an altar dedicated to Him. 

That day all the prophets of Baal were taken away and God was acknowledged.  It was then the rain came again and watered the earth and the land again yielded its fruit.  If your life is a little dry today you might want to check your altar and make sure that you are placing the right sacrifice on it.  For there is only one thing that will bring God’s acceptance and blessing.  That is the perfect lamb of God delivered with a humble heart and a broken and contrite spirit.