“Idols … Those who make them are like them …” (Ps. 115:4, 8, NKJV)
At some point everyone’s faith reaches a period of crunch time, when, like James (2:18), one has to say: “Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” This is the place Elijah finds himself.
Elijah’s behaviour speaks of considered spiritual protocol. In 1 Kings 18:25 he spells out, with great authority, the conditions of the spiritual battle: “Now Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, ‘Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.’”
This is a beautiful example of how Elijah dealt with his opponents, with absolute authority and respect, spelling out the parameters, making sure they understood exactly what had to happen. The Baal prophets were probably quite eager to accept fire as a sign, as these forms of manifestation were clearly linked to both the sun and Mars, important aspects within their cult. Both were also closely associated with fire. (Elijah could just as well have suggested that the true God will answer with water, for instance, as at that point there had been no rain for three years.) But Elijah knew that Yahweh transmuted in fire – “our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:29). Take note – not LIKE a fire, in his Being He is a consuming fire.
In the following verse of the unfolding saga, verse 26, we read: “So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, ‘O Baal, hear us!’ But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made.”
Scripture is filled with descriptions of what idols actually are. Read, for instance, Ps. 115:4-7, and see how the Psalmist points out that they seem as if they are alive, when in fact they are dead. Speaking about idols, verse 8 states, “Those who make them are like them; so is everyone who trusts in them.” In Hab. 2:18-19, the prophet notes the idol has “no breath at all”, but nevertheless becomes “a teacher of lies”. How can this be?
Paul explains the ‘working’ of the idols very succinctly in 1 Cor. 10:19-20: “What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.” All idols are ventriloquists of demons!
Elijah thus does not stand against the idols, as “we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.” (1 Cor. 8:4-6). No, Elijah stands against the demonic powers. But he knows what he is up against.
- Selah: Internalise your understanding of idols.
- Read: 34; Matt. 12; Ps. 64.
- Memorise: 12:6.