Elijah: Standing Alone

It takes courage to stand against the world's errors and to defend the truth. It requires even more courage to do that alone. Many have buckled beneath the pressures of compromise. The message of truth was "too controversial," or perhaps the requirement to defend alone was "too daunting."

The Bible would tell us, "The righteous are bold as a lion" (Prov 28:1). When we direct our attention to the conflict on Mount Carmel, we find Elijah donning the mane of a lion, standing majestically, teeth on display, and with a cry that would cause us to tremble. God's prophet would stand in opposition to the 450 prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:22). In boldness, Elijah would challenge the nation of Israel concerning who God is - Jehovah or Baal.

As the story unfolds, we find Elijah fearlessly challenging the people's hearts, demonstrating the emptiness of Baal, and presenting Jehovah as the Almighty God. The prophets of Baal would cry out to their god but to no avail. Jeremiah would petition the God of Heaven, and the Almighty would answer, sending a consuming fire (1 Kings 18:38) and a drought-ending rain (1 Kings 18:45). Through Elijah's boldness, the people of Israel are taught once more who God is: "And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, "The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God." (1 Kings 18:39).

Courage is an integral part of discipleship. If anything is to be learned from Elijah and the conflict of Carmel, it is that Jehovah is God. To stand for truth is to stand for the Founder and Creator of our world, the one who deserves obedience. Standing for God, at times, requires the boldness to stand alone. We may find ourselves in this position - we are the sole Christian in our workplace, school, or perhaps even our family. Never is there a time for compromise, regardless of how tempting it may be. When God's people stand, God answers.

One additional note: I am thankful to God for the New Testament, not just because of Christ and the church, but also how it elaborates on situations like these. Elijah seemingly stood alone. Paul had a similar occasion in his life, standing alone in his defense. Yet, Paul provides this valuable insight: "But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me…" (2 Tim 4:17). We are never truly alone.