ROOTED - Monday, March 16, 2026

1 Kings 18:21, 27-28, 39-40

21  And Elijah
came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping
between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him;
but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word.

27 And at noon
Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing,
or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and
must be awakened.” 28 And they cried aloud
and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the
blood gushed out upon them.

39 And when all
the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he
is God; the Lord, he is God.” 40 And Elijah
said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And
they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon
and slaughtered them there.

Reflection: Elijah: Rockstar Prophet

Written By: Pastor Jesse
Caro

As
a matter of personal privilege, I am going to write today on yesterday’s
reading (1 Kings 15-19). I could not skip the story of Elijah the prophet
defeating the prophets of Baal. The striking boldness of this prophet. He goes
to King Ahab, who has wanted him dead for causing a drought by the word of God.
When they meet Ahab says, “It is you, you troubler of Israel!” Then Elijah,
with the boldness of a true prophet, says, “you are the troubler, having
abandoned the commands of God!” Boom! Mic drop! Then he calls on an epic
showdown: God versus Baal! “You gather your priests and prophets of Baal and
Asherah, and let’s meet at Mount Carmel.” Gloves are off!

Elijah,
after having called out the King, now calls out the people: how long will you
ride the fence between God and Baal!? Let’s determine now who is the true God.
You know the awesome story! Each group has a Bull on an altar, soaked in water…
and the false prophets cry out to Baal, but no answer. They cut themselves, and
cry aloud… but still no answer. Elijah mocks them and says that surely Baal
must be relieving himself (mic drop again)! Then Elijah prays, in a prayer
reminiscent of David with Goliath, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac,
and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel” (verse
36). Fire falls spectacularly consuming Elijah’s Bull, and the false prophets
are summarily put to death. By a decisive knock-out, God wins… easily.

I love stories such as these. They remind us that God has worked in miraculous
ways. And while we may not see his hand work like this now (fire from heaven
and such), He is the same God, able to defeat our/his enemies and defend his
own holy name. This is the God we serve.

Prayer

Lord, may we be reminded today that you are the same God of the
Old Testament who is able to defeat our enemies and answer prayers. Be with us
as you were in the days of Elijah.