The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-04
In the Religious World

ticular the four hundred and fifty
priests of Baal, and the four hundred
i prophets of the grove, which eat at
J JezebePS table''-even the prophet
could not resist this sarcastic fling at
the woman who was his arch enemy
Puzzled, but desperately ready to do
! what this drought-bringer demanded,
Ahab conVoked the assembly at the
foot of the mountain.
The Challenge and the Test.
If artists Travelled more we should
have great picture of the scene that
ensued. There are few episodes in
all history to match it. On bold
headland stood the uncouth but sub
| lime figure of Elijah, his thick, black,
unshOrn hair streaming in the breeze
| Surrounding him, sullen, resentful
and mystified, are the priests of Baal
and to one side sits the king, ami
| mostly in every glance. Below, IN
their flowing, many colored gar
ments are the people, anxiety and ex-
pectation written on every face. All
eyes are conferred on the swart, skin
clad figure from the desert
Listen: he is about to speak As
he raises his arm, faces bend forward
eagerly. Then, in swelling voice,
heard by the last man in the throng,
there rises the eternal challenge, as
applicable today as it was nearly three
millenniums ago-'How long halt We
between two opinions? If the Lord
be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then
follow him.
That was fair. The throng received
the challenge in silence, but it was
impressed. So Elijah proposed a test.
He stood alone: the priests of Baal
were four hundred and fifty. Let
two rival affairs be built, each with
bullock upon it. Each party should QSld
answereth by fire, let him be Cod
A thrill, a gasp of establishment,
and then the shout, 1T is well spok-
en- The crowds sense of fairness
was answering. Such a test as this
was outside of all tradition and fmag-
ination. Instinctively, every one pres
ent knew that he had come to a great
hour Here was tale to tell to chill
dren's children.
The Preacher Who Gave Odds
Red blood leaps at the spectacle of
Elijah on Mt. Carmel. He was all
man. No small sanctimoniousness
deferred him from jeering at the flu
tile antics of the idolaters, as they
leaped and cried and caCorted and
gashed themselves, entreating that
their sun god would vindicate him
self at high noon. The more frantic
their antics, the more biting the
mockery by Elijah: the hunted dwell
er in caves was Squaring accounts with
these Misunderstanding palace priests.
There is the edge of a razor, the swish
of a scourge, the sting of a hornet in
ElijahS taunt, Cry aloud; for he is a
suing, or he is in a journey, or perad-
venture he sleepeth, and must be
awakened
Cold, unresponsive stood the altar
of Baal, with it's priests sobbfng and
wailing about it. The peoples pa
thence had been worn thin: the idol
aters had been given more than a fair
chance. Now comes Elijah's turn.
But what is this? He has not only
repaired an overturned and moss
grown altar of Jehovah, but he has
dug a deep trench about it. Down to
the spring he has sent servants, in
three relays, for twelve water Jars of
water, with which he has drenched
altar and wood and bullock, until the
trenches are filled. People are gazing
with popping eyes and bated breath. !
prayer, freighted with memories of |
the Chosen Peoples greet past. The |
man who made that master prayer in /
public had learned the art in the
school of private intercession. Great |
praying is not mastered in day. |
This petition pleaded covenant mer-
cies: it sought the honor and vindi-
cation of Jehovah, it offered the pc
titioner as Gods humble servant; and |
it pleaded for teh people that they
might again know God. Heavens of /
brass could not withstand such a pray
er, much less a God who is more ready
to give than His children are to re-
ceive.
frighted, the multitude fall on their /
faces as one man. For with crash |
and a craclle the bolt of heaven has
descended, and the fire has consumed
and altar alike, and licked
up the last drop of water in the
trench. The duel is over. Jehovah
has again indicated Himself. Sound
ing above the thunders of heaven is
the shout of the people, Jehovah, He
is God! Jehovah, He is God!''
In natural revulsioi, they seize I
the false prophets, visit Justice
upon them at the brook Kis-
hon; while Elijah went further
into the mountain top to pray for
rain. So full of faith was his prayer /
that he sent his servant seven times to
look for the storm clouds; and then
on the horizon above the sea arose a
little cloud, the size of q mans hand;
the precursor of a heaven black with l.
clouds, and a great rain. The three
years drought was broken. God and
Gods man, had been indicated.