The Washington herald., 1922-01-14
Elijah Won by Unwavering
Faith, Says Mr.. Bryan
Greatest Prayer Test in History Needed to
Restore Reverence and Obedience
Among the Children Of Israel.

tiucbs otucEe u&Nc SoHStCttohs
enough for every emergency.
Such characters ~ Elijah are
valuable, therefore, as . rsproof
to those who are weak In the
faith and a. o stimulus to those
who have to meet great trials.
The progress Of Christianity 10
slow because the spirit Of mar
tyrs 10 not to be found in all
who profess faith In God-not
even In all who openly take upon
themselves the name Of His Son.
Exanpls u Supreme Courage.
When Elijah met Ahab, the
latter. who had searched every
where for the prophet and had
even demanded an oath Of the
kingdoms where he failed to ind
him, gave expression to his
anger In words that have be-
come historic: art thou he that
troubleth Israel'--an accusation
and q compliment Why had he
hunted far and wide for Elijah!
Because he believed that Elijah
was the spokesman Of the Al
mighty and that the drought
which lay over his Kingdom
could not be broken until word
came from Elijah. He charged
Elijah with troubling Israel and
yet he knew that Elijah was the
only one through whom relief
could be brought.
EltJah's answer was in keen
Ing with the character Of that
great man of God. Il have not
troubled Israel; but thou, and
thy fathers house, in that ye
have forsaken the command
ments of the Lord and thou hast
followed Baalim."
Thou art the mani There Is
courage. An unarmed' prophet
OF Jehovah-ali the rest of them
had been destroyed or driven
into hiding. but here is one
whom neither the frown OF the
king nor the kings armies could
terribly. He had not waited UNI
I'll Ahab found him, but went
himself to the king and, hurting
back Ahab's reproach, uttered
before Ahab Gods Indictment OF
his idolatry..
Choice That. All Nest Make.
Then follows the greatest
prayer test recorded in history
-one OF the most sublime acts
Of faith ever displayed by man.
Taking command OF the situ-
alton. Elijah ordered Ahab to
assemble the prophets of Baal.
$50 In number, In Mount Carmel,
and when these leaders of the
idolaters assembled Elijah spoke
unto the people, who had gath
cred to witness the scene. How
long halt ye between two opin.
ions!"i he exclaimed. IF the
Lord be God. follow Him; but IL
Baal. then follow him"
This 10 q practical lesson be.
cause 1t touches every human
life. This IL the choice that all
are called upon to make. From
the time we reach years OF &C.
countability until we dies, this Is
the choice that We are contin-
ualiy makinE-choice between
God and Baal, between the
Heavenly Father and the false
gods that invite worship-and
success or failure follows ac-
cording to the decision.
Elijah did not allow much
time for them 10 make I'D their
minds. and but little time is re-
quired for this choice. The de.
cisions upon which our lives
turn are made In a moment
whether we turn to the right or
to the left, We act instantly.
We may spend time in consid-
ering the matter. In ponderlng
over 1t. but only a moment !.
required for the decision. whether
II is to become a murderer, a
thief, or a criminal or any other
kind. And 1t requires no longer
to decide. AZ did the Prodieal
Son. Il will arise and 60 TO mr.
father"
Eittahs Sublime Trust In God.
The people stood mute before
Elijah: answered him not a
word" Then the prophet pro.
posed the test.
Il, even I only. remain a
prophet Of the Lord1 but Baal's
prophets are four hundred and
fifty men" He challenged them
to bring two bullocks, they to
choose one and put IL on an altar
with no fire under Il; he would
take the other bullock and do
likewise. Then the prophets Of
Baal were to- call upon their gods
to send down fire from heaven
to consume the sacrifice. and he
would call upon Jehovah: land
the God that answereth by fire,
let him be God"
Imagine, 10 you can, 4 more sub
lime picture Of trust in God. Not
only was Elijah's own life staked
upon the result. but the faith OF
the Children OF Israel was at
stake.
He, let the prophets Of Raal
make then appeal first-another
evidence of faith. II they had
succeeded. he would not hrve
been given q chance to call down
fire upon the offering he had
prepared. And the prophets CT
Baal tried: they had but little
choice, of course. and could not
well tefuse They were brought
together by the command Of
Ahab. who summoned them In
obedience 10 the demand of Eli
jah. Standing in the presence of
the people. they had to take the
chance or confess the iupotenc .
OF their God.
Athetsts aua Higher Critics.
But they must be given credit
for a larger faith than those
have who today cali the Bible
a man-made book. If uninspired
men made the Old and New Tes-
taments, why do not uninspired
men prepare another Bible? II
the Bible 10 q man-made book.
surely men ought to be abb. to
make a better beok TO-DAY than