Unfortunately, time and again we worship the fake, the false, and the futile, and this to our detriment. Sadly, we are often unaware that this is the case. We have seen in our previous studies through the book of Kings how that the worship of the true God had been sidelined for the worship of golden calves and Baal. As we compare these stories with the experiences of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, we notice that the rituals of Jewish worship had blinded the people to the reality that God was present with them in the person of Christ.
In this study we see God confronting the people in their misplaced faith. Elijah presents himself before the wicked Ahab with the offer of a contest. This will determine the proper object of faith and the true cause of the drought that the people have been experiencing. The antagonists are set forth: the LORD (Yahweh) versus Baal (the Canaanite storm god). Which deity has control over fire and rain? Elijah will represent the LORD as His prophet, while Baal will be represented by the services of 450 of his followers.
The stakes are established. They will gather the people together on Mount Carmel. Each will have an altar and a sacrifice. The reality of the deity will be recognized by the appearance of fire and the subsequent combustion of the sacrifice on the altar. Elijah presents the challenge to the people: “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him” (1 Kings 18:21 ESV). The fake, false and futile will be exposed because “the God who answers by fire, He is God” (1 Kings 18:24).
Baal’s contingent goes first. The sacrifice is killed. The call is made for fire, accompanied by ritual cutting and dancing. Despite yelling and screaming, the sacrifice remains untouched at the end of a day full of ceremony. As evening approaches, Elijah builds an altar to the LORD. The sacrifice is killed and placed on it. He decreases the flammability of the sacrifice by dousing it with water and digging a trench to collect the overflow. At the time of sacrifice, Elijah prays to the LORD, and the fire descends, devouring the sacrifice, the altar and the excess water. The winner is clear – the people cry out “The LORD, He is God!” (1 Kings 18:39).
Later, after Elijah prays, it rains, and the drought is lifted. The storm god Baal has been shown to be a worthless object of worship. The LORD is shown to be the Creator, having authority over the elements, and He alone is worthy of worship.
Over in Matthew, the Pharisees and Sadducees come to Jesus. They have refused to acknowledge Him as the Christ (Messiah) sent from God. They will not acknowledge Him as God, even though He has performed many miracles – most recently feeding thousands with a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish. Now they come looking for a sign from heaven (Matthew 16:1)! Are they looking for fire from heaven? Do they want to reproduce Elijah’s contest? Jesus refuses to go down this path. Their wilful blindness in the face of His credentials as Messiah will not be met with a circus act. Jesus calls them an “evil and adulterous generation” (Matthew 16:4) – words that describe Old Testament Israel as they engage in their idolatrous and false worship. He then states that they will be left with the ultimate sign – that of the prophet Jonah. Ironically, this sign will not be from heaven – it will be from the earth! The final declaration of Jesus’ Messiahship will be His forthcoming resurrection from the dead (see Peter’s message in Acts 2:22-39, where Jesus is declared to be the Christ in resurrection).
Soon after, Jesus takes his disciples aside. He wants to know who they think He is. Are they ‘limping between two opinions” like the people in Elijah’s day? Peter’s answer to His question is what Jesus was looking for:
“‘. . . who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’” (Matthew 16:15-16 ESV).
They had perceived the all-important truth. Jesus is God. He was the promised Christ – the King. He is truly God!
This is still what really matters. Are you worshipping God? The Christ of God? This makes all the difference in our lives. Either we are worshipping the real God or a counterfeit god. Jesus warned the disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 16:6,12). He was referring to the unseen, insidious element that puffs us up in pride, and blinds us to reality, so that we worship the fake, the false and the futile. In their case, this was ritual with religion on one hand (Pharisees), and materialism with reason on the other hand (Sadducees).
So where is your faith? Is it in Jesus? Have you confessed Him as the Christ – your King? It is this confession, from Simon Peter (v.16), that launched Christianity. What further proof do you need of the reality that Jesus is God? Do you need a sign from heaven? Jesus said, “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). Look around you. Do you see it?
Jesus is God’s Christ. He is really God!
Worship Him.
