Word of Encouragement (05/22/2024)
And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back." (1 Kings 18:36-37)
Elijah opened his prayer by addressing God as “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel...” (v. 36). Oh, how poignant this was! How could the Israelites hear these words and not remember how they came to be? The name of Israel started with God’s call to Abram and ratification of a covenant with him and his offspring. Even though he was childless, God promised to make him a great nation and give him a land (the land of Canaan). In fact, He promised to bless all the families of the earth in him (Gen. 12) and in his Offspring (Gen. 22). So, God changed his name from Abram (“the exalted father”) to Abraham (“father of many nations”). He was the first Jew (because he was the first one to be circumcised).
God did keep His word and gave Abraham a son, Isaac, a miracle child. And this line of promise continued through Jacob, whose name (which meant “he takes by the heel” or “he cheats,” Gen. 25:26) was changed to Israel (which means “he strives with God and men and have prevailed,” Gen. 32:28) and gave birth to the twelve tribes of Israel. Despite their slavery in Egypt, God delivered the Israelites from the tyranny of Pharaoh, led them through the wilderness, drove out the Canaanites from the land, and had them settle in the promised land. All that they were (God’s chosen people) and all that they had (the promised land and its blessings) were all from the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel.
Yet, the people of Israel forsook the LORD and served pagan gods and goddesses. Ahab (the king of the northern kingdom, Israel) did more evil than all his predecessors (who were all evil because they promoted the worship of the two golden calves, which Jeroboam made and placed at Bethel and Dan): he allowed 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah eat at the table of Jezebel, his pagan wife (v. 19). This was like making the worship of Baal and Asherah the official religion of Israel. How ungrateful and foolish they were, forsaking the one and only true God and bowing down to the pagan gods of the Canaanites, whom the LORD drove out! Elijah calling out to God by this title should have convicted the hearts of all hearers if they had the ears to hear.
Do you pay attention to the names/titles of God, by whom you call out to God? Paul blessed God, saying, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ...” (Eph. 1:3). He is the God of our Lord Jesus Christ with regard to His human nature as our covenant Representative; He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with regard to His divine nature as the Son of God. We cannot call upon God by this title and forget what Christ has done for our salvation. Because God is our God in Jesus Christ, we can worship and serve Him gladly without fear of condemnation. Because God is our Father in Jesus Christ, we can approach Him with gladness and love and expect His deep love for His Son to be applied to us. What a blessing! Let us call upon the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and bring all our petitions to Him!