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We're Wrong


 I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”? And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal." So to, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it annot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. (Romans 11:1-6)
          Do you ever feel like you’re alone, like you’re the only one who gets it, the only one who cares? I do. Even as I think it, I know it’s a lie, but the pity party has been cued. Elijah felt that way. You probably know the story. Elijah challenged the priests of Baal to a “My God’s Bigger Than Your God” contest. It seems as if all Israel was in the stands. The priests of Baal give it their best shot…nothing. Elijah handicaps his side by pouring lots of water over the sacrifice, the wood, the ground… and offers a simple prayer. Fire falls and consumes everything he’d drenched. The people begin their chant, “The Lord, He is God…The Lord, He is God.” Four hundred priests of Baal are executed.
         One woman said, “I’m going to kill you for that.” Granted, she was the queen, but that was all it took. Elijah ran for the hills. He hid in the mountains, complaining to God that he was all alone and asking God to kill him. It wasn’t just that he wanted to die – if that had been the case, he could have surrendered to Jezebel. He wanted to die before she could kill him. Elijah went from “My God’s Bigger Than Your God” to “Kill me before she does,” and from Israel chanting “The Lord, He Is God” to Elijah chanting, “I’m all alone” in days.
         God’s answer to Elijah was rest, refreshment, and reassurance. The reassurance came in two parts. First, God showed Elijah that He’s still God. After that, He told Elijah that his perception was off. Elijah wasn’t alone. God had a remnant. God always has a remnant. He saved a remnant from the flood. He saved a remnant from Sodom and Gomorrah. He kept remnants all along the way. Though some people love to proclaim that the Church is full of sin and hypocrisy, God has a remnant. When we feel as if we’re alone, we may need rest and refreshment, but we also need reassurance that we're wrong.

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