你站在哪一邊？
列王紀上十八章1節、16-24節
1過了許久，到第三年，耶和華的話臨到以利亞說：你去，使亞哈得見你；我要降雨在地上。
16於是俄巴底去迎著亞哈，告訴他；亞哈就去迎著以利亞。
17亞哈見了以利亞，便說：使以色列遭災的就是你麼？
18以利亞說：使以色列遭災的不是我，乃是你和你父家；因為你們離棄耶和華的誡命，去隨從巴力。
19現在你當差遣人，招聚以色列眾人和事奉巴力的那四百五十個先知，並耶洗別所供養事奉亞舍拉的那四百個先知，使他們都上迦密山去見我。
20亞哈就差遣人招聚以色列眾人和先知都上迦密山。
21以利亞前來對眾民說：你們心持兩意要到幾時呢？若耶和華是神，就當順從耶和華；若巴力是神，就當順從巴力。眾民一言不答。
22以利亞對眾民說：作耶和華先知的只剩下我一個人；巴力的先知卻有四百五十個人。
23當給我們兩隻牛犢，巴力的先知可以挑選一隻，切成塊子，放在柴上，不要點火；我也預備一隻牛犢放在柴上，也不點火。
24你們求告你們神的名，我也求告耶和華的名。那降火顯應的神，就是神。眾民回答說：這話甚好。
信息分享
三年不下雨的日子已過，以利亞準備求神再次下雨。以利亞先知雖有剛烈的性格，但他亦有一顆仁愛之心，不忍見到百姓繼續受苦。他禱告主說：「主啊，求你憐憫你的百姓，他們已受夠了苦。倘若你願意結束這場旱災，再次從天降雨，我願意公然挑戰亞哈和他的巴力先知。主啊，求你向百姓顯明，你仍然深愛他們；求你向他們顯明，你是那位掌管天氣的永生真神。」神再次應允以利亞的禱告，派他去見亞哈。請留意，從這一刻開始，便是由以利亞而不是亞哈發號施令。一個屬神的人，必有神的權能在背後支持著他。
經文沒有告訴我們，要用多少時間才能召齊巴力先知和百姓的代表到山上。我們相信大概要用好幾天的時間。在迦密山上，以利亞再次成為發號施令的人。他首先問以色列民：「你們為甚麼搖擺不定呢？」他們之所以搖擺不定，基本原因不是他們無法分辨真假，而是因為心懷二意。別人拜甚麼，他們也拜甚麼。因此，他們有時敬拜真神，有時又拜巴力。
他們為甚麼會這樣？其實，今天的基督徒也有這種隨俗的心態。當「人人都這樣做」的時候，我們便很容易盲目追隨；又或是，我們害怕自己維護信仰的立場太強硬，會惹來別人的非議。這種試探會帶來十分隱晦的壓力，要獨排眾議是十分困難的，每個人都害怕攻擊和壓力。以利亞直截了當地質問百姓，但百姓當中卻沒有人敢開口答他。這是一種罪咎的沉默；他們知道自己做錯，卻不肯承認。
我們願意向神禱告，求神賜給我們勇氣，去堅守祂的立場嗎？去做祂喜悅的事嗎？去跟隨祂的帶領嗎？是的，我們可能要為此付上代價，但我們若立定心志，神必祝福我們。
ON WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU?
1 Kings 18:1 and 16-24
1 And it came to pass after many days that the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth.”
16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17 Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?”
18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals.
19 Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
20 So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel.
21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.
22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
23 Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it.
24 Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.”So all the people answered and said, “It is well spoken.”
Message
Wouldn't it have been soul stirring to have heard Elijah pray? James 5:17-18 says it was because Elijah prayed, God sent the drought. Where did he get the idea of praying like that? He knew the Word of God. He knew God had said in Deuteronomy 11:16-17 that if his people turned away from Him, He would send a scorching drought on the land, until they repented.
Then after 3 years, Elijah changed his prayer. Behind that rough strong exterior, there was "a tender heart". "Lord has mercy on your people. They have suffered enough. If you are willing to end this drought, I am willing to stand up to Ahab and all the prophets of Baal. Lord, I want you to show this people that you still love them. Show them, Lord, that you are the living God who controls the weather." Again God answered and sent Elijah to meet Ahab. Notice that from this point on, Elijah gave the orders, not King Ahab. A man of God has the authority of God behind him.
We are not told how long it took to get the priests and the representatives of the people together. Possibly it was a few days. Elijah then on Mount Carmel again took charge. His first question was to the people - "Why do you waver from one side to the other?" It wasn't so much that they couldn't make up their minds (who were right), rather it seemed that they followed whichever crowd they were with. Sometimes they followed the Lord. Sometimes they followed Baal.
Why were they like this? For the same reasons many Christians mingle with the world today. When "everyone is doing it", it is so easy to do the same things. Or it can be because of the fear of what others may say if we take too strong a stand for Christ. This can be a very subtle temptation. It is not easy to be different. Fear of persecution can be very real. Elijah's question was very plain, very definite, but the people didn't answer him. There was a guilty silence. They knew what was right to do, but they wouldn't admit it.
Can we pray today for courage to stand up for the Lord? To do what He wants? To follow where He leads? It may cost, but God will bless us as we do it.