Donna Sheppard Wrote:
Elijah’s Draw Near Message on Forgiveness: Elijah challenged the Israelites, “If Yahweh is God, follow Him. But if Baal, follow him.” When Baal’s prophets offered sacrifices before the alter their god did not answer with fire. They believed in their false gods and were committed to serve him. They called on the name of Baal from morning to noon, did their lame dance around the alter, shouted loudly all afternoon, cut themselves with knives and spears, kept raving through the evening sacrifice, “...but there was no sound, no one answered, no one paid attention.” Elijah witnessed the “blood gushing out on them...” and what did he do? He had initially mocked them (v. 27), but when he saw their desperation, sadness, disappointment, and discouragement, he said, “...Come near to me.”(v. 30)Scripture then tells us that Elijah repaired the alter that had been torn down and called on the “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel..., so that the people will know that You, Yahweh, are God and that You have turned their hearts back.”
I have been so amazed during the Draw Near study at how God has taken His Word and spoke truth to me. Elijah felt compassion for God’s people and told them “...Come Near Me”. He then pleaded to God on their behalf, so they would know that Yahweh was their God. I am thankful for the friends and pastors that have pleaded to God on my behalf and other members of the congregation, so that I (we)would see that worship of false Gods is in vain. When God sees my desperate attempts to seek out other gods (job, career, material possessions) He just says, Draw Near To Me. I imagine him just taking me in his big loving arms and hugging me. It’s OK my child. I still love you. That is a message of forgiveness.
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