ESOCS Devotional 14 August 2026 – Evil Cannot Stand Where the Power of God Operates
MEMORY VERSE: 1 Kings 18:39“And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said the LORD, he is the God, the LORD, he is the God.”
TEXT: 1 Kings 18:17-39
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.”
25 Now Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.”
26 So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us!” But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made.
27 And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 28 So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. 29 And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. 31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.” 32 Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, “Fill four waterpots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood.” 34 Then he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time; and he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time. 35 So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.
36 And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. 37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.”
38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”
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In real life, evil cannot subsist when those that are given to good work stand firm. In our text today, we saw how one man alone standing out in the name of God defeated over 800 prophets and multitude of people who subscribed to idol worship. King Ahab led the people of Israel to forsake the commandments of God and followed Baalim. 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the groves eat at Jezebel’s table. (1 Kings 18-17-19). No Israelite could openly declare support for God at that time. Elijah was alone in proclaiming that the LORD is God. (1 Kings 18:21, 22).
Today in our country, there is scarcity of people who can apart from what they say about God, live a kind of life that represents the righteousness of God as the scripture teaches. In public service and governance, no one stands upright to lead honestly and account for huge state resources that they manage. Majority are corrupt and immoral. Who will rise up to lead in the right and upright path in governance?
Elijah rose up for Israel. He won the contest with the prophets of Baal. God manifested his everlasting presence and power. The power of the devil could not rise to act where God’s servant stood. Elijah spoke and challenged in the name of the LORD and every other power bowed. They never rose to act. (1 Kings 18:23-29).But God answered when Elijah called on Him. He did the impossible. Fire came from heaven in the view of the people and consumed the sacrifice. (1 Kings 18:30-38).
Let us not be just spectators of the wonders of God’s grace. You will be a spectator if you wait to see before you believe God. Stand firm and you will see wonders happen by the power of the LORD. No power can rise when the power of God is invoked. The ungodly shall not stand in judgement nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. (Psalm 1:5). It takes the courage of the faithful among the people to bring about change for the better.
Question
Who is willing to rise and speak out in the name of the LORD?
Prayer
Father, give me the wings of faith to rise and speak out in your name. In Jesus name. Amen.
Further Reading:
Jer. 26:1-16, Matt. 8:1-13, John 15:1-16.
ESOCS Devotional 14 August 2026
