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Royalty and Ruin
knew that relying firmly on God would always find him help in time
of need.
Hearts are not reached by eloquence or logic, but by the Holy
Spirit. The still, small voice of the Spirit of God has power to change
the heart.
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“What are you doing here, Elijah?” the voice inquired; and again
the prophet answered, “The children of Israel have forsaken Your
covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the
sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”
The Lord answered Elijah that the wrongdoers would not go
unpunished. Men were to be chosen to punish the idol-worshiping
kingdom. There was stern work to be done. Elijah must return to
Israel and share with others the burden of bringing about a reforma-
tion.
“Go,” the Lord commanded Elijah, “anoint Hazael as king over
Syria. Also ... anoint Jehu ... as king over Israel. And Elisha ... you
shall anoint as prophet in your place. ... Whoever escapes the sword
of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu,
Elisha will kill.”
The One who reads the hearts of all revealed to the prophet that
there were many others who had remained true to Him through the
long years of apostasy. “I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all
whose knees have not bowed to Baal.”
The apostasy today is similar to the one that overspread Israel in
Elijah’s day. By exalting the human above the divine, by praising
popular leaders, by worshiping money, and by placing science above
the truths of revelation, multitudes today are following Baal. Many
are substituting human theories for the Word of God. People teach
that human reason should be exalted above the teachings of the
Word. They declare the law of God to be of no effect. The enemy is
working to cause men and women to forget God’s provisions for the
happiness and salvation of the human family.
Many Today Have Not Bowed to Baal
Yet this widespread apostasy is not universal. Not all are lawless
and sinful. God has many who long to understand more fully about
Christ and the law, many who are hoping that Jesus will come soon