At dinner, my children discussed whether or not one can find a justification for “talking smack” as they say, with Elijah’s taunting comments on Mt. Carmel. 1 Kings 18:27. According to the boys, this is a pertinent question given that a certain amount of trash talking happens in the “trenches” of football games.
But, first I need cover the menu. We had mashed potatoes, ham balls, and green beans. My wife was near the top of her game. It was a top notch meal. (Though, it does need to be said that my sister-in-law Julie makes slightly better ham balls).
After inhaling the ham balls, we read a chapter from Bruce Ware’s book, Big Truths for Young Hearts and focused on the truth that there is only one God.
Ware pointed out that when Elijah defeated Baal on Mt. Carmel, it was important that it happened where it did.
One very interesting thing about this story is where it took place. Elijah confronted those prophets of Baal at Mt. Carmel, an area that was supposed to be where Baal was in charge. The worshippers of Baal would not have been surprised to see the God of Israel consume the altar with fire if this had happened in Jerusalem. They thought that Jerusalem was the place where the God of Israel was in charge. But on Mt. Carmel, Baal was supposed to be in charge. So when the God of Israel responded to Elijah’s prayer and consumed the altar, this showed two things: not only was the God of Israel the true God, but also the true God was in charge everywhere, not just in certain places. Because God is the true God, and because he has made all that is, he also alone is the rightful ruler of all that he has made. Page 39.
As a family, we then talked briefly about the chapter: we debated how to properly reference Jesus when referring to to the Trinity – – prayed around the table – – and sang one stanza of, “Nothing But the Blood.”
Don’t make devotions hard. Whether you are having ham balls or frozen pizza, read a brief selection, talk about it, pray, and sing.
As for talking smack, since our youth group is memorizing Ephesians 4:29. We better interpret Elijah’s taunting in light of that explicit teaching.
See also what we talked about when we had Reuben sandwiches here.
This is a great post. Do you think Jamie would share her “Ham Balls” recipe? : )
I am sure she will share!