7000 Just Like You

1 Kings 19:18 says, "Still, I will spare seven thousand in Isra'el, every knee that hasn't bent down before Ba'al and every mouth that has not kissed him". (CJB) This was a time of war for Israel, but more than just a nation against nation war. It was a "religious" war you could say...at least in our day and time. However, during the time of Israel, it was more than a religious war, it was a war for survival in the midst of a call for the nation, the leadership (Ahab and Jezebel), and for the people of God to repent. God was bringing judgment to bear upon all Israel, however, HE reserved or would spare...7,000. It was not a merciful act of sparing 7,000 of just anyone, but 7,000 who had not bent down before a false god, "Ba'al" and those who had not kissed "Ba'al". It was not 7,000 + 7,000. It was 7,000 who not only had not bowed before Ba'al but also who had not kissed him.

During this time there was also threats abounding and news in every region of Israel and King Ahab's laziness and wickedness as well as Jezebels reign of terror...in the name of he God..."Ba'al", and whose "leadership" had usurped her own husband, and the nations king but also struck terror in the hearts of her own country. With all terrorists, there was none worse than a "queen/leader" whose ways were given to a false god, who Elijah proved could not produce. Truth be told, the One True and Only Wise God proved "Ba'al" could not produce, but He used not only a prophet, but a man who obeyed the voice of his God who earnestly listened....and spoke with Adonai. In this way, he was repentant and given to it. Remember, this same man had run from God and from the threat of Jezebel, not trusting God fully who had just proven HE could produce, but then used the hands of the prophet to slay those who did not and it appears would not repent.

Elijah thought he was the "only" prophet left in Israel, but God said, "Still, I will spare seven thousand in Israel and then He defined what those seven thousand had, or had not done. God said, "every knee that hasn't bent down before Ba'al and every mouth that has not kissed him". In other words, those who had not honored Ba'al or spoken of him with high regard. They probably never even considered Ba'al or took his name in any regard except to say he was/is not God and they would not serve him...even through threat of loosing their lives to the wicked leadership at the time. That "leadership" would point their own people away from God, but to "their" prophets and "their" false god, the one who could not produce.

In today's world, we speak of "fear" not being able to produce and there is truth to that. But fear of what? Fear of not being accepted...by Jezebel or the king? Fear of not honoring the "false" prophets of Ba'al and remember there remained false prophets of God during that day in Israel as well.

With all that is going on in our world today, including the fear of men and men's government there is Word of the Lord yet for today, but it is also for every day, at every time and for every person of every generation. God tells us in Matthew 10:28 and Luke 12:4-5 to fear no one who can kill ONLY the body, rather fear Him who can destroy both body and soul and ONLY one can do that. We need to return/repent to that kind of fear---of God. What is the beginning? Repentance. What is the benefit(s)? The beginning of knowledge, the beginning of wisdom and the fear of the Lord is a fountain of LIFE. Oh, what a great salvation when we repent and live...In Christ.

I challenge you look at the nations, the people, the individuals who repent...in the Bible.

Truly my friends, Love is the answer, but Repentance is the call. AND...there is ONLY ONE in whom we can depend and ONE who is our answer and ONE who we repent toward...Jesus Christ, the righteous ONE.

Will YOU answer (love) the call (repentance)?

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