CONTEST OF THE GODS – DO YOUR
CHILDREN KNOW WHO WINS?
I went in to see a movie
yesterday, sat up front and was blasted by six previews of upcoming movies for
the summer—every single one of them was about witchcraft or magic. Most of us
don’t know much about the reality of black witchcraft or we’ve been taught that
it’s only make believe. It’s not. It’s very much alive and real.
My best friend Jane, and
her boss were cursed at a coven gathering in the desert outside of Las Vegas. A
member of the coven stole both of their nameplates from their doors at work.
The nameplates were burned in an evening bonfire as the witches and other
people who were invited (possible converts) drank alcoholic beverages and
toasted to the two women’s demise. You may be wondering how I know this.
One of the attendees had
taken photos and put them up privately on the internet but Jane saw them and
showed them to me. After the cursing, both women’s jobs were terminated. This
stuff is very real.
The God of the Bible, the
creator of all things, does phenomenal miracles of healing, helping,
deliverance and victory; but the devil has copied these things for as many
centuries as mankind has existed. His ways are undeniably enticing.
I don’t hate witches or
sorcerers. I guess I just hate that they are getting more air time than the
true God.
Before Moses led the
Israelites out of Egypt, there was a contest of gods:
“Now the Lord said to Moses and
Aaron, ‘When Pharaoh says to you, “Work a miracle [to
prove your authority],” then you say to Aaron, “Take your staff and throw it
down before Pharaoh, so that it may become a serpent.’”
“Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and
his servants, and it became a serpent. Then
Pharaoh called for the wise men [skilled in magic and omens] and the sorcerers
[skilled in witchcraft], and they also, these magicians (soothsayer-priests) of
Egypt, did the same with their secret arts and enchantments. For every man
threw down his staff and they turned into serpents” (Exod. 7: 8-12a).
Notice how the Bible calls these phenomenal acts,
done by sorcerers and magicians, “secret arts and enchantments.” In the West,
they are pretty much still secret, except for what we see in cartoons, TV and
children’s movies. But we still don’t think they are real. However, in other
cultures around the world, these kinds of acts have been witnessed for
centuries and are well-known facts of life.
If we read to the end of verse 12, the Bible
says: “BUT AARON’S SNAKE SWALLOWED THEIRS.”
God’s people had more
power and greater results than the sorcerers, witches and magicians. This is
important for us, as adults, to know but even more important for our children
and young adults to know. The other side is avidly promoting and making their
side look so innocent, fun, adventurous and thrilling. It’s not just
entertainment anymore, it’s an invitation.
Another great example of
the spectacular challenge between the believers in the true God and those who
practice witchcraft, is found in 1 Kings 18. King Ahab was very bothered by the
fact that Elijah had prayed and there was no rain in the land.
“And when he saw him, Ahab shouted, ‘There you are, the biggest
troublemaker in Israel!’
Elijah
answered, ‘You’re the troublemaker—not me! You and your family have disobeyed
the Lord’s commands by worshiping Baal. Call together everyone from
Israel and have them meet me on Mount Carmel. Be sure to bring along the four
hundred fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah who eat
at Jezebel’s table.
“Ahab got everyone
together, then they went to meet Elijah on Mount Carmel. Elijah stood in front of
them and said, ‘How much longer will you try to have things both ways? If the Lord is God, worship him! But
if Baal is God, worship him!’
“The people did not say a word. Then Elijah continued, ‘I
am the Lord’s only prophet, but Baal has four hundred fifty prophets.
Bring us two bulls. Baal’s prophets can take one of them, kill it, and cut it
into pieces. Then they can put the meat on the wood without lighting the fire.
I will do the same thing with the other bull, and I won’t light a fire under it
either.
“The prophets of Baal will pray to their god, and I will pray to the Lord. The
one who answers by starting the fire is God. ‘That’s a good idea,’
everyone agreed.
“Elijah said to Baal’s prophets, ‘There are more of you, so you go
first. Pick out a bull and get it ready, but don’t light the fire. Then pray to
your god.’ They chose their bull, then they got it ready and prayed to Baal all
morning, asking him to start the fire. They danced around the altar and
shouted, ‘Answer us, Baal!’ But there was no answer.
“At
noon, Elijah began making fun of them. ‘Pray louder!’ he said. ‘Baal must be a
god. Maybe he’s day-dreaming or using the toilet or traveling somewhere. Or
maybe he’s asleep, and you have to wake him up.’
“The prophets kept shouting louder and louder, and they cut
themselves with swords and knives until they were bleeding. This was the way
they worshiped, and they kept it up all afternoon. But there was no answer of any
kind.
“Elijah told everyone to gather around him while he repaired the Lord’s altar. Elijah dug a
ditch around the altar, large enough to hold about thirteen quarts. He placed the wood on the
altar, then they cut the bull into pieces and laid the meat on the wood.
“He told the people, ‘Fill four large jars with water and pour it
over the meat and the wood.’ After they did this, he told them to do it two
more times. They did exactly as he said until finally, the water
ran down the altar and filled the ditch.
“Elijah prayed: Our
Lord, you are the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel.
Now, prove that you are the God of this nation, and that I, your servant, have
done this at your command. Please answer me, so these people will know that you are the Lord God, and that you
will turn their hearts back to you. *
“The Lord immediately sent fire, and it burned up
the sacrifice, the wood, and the stones. It scorched the ground everywhere
around the altar and dried up every drop of water in the ditch.
“When the crowd saw what had happened, they all bowed down and shouted,
“The Lord is God! The Lord is God!” (1 Kings
18: 17-39).
Please make sure your children know at least as much about the
Christian God and His son Jesus Christ, as they know about magic, witches,
warlocks, sorcerers and the like. Both sides have real power and supernatural
abilities as we’ve seen in the media, but also in the Bible. Both require a
sacrifice of soul, one to enhance with the truth and true love, one that
enhances with power only, but leads to control and destruction.
Many in the
adult generations have been able to ride the fence, not really choosing a side.
Your children and young adults will probably not have that privilege, so please
teach them the Bible so they at least have a fair chance to choose.
Love, Carolyn
* What an
awesome prayer for those of us who are ministers! I think we can really benefit
from Elijah’s example of how to pray in challenging times. I’m going to mark it
and add it to the scriptures I pray every morning.
