Waterlogged

We’ve had quite a bit of rain here the last several weeks. Lots of things around our yard are waterlogged – absolutely saturated. That makes for interesting times especially if you’re trying to garden or if you’re out somewhere that you might want to light a fire. Waterlogged wood is the worst in that situation. And you can never get it dried out enough in the time you have or in the time you need it.

Elijah deliberately waterlogs a whole bunch of wood which has been piled high for a burnt offering. The priests of Baal and Elijah are in a showdown over whose God/god is bigger and better and most powerful. After the priests of Baal fail to get even a spark going with their howling and dancing and frantic pleading, all while suffering the mocking of Elijah, it is God’s turn. Elijah has a stone altar built with a large trench dug around it and wood stacked on it ready for the sacrifice. Then he has four jars of water poured on the wood – probably about 120 gallons of water if the jugs used were the ceremonial washing jars. Then he has water poured on a second time and then a third time. The wood and the altar and the trench around the altar are saturated and filled with water!

And then Elijah prays. God answers with fire that burns up the sacrifice and the waterlogged wood and even licks up the water in the trench around the altar. There is no question about where the power resides!

Sometimes the storms of life waterlog me. I’m weighted down, of not much use and certainly not burning very bright for God. But even in my waterlogged uselessness, God can ignite me once again for His glory and my good.

Thank You!