In God's Eyes

"Elijah built the altar with twelve stones because in God's eyes they were one nation under one living God."

"And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:” (1 Kings 18:30-31)

ELIJAH DID NOT GO BY WHAT HE SAW. The nation had divided into two nations after King Solomon’s death. Yet called upon to demonstrate the power of God, Elijah did not build two separate altars or one with only ten stones. He built the altar with twelve stones because in God’s eyes they were one nation under one living God. He went by the Lord’s view. He laid twelve stones as an altar, placed the wood and the bullock on the stones, dug a massive trench around the whole thing, then drowned it all in water. With 850 false prophets in attendance, Elijah came near and called on the “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel” to respond by fire.

“And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.” (1 Kings 18:36-39)

The reason for the demonstration was to turn the hearts of the people back to God. The fire fell, the wicked were punished, and the people were changed. The divided nation was not restored to one nation immediately afterward, or even in his lifetime. But that was how God saw Israel, as one, and it DID happen in God’s timing. The Messiah would come to a united nation – Israel and Judah together. He would be King of all the Jews, the entire people, not one half or the other.

This image was painted by King Solomon. Known for His wisdom, two harlots came before him, arguing over one baby. During the night, one woman’s child had died so she’d stolen the other woman’s and claimed it as her own. Solomon’s solution? He asked for a sword and commanded the baby be cut in half, knowing, of course, that the baby’s real mother would plead for its life. From this image, we see Israel would be divided, but the child would not be split between them. There would be one Messiah of one people.

Division isn’t in God’s view. He does not divide but always seeks unity. His heart is to heal and to mend. People, families, nations. We’ve made Him, largely, content with broken pieces. He’s become vengeance in only the sense man knows it, an angry sword swinging viciously to cut down any who disagree. But vengeance is justice as God sees it. It is restoration of righteousness. It is an opportunity for Him to show mercy.

Sin scatters. Forgiveness gathers. Jesus came as Messiah to one people and from them to all people. He came to bring peace. He abolished the hatred which divided people, and with His death and Resurrection made in Himself one new human race. He united all of mankind at the cross and from the Resurrection, He stands as King of Kings over all nations, all races, all of heaven and earth.

Nothing is impossible with God. Where there is division, where it looks like chaos and confusion, He is redemption, He is restoration, He is salvation, He is peace.

“Nations may be in turmoil, and thrones totter, earth shrink away before his voice; but the Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge. Come near, and see God’s acts, his marvellous acts done on earth; how he puts an end to wars all over the world, the bow shivered, the lances shattered, the shields burnt to ashes! Wait quietly, and you shall have proof that I am God, claiming empire among the nations, claiming empire over the world. The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge.” (Psalm 45:7-12 KNOX)

“Ask me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance and the ends of the earth as your own possession.” (Psalm 2:8 GW)

“For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” (1 Corinthians 3:3)

“Our reconciling ‘Peace’ is Jesus! He has made Jew and non-Jew one in Christ. By dying as our sacrifice, he has broken down every wall of prejudice that separated us and has now made us equal through our union with Christ. Ethnic hatred has been dissolved by the crucifixion of his precious body on the cross. The legal code that stood condemning every one of us has now been repealed by his command. His triune essence has made peace between us by starting over—forming one new race of humanity, Jews and non-Jews fused together! Two have now become one, and we live restored to God and reconciled in the body of Christ. Through his crucifixion, hatred died.” (Ephesians 2:14-16 TPT)


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com