I Kings 18:20-40
”So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.” (I Kings 18:20)
Elijah had told Ahab that if he wanted the drought to end he must get all the people and the prophets of Baal and the groves together in an official meeting, Desperate to end the drought, Ahab complied.
“And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. ” (I Kings 18:21a)
Ahab and Jezebel had tried to force the people to accept the worship of Baal, killing God’s prophets. By allowing them to do so the people implied they were willing to accept Baal as God as well. Elijah demanded that they make a decision, much as Joshua did in Joshua 24, if they wanted things to straighten out.
Israel had been upset to have the prophets killed but had accepted the Baalim anyway. Sadly in our own country we have done much the same thing, complaining about certain actions or movements such as abortion or homosexuality, but ignoring the root problem of rejecting God. Called to make a stand, they weren’t willing to stand alone.
“Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God.”(I Kings 18:22-24a)
Most people don’t trust their own thinking and standards and yield to what their group thinks. Elijah stood alone, but offered a way to test both sides. Once they had a clear demonstration of each god’s power they could decide which one was really God. Unfortunately, in our day, we are often asking people to make a decision based on a good sales presentation with no clear evidence of God’s power. Many suffer buyer’s remorse as a result and are easily led into something else.
“And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.” (I Kings 18:24b)
The people welcomed the opportunity to make a decision based on evidence rather than just the claims of various adherents.
“And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.
“And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.” (I Kings 18:25-26)
Elijah instructed the prophets of Baal to go through their rituals, but to not take the last step of setting the offering on fire. If their god was really God, he would be able to act for himself to start the fire. They spent the entire morning performing the rituals, but nothing happened, despite their frantic efforts.
“And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.” (I Kings 18:27-29)
By noon, it was becoming boring, and Elijah began to rub it in, stirring them to greater lengths, implying that maybe Baal was hard of hearing or had gone hunting and they needed to holler loud enough o get his attention. They kept trying without results until late afternoon.
“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: And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.” (I Kings 18:30-35)
Rather than building a new altar, Elijah rebuilt the altar they had let fall into disuse, making the connection with the past. He built according to the traditional construction specified in the Law, reinforcing the importance of God’s commands. He then offered the sacrifices according to the Law.
At that point he departed from the law, digging a trench around the altar capable of holding several bushels of seed. He then had four barrels of water brought and dumped over the whole thing, greatly reducing the risk of fire. He had this repeated three times, until everything was saturated and the ditch was standing full. It would have been difficult to start a fire with such soaked wood.
“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.” (I Kings 18:36-37)
People tend to be impressed with fancy rituals, but Elijah didn’t give them a show. He simply prayed a very short asking God to demonstrate his Godhood and power, and that Elijah was his servant. So the people would know and turn to God 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.” (I Kings 18:38)
Normally, the wood burned, only gradually burning up the sacrifice. This time the sacrifice burned first, then the wood. The fire continued, burning up the stones and the dirt that supported them and finally burning the water in the trench as well. Obviously this was not just an ordinary fire.
“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.” (I Kings 18:39)
The people had no questions about who the real God was. They recognized Baal as just a pretender. Many people today have never seen God’s power, and thus are not sure if he really is God. Paul was concerned about the problem in I Corinthians 2:4-5. “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” Far to much emphasis has been placed on eloquence or education rather than on spiritual power.
“And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.” (I Kings 18:40)
Assured of God’s power, the people didn’t hesitate to take action against sin. They executed the prophets of Baal and the groves as specified in Deuteronomy 13:1-5. “If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.”
”So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.” (I Kings 18:20)
Elijah had told Ahab that if he wanted the drought to end he must get all the people and the prophets of Baal and the groves together in an official meeting, Desperate to end the drought, Ahab complied.
“And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. ” (I Kings 18:21a)
Ahab and Jezebel had tried to force the people to accept the worship of Baal, killing God’s prophets. By allowing them to do so the people implied they were willing to accept Baal as God as well. Elijah demanded that they make a decision, much as Joshua did in Joshua 24, if they wanted things to straighten out.
Israel had been upset to have the prophets killed but had accepted the Baalim anyway. Sadly in our own country we have done much the same thing, complaining about certain actions or movements such as abortion or homosexuality, but ignoring the root problem of rejecting God. Called to make a stand, they weren’t willing to stand alone.
“Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God.”(I Kings 18:22-24a)
Most people don’t trust their own thinking and standards and yield to what their group thinks. Elijah stood alone, but offered a way to test both sides. Once they had a clear demonstration of each god’s power they could decide which one was really God. Unfortunately, in our day, we are often asking people to make a decision based on a good sales presentation with no clear evidence of God’s power. Many suffer buyer’s remorse as a result and are easily led into something else.
“And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.” (I Kings 18:24b)
The people welcomed the opportunity to make a decision based on evidence rather than just the claims of various adherents.
“And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.
“And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.” (I Kings 18:25-26)
Elijah instructed the prophets of Baal to go through their rituals, but to not take the last step of setting the offering on fire. If their god was really God, he would be able to act for himself to start the fire. They spent the entire morning performing the rituals, but nothing happened, despite their frantic efforts.
“And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.” (I Kings 18:27-29)
By noon, it was becoming boring, and Elijah began to rub it in, stirring them to greater lengths, implying that maybe Baal was hard of hearing or had gone hunting and they needed to holler loud enough o get his attention. They kept trying without results until late afternoon.
“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: And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.” (I Kings 18:30-35)
Rather than building a new altar, Elijah rebuilt the altar they had let fall into disuse, making the connection with the past. He built according to the traditional construction specified in the Law, reinforcing the importance of God’s commands. He then offered the sacrifices according to the Law.
At that point he departed from the law, digging a trench around the altar capable of holding several bushels of seed. He then had four barrels of water brought and dumped over the whole thing, greatly reducing the risk of fire. He had this repeated three times, until everything was saturated and the ditch was standing full. It would have been difficult to start a fire with such soaked wood.
“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.” (I Kings 18:36-37)
People tend to be impressed with fancy rituals, but Elijah didn’t give them a show. He simply prayed a very short asking God to demonstrate his Godhood and power, and that Elijah was his servant. So the people would know and turn to God 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.” (I Kings 18:38)
Normally, the wood burned, only gradually burning up the sacrifice. This time the sacrifice burned first, then the wood. The fire continued, burning up the stones and the dirt that supported them and finally burning the water in the trench as well. Obviously this was not just an ordinary fire.
“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.” (I Kings 18:39)
The people had no questions about who the real God was. They recognized Baal as just a pretender. Many people today have never seen God’s power, and thus are not sure if he really is God. Paul was concerned about the problem in I Corinthians 2:4-5. “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” Far to much emphasis has been placed on eloquence or education rather than on spiritual power.
“And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.” (I Kings 18:40)
Assured of God’s power, the people didn’t hesitate to take action against sin. They executed the prophets of Baal and the groves as specified in Deuteronomy 13:1-5. “If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.”
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