ELIJAH AND THE PROPHETS OF BAAL
Aug
8
Written by:
8/8/2010 12:00 AM
ELIJAH AND THE PROPHETS OF BAAL
Aug. 8, 2010
(1 Ki 17:1 NIV) Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word." (1 Ki 17:2 NIV) Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: (1 Ki 17:3 NIV) "Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. (1 Ki 17:4 NIV) You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there." (1 Ki 17:5 NIV) So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there.
Elijah was an amazing prophet of the Lord. The name Elijah means the “Lord is my God.” He prophesied there would be no rain or dew for the next few years except at his word. The drought was a judgment from God on the land because of the evil King Ahab. Warned by God, Elijah hid near the brook of Cherith where he was fed by ravens. In time the brook dried up as the drought became more severe. Then Elijah met with a widow and through her obedience to Elijah’s request, God provided food enough for Elijah, the woman and her son. Miraculously, her barrel of flour and jar of oil never ran out. When we are in God`s will He supplies our every need.
In the third year of the drought God told Elijah to present himself to King Ahab and then God would send rain upon the land. (1 Ki 18:1 NIV) After a long time, in the third year, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: "Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land." (1 Ki 18:2 NIV) So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria, King Ahab was looking for Elijah because Elijah had prophesied the drought that brought much trouble upon the land. This is the account of the meeting between King Ahab and Elijah. (1 Ki 18:17 NIV) When he saw Elijah, he said to him, "Is that you, you troubler of Israel?" (1 Ki 18:18 NIV) "I have not made trouble for Israel," Elijah replied. "But you and your father's family have. You have abandoned the Lord's commands and have followed the Baals. (1 Ki 18:19 NIV) Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table."
A meeting was soon set up between Elijah and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah on Mt. Carmel. (1 Ki 18:20 NIV) So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. (1 Ki 18:21 NIV) Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said nothing. (1 Ki 18:22 NIV) Then Elijah said to them, "I am the only one of the Lord's prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. (1 Ki 18:23 NIV) Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. (1 Ki 18:24 NIV) Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire--he is God." Then all the people said, "What you say is good."
A very interesting scene was now set on Mt. Carmel. There were 450 prophets of Baal against one prophet of the Lord, Elijah. Elijah let the prophets of Baal prepare their sacrifice and call on their God first. The prophets of Baal called and called upon their God, but there was no response. (1 Ki 18:26 NIV) So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. "O Baal, answer us!" they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made. 1 Ki 18:27 NIV) At noon Elijah began to taunt them. "Shout louder!" he said. "Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened." (1 Ki 18:28 NIV) So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. (1 Ki 18:29 NIV) Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.
Then Elijah prepared an altar, cut the bull in pieces and put it on the wood. Next he dug a trench around the altar and asked the people to pour water on the offering and wood four times. The water even filled the trench around the altar. Finally Elijah asked the Lord to answer his prayer so the people would know the Lord is God. God answered Elijah`s prayer in a very powerful way. (1 Ki 18:38 NIV) Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. (1 Ki 18:39 NIV) When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The LORD--he is God! The LORD--he is God!" ThenElijah commanded that all the prophets of Baal be seized. The prophets were brought down to the nearby Kishon valley and slaughtered. The prophets of Baal had led the people in rebellion against God. God`s wrath had been brought upon the prophets.
God had promised rain would fall upon the land after Elijah presented himself to King Ahab. However, no rain fell upon the land until the 450 prophets of Baal had died and Elijah had prayed seven times.
What can we learn from this message?
(1) When we are fulfilling God`s plans for our lives our every need will be met. Even though no rain fell on the land for three years God provided for Elijah.
(2) We do not need to be concerned with numbers when God is with us. Elijah defeated the 450 prophets of Baal.
(3) Even though God had promised it would rain after Elijah met King Ahab Elijah still had to pray seven times. We should persist in prayer until we receive God`s promises.
(4) Elijah proved there is only one God!
On our last two Israel tours we went to Mt. Carmel because of its historical significance. From Mt. Carmel you can see the Mediterranean Sea, Mt. Tabor, and Nazareth in the distance. You also can also get a good view of the Valley of Jezreel where the last world war will be fought, the Battle of Armageddon.