31 Elijah and the Prophets of Baal and Asherah [1 Kings 18:16–46]
The Bible passage: [1 Kings 18:16–46]
The Story:
About 60 years after the death of King Solomon and the division of the kingdoms, Ahab became the 7th king of the northern kingdom of Israel. Ahab had been the most evil king up to that time.
Elijah was a prophet during Ahab’s time. Elijah told the king that God wasn’t happy with the way Israel had disobeyed His laws and turned to other gods.
Elijah told King Ahab that God was going to send a drought on the land for a few years. This particularly showed the impotence of Baal, who was thought to control rain and fertility. It also showed God’s power over His creation.
After three years of drought, God told Elijah, “Go and see Ahab. I will soon send rain.”
When King Ahab saw Elijah, he said, “Is that you, destroyer of Israel?”
Elijah replied, “You and your father’s family have destroyed Israel, because you have left the Lord’s commands and followed Baal.”
Elijah continued, “Gather up all Israel to Mount Carmel. Bring the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah.”
Ahab summoned them all to Mound Carmel.
Elijah said to the people, “How long are you going to bounce between two opinions? If Yahweh is God, then follow him. But if Baal is god, then follow him.”
The people didn’t answer a word.
Elijah said to the people, “I am the only prophet of the Lord that is left. Baal has 450 prophets. Bring two bulls to us. Baal’s prophets can choose one of the bulls, cut it in pieces, and put in on the wood on the altar, but not light the fire. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood of my altar, but not light the fire. The prophets will call on their god and I will call on Yahweh. The God who answers with fire, He is God.”
The people answered, “That sounds like a good plan.”
Elijah told the prophets of Baal, “Since there are so many of you, choose and prepare your bull first. Put it on the altar, but don’t light the fire.”
After their prepared bull was on the altar, they prayed to Baal from morning until noon, begging Baal to answer them. There was no sound; no one answered. They danced around the altar they had made.
At noon, Elijah mocked them. He said, “Shout louder. He’s a god! Maybe he’s thinking it over. Maybe he wandered away. Maybe he went out to relieve himself. Maybe he’s asleep and will wake up.”
They shouted loudly. Following one of their worship customs, they cut themselves with knives and spears.
All afternoon, they kept up their raving until the time for the evening sacrifice. Still there was no sound, no answer, no one paying attention.
Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me,” and they did.
Elijah took 12 stones; matching the number of the tribes of Israel. He built an altar to the Lord there.
Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold about four gallons. Next he arranged the wood on the altar, cut up the bull, and placed it on the wood.
He told the people to fill four water jugs with water and pour it over the bull and the wood. He had them do this three times. Water ran all around the altar, even filling the trench with water.
Elijah approached the altar and prayed, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Show the whole nation today that You are God in Israel. That I am Your servant. And that I have done all these things at Your direction. Answer me, Lord, so these people will know that you, Yahweh, are God.”
Fire fell from the heavens and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, the dust, and the water that was in the trench.
When all the people saw it, they fell facedown and said, “Yahweh, He is God! Yahweh, He is God!”
Elijah ordered them, “Seize the prophets of Baal and Asherah! Don’t let any of them escape.” The people seized them. Elijah brought them down to a nearby creek bed and slaughtered them there.
Elijah told Ahab, “Go and satisfy yourself with food and drink. Soon there will be a rainstorm.”
Ahab went to eat and drink. Elijah went up to the peak of the mountain. He bowed down to the ground and put his face between his knees.
He told his servant, “Go up and look toward the sea.”
The servant went up, looked, and said, “There’s nothing.”
Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”
On the seventh time, he reported, “There’s a cloud as small as a man’s hand coming from the sea.”
Elijah said, “Go tell Ahab to get his chariot and go to the palace so the rain doesn’t stop him.’”
In a little while, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there was a downpour. The power of the Lord was on Elijah, and he tucked his robe under his belt and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of the capital city.
The Lessons:
- We see in this story that the worship of Baal and Asherah had grown significantly during the period of the divided kingdom. Elijah went directly after the priests of those two gods.
- A little personal note: I can only imagine what the people must have thought about Elijah “wasting” that much water after three years without rain! They probably thought he had lost his mind!
- When Elijah prayed and asked God to show the people that He was the one true God, He showed it by consuming the sacrifice, the altar, the water in the trenches, and some of the surrounding dirt.
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