Elijah, a Courageous Prophet

I KINGS 18:30-39

THE story of Elijah and the priests of Baal is always refreshing, and to recall it is to be stimulated with an increased desire to stand firm for the Lord against all the forces of evil, especially those of the world and of worldly religions. In Elijah’s time practically the whole house of Israel had adopted the worship of heathen gods, and had turned their backs upon Jehovah, the true and living God. Indeed, Elijah thought he was the only one in the nation who still served the God of Israel, although the situation was not quite this serious, for the Lord assured him that there were yet 7,000 who had not bowed the knee to Baal.—I Kings 19:18

The Lord prepared Elijah for this special test of his courage and devotion by miraculously caring for him during the long drought. This must have given the prophet a sense of the Lord’s nearness to him and of his ability to stand by his people and protect them. The Lord uses various methods of strengthening his people for severe tests which he knows will come upon them, and this is one of the means by which he supplies them with strength in their times of need.

King Ahab and Queen Jezebel had been misruling Israel for a long time, particularly in that they had turned the hearts of the people toward Baal. Now the Lord indicated to Elijah that the time was ripe for a change, and that this could be brought about through a challenge to the priests of Baal to demonstrate the power of their god to accept by fire sacrifices which were offered to him. So Elijah issued the challenge.

These pagan priests must have been somewhat sincere in their belief, else they would not have accepted this challenge, for it would have been better to trump up some excuse for ignoring it, than to have the cause of Baal defeated as it was through his failure to respond to their prayers. Perhaps they reasoned that if he failed so would the God of Israel. For hours they agonized in prayer calling upon their god to send fire to consume the sacrifice they had offered to him, but there was no answer. Elijah mocked them, saying sarcastically that perhaps Baal was sleeping, or perchance had gone on a journey.

Elijah then prepared his sacrifice to be offered to Jehovah. He took special precautions in order to assure the people that his demonstration was to be a genuine one. He not only poured water over the altar and sacrifice, but dug trenches around the altar and filled them with water. Some might wonder where the water came from since there had been such a long drought. It seems, however, that there was a never-failing spring at the foot of Mt. Carmel, in connection with which there was a large fountain, or reservoir. Probably the water was carried from this fountain.

Elijah asked the people to come as near as possible to where the sacrifice was to be offered. He wanted them to be assured that it was to be a bona fide demonstration, that no trickery was to be used. When everything was ready the prophet went to the Lord in prayer. The burden of his prayer is noteworthy, for it reveals that Elijah’s chief concern was the glory of God’s name. “Hear me, O Lord, hear me,” he prayed, “that this people may know that thou art the Lord God.”

More prayers would be answered if they had as their motive the glory of the Lord. Too often prayers are more concerned with our own selfish desires than they are with glorifying the Lord. In the prayer Jesus taught his disciples he used the expression, “Hallowed be Thy name,” and every effective prayer will need to have in it the desire to glorify the Lord, to make his name hallowed.

Elijah’s prayer was answered promptly. Fire came down and consumed the sacrifice, licking up even the water in the trenches which surrounded the altar. Prior to this, Elijah called upon the people to make their choice between serving Baal or serving Jehovah, the God of Israel, but they “answered him not a word.” (verse 21) Now, however, it was different, for with one accord they shouted, “The Lord [Jehovah], he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.”

Then followed the destruction of the priests of Baal, and once more the worship of Jehovah was restored in Israel. But Israel did not for long remain faithful to the Lord. It had ever been, and continued to be, a backsliding nation, a nation which needed to be continually and miraculously reminded that Jehovah was the true God, and that they should have no other gods before him.

Unbelief was Israel’s besetting sin. The Lord told the people that the just “shall live by his faith” (Hab. 2:4), but they had little faith by which to live, and finally were set aside as God’s royal nation. That was when Jesus said to them, “Your house is left unto you desolate.” (Matt. 23:38) Because of Elijah’s work of restoring the worship of the true God in Israel, the Lord used his name as one of the titles of The Christ, Head and body, in the great future work of restoring the worship of the true God among all nations.

The prophecy of Malachi concerning this (Mal. 4:5,6) was partially fulfilled by John the Baptist. He did effect a reformation in the hearts and lives of some, but failed in his general effort. Christ and the church in the flesh likewise have not reformed the world although they have proclaimed a message of repentance. The work of the antitypical Elijah will, however, be accomplished during the thousand-year reign of Christ and his church. Then the knowledge of Jehovah will be caused to fill the whole earth as the waters cover the sea.

QUESTIONS

How did the Lord prepare Elijah for the great test of his courage in challenging the priests of Baal?

Is there reason to think that the priests of Baal may have been somewhat sincere?

What was Elijah’s chief concern when he prayed to Jehovah to accept by fire the sacrifice he had offered to him?

In what manner is Elijah to be considered a type? Explain in detail.

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