Elijah Challenges Baal Worship

GOLDEN TEXT: “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 18:21

I KINGS 17:1; 18:17-24, 37-39

THE events of today’s lesson occurred toward the end of three and one-half years of drought in Israel, brought on by God at the hands of Elijah. The reason for it was that the nation had again departed from the true God and had become worshipers of Baal. This occurred during the reign of King Ahab, and largely because he had yielded to his heathen and wicked wife, Jezebel.

So outstanding was her role in leading God’s typical people astray that her name is used in Revelation 2:20 to symbolize a sinister and seductive agency which succeeded for a time to divert the people of nominal spiritual Israel of the present age from a proper worship of the true God. Even the three and one-half years during which rain was withheld from Israel foreshadowed, symbolically, a period of 1,260 years during which little or no waters of truth fell to refresh nominal spiritual Israel, and when the antitypical Elijah, the true church, was specially nourished in the “wilderness.”—Rev. 12:6

Elijah felt himself very much alone in his loyalty to Jehovah, the God of Israel; but he was sure that God was with him, and this gave him extraordinary courage, as evidenced in his bold demand that king Ahab request a gathering of the people on Mt. Carmel, together with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal. And Ahab was willing to comply with this demand. He evidently realized that Elijah, and Elijah’s God, were responsible for the famine conditions in the land; so, despite the wishes of his wife, Ahab realized that it might be calamitous to withstand the prophet.

As our Golden Text reveals, when Elijah called upon the people to gather at Mt. Carmel to take a stand, either for Jehovah or for Baal, they were speechless. It is surprising that under the circumstances they were courageous enough to remain neutral; for, from the human standpoint, Elijah was in a very unenviable position. He was alone, and on the other side were four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal. Certainly, as it would seem to the people, Baal’s worshipers thus far had prospered. Was it possible that this one lone man, hated by Queen Jezebel, although feared by Ahab, could now change things?

Then Elijah presented his proposition, which was to have each side prepare an offering. Then the prophets of Baal were to call upon their god to accept the sacrifice by consuming it with fire. If their god did not respond, then Elijah would call upon the God of Israel to reveal his power causing fire to consume the sacrifice he had offered.

The people quickly realized that this was an eminently fair test, which indicated that at heart they were not true worshipers of Baal. They had been caught in circumstances from which they could not extricate themselves without the help of strong leadership. The enthusiasm with which they responded to Elijah’s proposition seems to indicate that they were greatly relieved to think that a possible way out had been found.

Baal’s priests could do nothing else but accept Elijah’s challenge. But Baal did not respond. No fire appeared to consume the sacrifice they presented to their god. Elijah justifiably was elated over what he knew in advance would be their certain defeat. After they cried long and frantically to Baal, but in vain, he taunted them, saying, “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.”—vs. 27

They continued their efforts until late in the afternoon, but without avail. Then Elijah prepared his sacrifice. He took every precaution to assure the people that he was not trying to deceive them, even to soaking the sacrifice with water, and digging a ditch around the altar and filling it with water.

Then Elijah prayed, “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.”

We know the result. Fire appeared and consumed the sacrifice, upon the altar, and even licked up the water in the trench. What followed was a logical sequence to this victory. The priests of Baal were destroyed, and the people turned from idolatry to the worship of Jehovah. It was a thrilling experience for Elijah, and should increase our faith and faithfulness.

QUESTIONS

Of what circumstances was the scene of today’s lesson a climax, and how are these referred to in the New Testament?

Why was Ahab willing to comply with Elijah’s request for a gathering of the people on Mt. Carmel?

Relate what occurred on the mountain, and what practical lesson may we derive from the event?

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