Elijah Versus Baal, I Kings 18

 

I Kings 18 – Elijah Versus Baal,

 

God is ready to use Elijah. This man can now step out with boldness -he has learned that he is nothing and God is everything. He goes out to meet Ahab, and he is prepared.

There was a famine and much of the vegetation had dried up and the cattle could no longer find places to graze. So, Ahab and his servant, Obadiah set out to find pastureland. They went in different directions. Obadiah was a God-fearing man, and he had hidden one hundred prophets of God from Jezebel’s wrath. Obadiah met Elijah and Elijah told him to tell the king that he was here. Obadiah does not want to deliver Elijah’s message because he is afraid that Elijah will disappear before Ahab sees him. He was fearful for his own life. With Elijah’s assurance that he will certainly meet Ahab, Obadiah goes to the king. Elijah always tells it like it is.

Ahab blames Elijah for the problem in the land.  He accuses Elijah of stirring things up. Then Elijah challenges Ahab to a contest between him and the prophets of Baal. It was actually between the Lord and Satan. Outwardly it was a battle of Ahab and Jezebel with 450 prophets against Elijah.

The people of Israel have assembled at Carmel. They were pretending o worship the living and true God, but they were also worshiping Baal. Elijah says, “let us taste of the Lord and see whether His is good or not. If Baal is God, then let us worship him. And if he is not, then let’s kick him out.

The prophets of Baal put on quite a performance. Elijah sits and watches with a great deal of cynicism. Their actions almost become hysterical. All the people of Israel were watching. Elijah stood alone arrayed against the prophets of Baal.

Elijah is now going to have to depend on God. The altar of the Lord has been broken, and Elijah spends some time cementing it together. Then he made a trench around the altar, put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces. Finally, he ordered that four barrels be filled with water and poured on the sacrifice and on the wood.  Under his breath Elijah probably said, “Lord, if You don’t do it, it won’t be done.” “Let it be known this day that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.” Then the fire fell and consumed the sacrifice. Then he took all the prophets of Baal down to the Brook Kishon and slew them there.

When the people turned to God, the rain came, and the blessings came.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.