A good answer provides new insight and perspective. When we read about the Israelites worshiping the god Baal in 1 Kings 18, we tend to think of them developing a preference for wooden idol images. 2. From Pretty Statues to Silver and Gold: Jesus or Mammon? No one who was present that day missed the point. We may request cookies to be set on your device. 23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: 24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. Like madmen they cut themselves in pieces with knives and lancets (1 Kings 18:28; 1 Kings 18:28) for vexation that they were not answered, or in a sort of prophetic fury, hoping to obtain the favour of their god by offering to him their own blood, when they could not obtain it with the blood of their bullock. To Christians this is a. Let us see if he speed better. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. 26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. He would not make use of theirs, which had been polluted with their prayers to Baal, but, finding the ruins of an altar there, which had formerly been used in the service of the Lord, he chose to repair that (1 Kings 18:30; 1 Kings 18:30), to intimate to them that he was not about to introduce any new religion, but to revive the faith and worship of their fathers' God, and reduce them to their first love, their first works. Jesus knew all about gods such as Baal. And he said, Go again seven times. The prophets kept shouting louder and louder, and they cut themselves with swords and knives until they were bleeding. Article Images Copyright , The Real Reason Israel Worshiped Baal (It Wasn't Just a Pretty Statue), Michael Rhodes, Robby Holt, and Brian Fikkert. I incline to this because we find, when they came together, Elijah, knowing what Ahab wanted him for, appointed him to meet him on Mount Carmel, and Ahab complied with the appointment, though Elijah took such a way to revoke the sentence and bless the land as perhaps he little thought of. And there was a sore famine in Samaria. All these parables point in the same direction: money wants our worship. 45After a short time the sky was covered with dark clouds. 25Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, There are many of you, so you go first. Elijah satisfied him that he might with safety deliver this message to Ahab, by assuring him, with an oath, that he would, this very day, present himself to Ahab, 1 Kings 18:15; 1 Kings 18:15. "But there was no voice. [1.] They could say nothing to justify themselves, and they would say nothing to condemn themselves, but, as people confounded, let him say what he would. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. Elijah allows it to them (1 Kings 18:25; 1 Kings 18:25), gives them the lead for their greater confusion; only, knowing that the working of Satan is with lying wonders, he takes care to prevent a fraud: Be sure to put no fire under. 2. 17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? If I go tell King Ahab you are here, and he comes and doesnt find you, he will kill me! And now, 1. 18During the third year without rain, the Lord spoke his word to Elijah: Go and meet King Ahab, and I will soon send rain. 2So Elijah went to meet Ahab. 37Lord, answer my prayer so these people will know that you, Lord, are God and that you will change their minds., 38Then fire from the Lord came down and burned the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the ground around the altar. e. Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you: This was a word of faith from Elijah to Ahab. He writes that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil that has led some to wander from the faith and pierce themselves with many griefs (v. 10). According to one ancient Canaanite myth, the father of Baal slashes his chest, arms, and back upon learning of his son's death. "In reconcilable differences (says bishop Hall) nothing more safe than indifferency both of practice and opinion; but, in cases of such necessary hostility as betwixt God and Baal, he that is not with God is against him." Compare Mark 9:38; Mark 9:39; Matthew 21:30. to please their deity, as Herodias did Herod, and so to obtain their request. 14 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. Does the devil have power to make us sick? Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. 5. A little cloud at length appeared, no bigger than a man's hand, which presently overspread the heavens and watered the earth, 1 Kings 18:44; 1 Kings 18:45. Their greedy hearts created other gods out of every coin in their coffers. After all, if youre a farmer, its only practical to invest in getting the rider of the clouds to like you. They explore six key biblical themes of worship, community, work, equity, creation care, and rest to dig into what the Gospel means for how we use our resources. Great blessings often arise from small beginnings, and showers of plenty from a cloud of a span long. How did the spirit of God move upon the face of the waters in Genesis 1:2? Deuteronomy 14:1 Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead. Ahab and the people expected that Elijah would, in this solemn assembly, bless the land, and pray for rain; but he had other work to do first. 8 And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here. Even Christ and his apostles were thus misrepresented, Acts 17:6. Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or . In it, Elijah, the prophet of Gd, puts to the test what was at the time perceived as the most supreme and powerful of all the godsBaal. It was strange that so wicked a man as Ahab would prefer him to it and continue him in it; certainly it was because he was a man of celebrated honesty, industry, and ingenuity, and one in whom he could repose a confidence, whose eyes he could trust as much as his own, as appears here, 1 Kings 18:5; 1 Kings 18:5. Mauled by Money: The Cost of Economic Idolatry, The Bible also teaches us that the wages of our economic idolatry is death. By this time there was no food in Samaria. Why did Herod like to listen to John the Baptist, who criticized Herods lifestyle? As such he tries to counterfeit the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 46The Lord gave his power to Elijah, who tightened his clothes around him and ran ahead of King Ahab all the way to Jezreel. As for those who fall as victims to the fire of God's wrath, no water can shelter them from it, any more than briers or thorns, Isaiah 27:4; Isaiah 27:5. The Bible states that during the encounter with Elijah the prophets of Baal, "And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them." ( 1 Kings 18:28 ) Where Do We See God's Power over Baal? 29The afternoon passed, and the prophets continued to act like this until it was time for the evening sacrifice. These Jezebel aimed to extirpate, and put many of them to death, which was as much a public calamity as a public iniquity, and threatened the utter ruin of religion's poor remains in Israel. Probably on that mountain they had an eminent high place, where formerly the pure worship of God had been kept up as well as it could be any where but at Jerusalem. His interview with Obadiah, one of Ahab's servants, by whom he sends notice to Ahab of his coming, 1 Kings 18:2-16. Elijah, doubtless, had a special commission from God to put it to this test, otherwise he would have tempted God and affronted religion; but the case was extraordinary, and the judgment upon it would be of use, not only then, but in all ages. Report God has his remnant among all sorts, high and low; there were saints in Nero's household, and in Ahab's. April 2018. It is said that Baal was the son of a god called el. Ahab, like himself, basely accused Elijah. 20So Ahab called all the Israelites and those prophets to Mount Carmel. ), St. Joseph New Catholic Version New Testament. He cast himself down on his knees upon the earth, in token of humility, reverence, and importunity, and put his face between his knees (that is, bowed his head so low that it touched his knees), thus abasing himself in the sense of his own meanness now that God had thus honoured him. 2. Showdown on the mount The prophets of Baal, as criminals, are seized, condemned, and executed, according to law, 1 Kings 18:40; 1 Kings 18:40. And they did it the third time. Otherwise, the rain will stop him.. 19Now tell all Israel to meet me at Mount Carmel. He did not think it enough to fear God himself, but, having wealth and power wherewith to do it, he thought himself obliged to assist and countenance others that feared God; nor did he think his being kind to them would excuse him from being good himself, but he did both, he both feared God greatly himself and patronised those that feared him likewise. III. 45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. Had it been true that he was the troubler of Israel, Ahab, as king, would have been bound to animadvert upon him. With their experiences as a pastor, urban community development expert, and bestselling author of "When Helping Hurts" and president of the Chalmers Center for Economic Development, Michael Rhodes, Robby Holt, and Brian Fikkert offer eye-opening true stories of economic discipleship in action. 34 And he said, Do it the second time. 27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, "Shout louder, for he is a god! 2. 1416). This writing has come about a few days after The Test - 2002 and the Latter Rain, and adds greater clarity to what can be expected in the latter rain. 41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. 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