Elijah’s Triumph over the Priests of Baal
There are many little gods in our lives that people try to worship. Elijah said: “If the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.” We should remember this. If you love the LORD and you believe He is the LORD follow Him. Equally if you love Jesus Christ and believe He is the Son of God then follow Him. 1 Kings 18:20-40
So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto Mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, “How long will you pass over between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.”
Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 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: And call you on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answered by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for you are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. 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. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleeps, and must be awaked. And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.
And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.
And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that you art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that you art the LORD God, and that you have turned their heart back again.
Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God. And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
What Can This Story Teach Us?
There are many little gods in our lives that people try to worship. These are things we have already talked about. Things such as video games, money, possessions like bikes, jewelry, cars, or even toys.
Also there are too many people that use things like astrology, like horoscopes, or zodiac. Many people go to seances, psychics, or tarot cards, casting spells, or magical healings, some people even claim they can talk to dead people. These are forms of abomination to the LORD God but they are not seen as that by the worldly.
Elijah said: “If the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.” We should remember this. If you love the LORD and you believe He is the LORD follow Him. Equally if you love Jesus Christ and believe He is the Son of God then follow Him.
Jesus said unto His disciples, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24).
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “Elijah’s Triumph over the Priests of Baal:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Feb 2015.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2214,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015, February) “Elijah’s Triumph over the Priests of Baal:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2214,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015) “Elijah’s Triumph over the Priests of Baal:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (February), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2214, (accessed).
