Session 6 1 Kings 18:25-39

FUTILITY (1 KINGS 18:25-29)

listen for the extremes the false prophets went to, hoping for their god to respond.

25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal,
“Since you are so numerous,
choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first.
Then call on the name of your god but don’t light the fire.”

26 So they took the bull that he gave them, prepared it,
and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying,
“Baal, answer us! ”
But there was no sound;
no one answered.
Then they danced around the altar they had made.
27 At noon Elijah mocked them. He said,
“Shout loudly, for he’s a god! Maybe he’s thinking it over;
maybe he has wandered away;
or maybe he’s on the road.
Perhaps he’s sleeping and will wake up!”
28 They shouted loudly, and cut themselves with knives and spears,
according to their custom, until blood gushed over them.
29 All afternoon they kept on raving until the offering of the evening sacrifice,
but there was no sound;
no one answered, no one paid attention.

Record:

To the Extremes.
name the things the false prophets did in their efforts to attract Baal’s attention.

• took bull.
• called on baal all morning. answer us!
• Danced.
• shouted loudly.
• cut themselves.
• raved all afternoon.

Highlight:

Don't miss a crucial point.
Baal’s followers not only wanted fire to fall from heaven and consume the prepared bull,
they were expecting it to happen.
From the moments that the first syllables rang from their lips, they believed Baal would respond.

Discuss:

Focus attention on the end of verse 29:

“no sound; no one answered, no one paid attention.”

Ask:

• How should the lack of any response impact a person’s belief about something or someone they worship?
• What motivates people to pursue things other than God as their highest priority? (p. 55)

Transition:

Despite the prophets’ frantic efforts, Baal was silent.
Elijah took action.