Session 6 1 Kings 18:25-39
1 KINGS 18:25-39
MEMORY VERSE: 1 KINGS 18:21
Companies hiring new employees usually want people with related experience. Supervisors want to hire people who have proven track records of success. Many believe that past success is the best indicator of future success. The Bible is filled with demonstrations of God’s power. Elijah was an instrument whom God used to display His power. God’s past actions assures us of His present and future power.
(In PSG, p. 55)
Ahab became king of Israel when his father Omri died (1 Kings 16:29). He was an evil king and married Jeze-bel, a Sidonian princess and devout Baal worshiper (16:30-31). He even built an altar for Baal in Samaria (16:32-33).
Elijah the Tishbite appeared on the scene and informed Ahab that no dew or rain would fall in Israel without the prophet’s authorization (17:1). Elijah hid himself from Ahab at the brook Cherith east of the Jordan River, and the Lord sent ravens to bring him food (17:2-6). God then sent Elijah to Zarephath near Sidon, where a widow provided for him (17:7-10). The widow was running out of food, but God provided for her needs when she trusted Elijah’s promise (17:11-16). Later, the widow’s son became sick and died, but God used Elijah to raise the child from the dead (17:17-24).
God commanded Elijah to go meet King Ahab the third year after Elijah’s announcement (18:1-2). Ahab had sent a man named Obadiah to seek water and vegetation in the land, and Elijah met him and told him to tell Ahab Elijah would appear to him soon (18:3-8). Obadiah feared for his life, because he knew Ahab did not like Elijah (18:9-14). However, Elijah assured Obadiah he would appear to the king that day (18:15-16).
Elijah told Ahab that he had brought trouble on himself by forsaking God’s commands. The prophet encouraged him to bring the prophets of Baal and Asherah to Mount Carmel for a divine showdown (18:17-40).
Following the contest on Mount Carmel, Elijah told Ahab that rain was coming soon (18:41). The prophet waited atop Carmel as he sent his servant seven times to look to the sea for signs of the coming rain (18:43). God sent rain at last as Ahab rode his chariot to Jezreel (18:44-46).
EXPLORE THE TEXT
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.”
King Ahab had summoned all the Israelites, along with the prophets of Baal, to Mount Carmel at Elijah’s request (18:20). The contest was about to begin. Elijah addressed the prophets of Baal. Verse 19 highlights Elijah’s request for Ahab to summon 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah. Verse 22 confirms that at least the four hundred and fifty Baal prophets assembled. God’s prophet was greatly outnumbered, affirming: you are so numerous. He commanded them to choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first. The words translated prepare it refer back to Elijah’s instructions in verse 23. He had suggested they cut the bull in pieces and lay it on the wood on the altar. He then invited the Baal prophets to call on the name of your godcall on the name of your god. They would invoke Baal’s name and implore him to respond from heaven, but Elijah again reminded them don’t light the fire. Baal would have to reveal his power by igniting his own sacrifice. Since Baal was considered both sun god and storm
god, the contest rules provided him a perceived advantage.
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.
The prophets of Baal took the bull that he gave them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon. They called, Baal, answer us! Perhaps they thought their numbers and zeal would provoke Baal’s response, but there was no sound; no one answered. They danced around the altar in a heightened effort to get Baal’s attention. The word translated danced is the same word translated “waver” in verse 21. It literally means “limped” and may refer to the Baal prophets doing a ritual dance around their altar. They were doing all they could to implore Baal’s response, but nothing was working.
At noon, Elijah mocked them. They had been calling on Baal for several hours, and Elijah knew their efforts would prove futile. He probably intended his mocking to help the people who were watching appreciate the futility of the Baal prophets’ actions.
Elijah encouraged the prophets, shout loudly, for he’s a god! Perhaps such a great god as Baal should be responded to with an appropriately loud and great voice! He then began to suggest reasons for Baal’s delay in responding. First, Elijah suggested maybe he’s thinking it over. Elijah was raising the idea that perhaps Baal could not make up his mind as to what to do.
Second, Elijah suggested maybe he has wandered away. The Hebrew word means step away and many interpreters believe the expression is a euphemism that suggests Baal might have needed to use the restroom! Notice how Elijah’s suggestion put Baal in human terms; pagan peoples assumed the gods were like them.
Third, Elijah suggested maybe he’s on the road. Maybe he had left the region, and they needed to wait for his return!
Fourth, Elijah suggested perhaps he’s sleeping and will wake up! Such a great god might sleep soundly, so if the Baal prophets called louder, perhaps they could awaken him and spur him to action. Their raised voices would have added to the spectacle on Mount Carmel.
The Baal prophets shouted loudly, and cut themselves with knives and spears. Perhaps they were beginning to recognize their desperate situation as the time passed. They did not know for sure that Elijah’s God would succeed, but they knew Baal was failing. Their cutting themselves was their custom of worship. Many ancient pagan religions involved people mutilating themselves to get their god’s attention.
All afternoon, the prophets of Baal kept on raving. These false prophets called words into an empty heaven. Their desperate calling continued until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, which would have been at twilight (Ex. 29:39,41). However, there was no sound in response to their cries. No one answered, no one paid attention. They had called all day, but heaven remained silent. Baal had failed his people.
All false gods will lead to disappointment and emptiness. The Baal prophets worshiped a god that did not exist. He held only the power they ascribed to him. Today, many peoples of the world worship false gods; one day, they will discover these gods are powerless. In addition, many worship other “gods” such as money, fame, and power. These also ultimately will not provide lasting satisfaction. Only a relationship with God that involves worship of Him will provide lasting fulfillment.
(In PSG, p. 58)
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near me.” So all the people approached him. Then he repaired the LORD’s altar that had been torn down: 31 Elijah took twelve stones — according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, “Israel will be your name” — 32 and he built an altar with the stones in the name of the LORD. Then he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold about four gallons. 33 Next, he arranged the wood, cut up the bull, and placed it on the wood. He said, “Fill four water pots with water and pour it on the offering to be burned and on the wood.” 34 Then he said, “A second time!” and they did it a second time. And then he said, “A third time! ” and they did it a third time. 35 So the water ran all around the altar; he even filled the trench with water.
Elijah had given the Baal prophets all day, but they had not succeeded. He then addressed all the people and invited them, come near me. As he requested, all the people approached him; they would provide witness to what would happen next.
Elijah repaired the LORD’s altar that had been torn down. This altar likely came from an earlier time, before King Solomon completed the temple in Jerusalem. Before the people entered the land, God instructed them to worship Him only in the place He would choose and not to build altars on every hill (Deut. 12:9-11,13-14). However, this contest was a special instance through which God was using His prophet to establish His presence in the Northern Kingdom—a kingdom that had turned away from Him.
The prophet of the Lord worked carefully and deliberately. Elijah took twelve stones—according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob. By doing so, Elijah was anchoring his altar to Israel’s history. When God’s people crossed the Jordan River in the days of Joshua, Joshua had built memorial altars by the Jordan and in the Jordan, each with twelve stones (Josh. 4:4-7,9). These altars represented Israel’s unity; its twelve tribes were entering the land as one people. Perhaps Elijah’s using twelve stones anticipated a day when God would unite the kingdoms of Israel and Judah again into one country under God alone.
The declaration, Israel will be your name, links to the story of the patriarch Jacob (Gen. 32:28; 35:10). It reminded the people their country took its name from this patriarch who had followed the Lord. Israel’s faith was rooted in history, but they had forsaken that history.
(In PSG, p. 59)
Elijah built an altar with the stones in the name of the LORD. His careful preparation highlighted the importance of his work. Some present may have feared he would not have enough daylight to finish the task and call on God, but Elijah’s actions demonstrated his faith. Once he completed the altar, he would not need much time.
Elijah also made a trench around the altar large enough to hold about four gallons. He then proceeded to do everything else to prepare for the sacrifice according to the instructions he originally had given (v. 23). First, he arranged the wood on the altar to provide fuel for the fire. Second, he cut up the bull and placed it on the wood. The Baal prophets also had done this with their sacrifice but were unsuccessful.
Elijah’s instructions to the people to fill four water pots with water and pour it on the offering to be burned and on the wood further highlighted his faith. Not only did he believe his God could light the sacrifice, but he believed his God could light a soaking wet sacrifice! The people obeyed, though many probably remained puzzled at his actions.
The people likely were even more surprised when Elijah commanded that they soak the sacrifice a second time. Nonetheless, at his command, they did it a second time. When he commanded them to douse it again, they did it a third time.
Verse 35 describes the result: the water ran all around the altar. Elijah still was not finished; he even filled the trench with water. Filling the trench with water would have further restrained whatever water was draining from the sacrifice.
We must remember as we read this account that Elijah had not yet experienced the contest’s grand outcome. In his heart, he had confidence his God would win, even if the sacrifice was doused with water. He glorified God by trusting in His power. We honor God when we express trust in His power.
(In PSG, p. 60)
36 At the time for offering the evening sacrifice, the prophet Elijah approached the altar and said, “LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, today let it be known that you are God in Israel and I am your servant, and that at your word I have done all these things. 37 Answer me, LORD! Answer me so that this people will know that you, the LORD, are God and that you have turned their hearts back.”
It was now the time for offering the evening sacrifice (see v. 29). No response had come from Baal, even though the Baal prophets had called on him all day long. The prophet Elijah approached the altar he had re-built. He began his prayer, LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Earlier the text connected the names Jacob and Israel (v. 31). By using the name Israel here, Elijah was again stressing the Northern Kingdom’s historic connection to their God. God’s relationship with His people did not begin in Elijah’s generation; it had begun over a thousand years earlier when God called Abram (Abraham) to leave Haran for Canaan (Gen. 12:1-3).
Elijah was not inviting the Israelites to receive a new faith but to reclaim their own. He asked God, today let it be known that you are God in Israel, and I am your servant. The prophet had performed a public act of faith; if God answered his request, the people would see Elijah was God’s true prophet. Moreover, they would know the Lord indeed was God of Israel. It was important that prophets spoke only what God commanded them to speak (Deut. 18:22). Elijah wanted God to show the people that at your word I have done all these things. God had commanded, Elijah had obeyed, and now God would do the work.
Elijah’s two-fold repetition, answer me, LORD! Answer me stressed the seriousness of the situation and the earnestness of Elijah’s call to his God. The Baal prophets had seen nothing come of their request. Elijah had rebuilt the Lord’s altar and prepared it for the moment fire would fall from heaven. Now, Elijah called on God to act. Elijah knew that if God did, then as he said, this people will know that you, the LORD, are God and that you have turned their hearts back.
The prophet wanted the people to see God’s power as the one true God, but he also wanted them to see in this act God’s care for them and His desire to see their repentance. Doing this would establish God as God but also demonstrate His love for His people.
38 Then the LORD’s fire fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 When all the people saw it, they fell facedown and said, “The LORD, he is God! The LORD, he is God!”
In contrast to the silence that followed the Baal prophets’ day-long ravings, God responded quickly to respond to Elijah’s request: then the LORD’s fire fell and consumed the burnt offering. However, God’s mighty fire did much more than that; it consumed the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. The fire was so hot that it burned the wood but also evaporated the stones! The word translated licked up comes from a Hebrew word that sounds like the word “lick” and provides a vivid image of what happened. God’s mighty action put a powerful exclamation on His supremacy over Israel. His heavenly fire consumed the sacrifice and everything associated with it. His power vastly exceeded Baal’s, and at that point, there was no question.
When all the people saw it, they fell facedown. They had witnessed the amazing, powerful demonstration from God Almighty, and they knew to humble themselves at once. They responded in amazement at God’s power as they affirmed the LORD, he is God! The LORD, he is God!
At the beginning of the day, Elijah had proposed that the God who answered the challenge with fire would prove Himself the one true God of Israel. When God responded and Baal did not, the people knew the Lord, and not Baal, was their God. Their fervent affirmation confirmed that sentiment.
God answers the humble prayers of His servants. Elijah wasn’t doing what he did to get attention and fame. Rather, he wanted the glory to go to God. God had called him to a prophetic ministry, and God had provided for him every step of Elijah’s journey (1 Kings 17:2-16). God had protected him from King Ahab, and God soon would protect him from Jezebel, Ahab’s evil wife (1 Kings 19:1-18). Elijah’s goal was not to exalt himself, but to exalt God, that all Israel might know Him.
Today, God is still seeking humble servants who will worship Him above all else. As we do so, we can lead others to do the same by our words or by our example. God is eager to use available, willing believers who desire to see His glory demonstrated. They find their own fulfillment in doing His will. Scripture affirms consistently that God can do extraordinary things through ordinary people who choose to trust Him (Eph. 3:20).
(In PSG, p. 61)
God
There is one and only one living and true God. (See Psalm 83:18; John 17:3.)
Read, reflect on, and react emotionally to a Bible verse.
Read aloud and reflect on 1 Kings 18:38-39. Imagine yourself in the place of the people on Mount Carmel who witnessed this amazing event. Consider the emotions expressed as they saw God’s fire consume everything. What experiences today might cause the same emotions? How should we respond to demonstrations of God’s power?