get answers to your Bible questions from 50+ resources ($2,400+ value! Through Elijah, God declared that Baal couldnt deliver the goods and his people couldnt have it both ways. It does not appear that either the increase of the provision or the raising of the child had caused him to be taken notice of at Zarephath, for then Ahab would have discovered him; he would rather do good than be known to do it. The battle for their hearts took place in part on the battlefield of their bank accounts. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. When we worship money, it mauls us. ESV - Two things he pleads here:-- (1.) Idolatry is an economic issue. Baal and his prophets were confounded. See Luke 1:16; Luke 1:17. He stood by them, and patiently heard them for so many hours praying to an idol, yet with secret indignation and disdain; and at noon, when the sun was at the hottest, and they too expecting fire (then if ever), he upbraided them with their folly; and notwithstanding the gravity of his office, and the seriousness of the work he had before him, bantered them: "Cry aloud, for he is a god, a goodly god that cannot be made to hear without all this clamour. New Century Version (NCV). Choose a bull and prepare it. answer us; as it is in the margin: and this for some hours together, longer than Diana's worshippers made their cry, Great is Diana of the Ephesians,Acts 19:34. Asked April 28 2020 He will kill me!, 15Elijah answered, As surely as the Lord All-Powerful lives, whom I serve, I will be seen by Ahab today.. He is there in the presence of Ahab, the 450 prophets of Baal, 400 prophets of the groves and a company of people from all Israel. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. It is a very bad thing to halt between God and Baal. If I go tell King Ahab you are here, and he comes and doesnt find you, he will kill me! It was a very coarse compliment with which he accosted him at the first word: Art thou he that troubleth Israel?1 Kings 18:17; 1 Kings 18:17. Why did the prophets of Baal cut themselves (1 Kings 18:28) Context: 1 Kings 18:27-28 New International Version (NIV) 27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. Prove that you are the God of Israel and that I am your servant. Ahab got in his chariot and started back to Jezreel. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. He tells Elijah what great search Ahab had made for him and how much his heart was upon it to find him out, 1 Kings 18:10; 1 Kings 18:10. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. This happened seven times. 27At noon Elijah began to make fun of them. 35So the water ran off the altar and filled the ditch. Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. 23Bring two bulls. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. The priests and the Levites had all gone to Judah and Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 11:13; 2 Chronicles 11:14), but, instead of them, God raised up these prophets, who read and expounded the law in private meetings, or in the families that retained their integrity, for we read not of any synagogues at this time; they had not the spirit of prophecy as Elijah, nor did they offer sacrifice, or burn incense, but taught people to live well, and keep close to the God of Israel. Elijah told him to go and look again. While Baal worshipers went hungry during the drought, God fed Elijah meat and bread delivered to him daily by carrier ravens (see v. 6). For less than $5/mo. 21Elijah approached the people and said, How long will you not decide between two choices? 20So Ahab called all the Israelites and those prophets to Mount Carmel. 4When Jezebel was killing all the Lords prophets, Obadiah hid a hundred of them in two caves, fifty in one cave and fifty in another. Surely you think he is talking or meditating (as the word is) or he is pursuing some deep thoughts, (in a brown study, as we say), thinking of somewhat else and not minding his own matter, when not your credit only, but all his honour lies at stake, and his interest in Israel. God, at length, ordered Elijah to present himself to Ahab, because the time had now come when he would send rain upon the earth (1 Kings 18:1; 1 Kings 18:1), or rather upon the land. 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. Thou employest me; Lord, make it appear that thou dost so;" see Numbers 16:28; Numbers 16:29. King Ahab sent for Obadiah, who was in charge of the king's palace. He that will thrive must rise betimes. Six times his servant goes to the point of the hill and sees nothing, brings no good news to his master; yet Elijah continues praying, will not be diverted so far as to go and see with his own eyes, but still sends his servant to see if he can discover any hopeful cloud, while he keeps his mind close and intent in prayer, and abides by it, as one that has taken up his father Jacob's resolution, I will not let thee go except thou bless me. I. Elijah sent Ahab to eat and drink, for joy that God had now accepted his works, and that rain was coming; see Ecclesiastes 9:7. II. This is the right method. Note, The worship of idols is a most ridiculous thing, and it is but justice to represent it so and expose it to scorn. When we shall see the doctrine of the individual responsibility of each Christian fully felt and carried out into individual action. How importunate and noisy the prophets of Baal were in their applications to him. Israel being thus far reformed that they had acknowledged the Lord to be God, and had consented to the execution of Baal's prophets, that they might not seduce them any more, though this was far short of a thorough reformation, yet it was so far accepted that God thereupon opened the bottles of heaven, and poured out blessings upon his land, that very evening (as it should seem) on which they did this good work, which should have confirmed them in their reformation; see Haggai 2:18; Haggai 2:19. When Jezebel cut off God's prophets God cut off the necessary provisions by the extremity of the drought. If Baal really is a god, maybe he is thinking, or busy, or traveling! 0 responses Three years and a half's famine would not bring them back to God. They just added Baal worship to their insurance policy. 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. No one answered; no one paid attention" (v. 29 ESV).. 5:3). God will provide himself fire. Transfers the title of honour he gave him to Ahab: "Call him thy lord, not me;" that is a fitter title for a prince than for a prophet, who seeks not honour from men. Providence ordered it so, that Ahab might, with his own eyes, see how bad the consequences of this judgment were, that so he might be the better inclined to hearken to Elijah, who would direct him into the only way to put an end to it. The prophets of Baal went first. But the primary attraction to Baal wasnt a pretty statue; it was an economic promise. Here are guidelines to help facilitate a meaningful learning experience for everyone. (2.) Showdown on the mount There was a heavy rain: Gods word through Elijah was proved true. 16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Stop for a moment. Do you believe that? a. (4.) I. Elijah reproved the people for mixing the worship of God and the worship of Baal together. Compare Mark 9:38; Mark 9:39; Matthew 21:30. " By afternoon, worshippers of Baal were cutting themselves up and ripping off their clothes, writhing in unspeakable suicidal frustration.When he called on them to shout and wake up . 2. So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. The prophets of Baal try first, but in vain, with their god. But when we worship the idol of money, when our lives are oriented primarily toward earning, getting, and keeping, we become deformed, reflecting not the image of Yahweh, Lord of heaven and earth, but money, the god of me and mine. But, since Ahab invites him not to ride with him, he will run before him (1 Kings 18:46; 1 Kings 18:46) as one of his footmen, that he may not seem to be lifted up with the great honour God had put upon him or to abate in his civil respect to his prince, though he reproved him faithfully. After Israel had gone more than three years without rain as a judgment for their idolatry, the prophet Elijah confronts the evil king Ahab and challenges him to a spiritual showdown. 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 . IV. Nay (1 Kings 18:13; 1 Kings 18:13), Was it not told my lord how I hid the prophets? 25Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, There are many of you, so you go first. Based only on the sighting of a cloud that was as small as a mans hand, he knew a torrent was on the way. 732 views, 45 likes, 11 loves, 7 comments, 73 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from : 22 2023 . (5.) Has the book of Amos been fulfilled or is it a reference to end times? 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. Bread and water were now scarce commodities, yet Obadiah will find a competence of both for God's prophets, to keep them alive for service hereafter, though now they were laid aside. 9 And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me? The glory of God: "Lord, hear me, and answer me, that it may be known (for it is now by the most denied or forgotten) that thou art God in Israel, to whom alone the homage and devotion of Israel are due, and that I am thy servant, and do all that I have done, am doing, and shall do, as thy agent, at thy word, and not to gratify any humour or passion of my own. 40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. They were very desirous to see the experiment tried, and seemed resolved to abide by the issue, whatever it should be. Dont let any of them run away! The people captured all the prophets. Baal's prophets were so far from being convinced and put to shame by the just reproach Elijah cast upon them that it made them the more violent and led them to act more ridiculously. Obadiah begs to be excused from carrying this message to Ahab, for it might prove as much as his life was worth. He will put me to death. Why in 1 Kings 18:40 did Elijah take the prophets of Baal down to the brook of Kishon to slew them? [2.] The priests of Baal would pray to their god, and Elijah would pray to his God. Elijah does not say, "The God that answers by water" (though that was the thing the country needed), but "that answers by fire, let him be God;" because the atonement was to be made by sacrifice, before the judgment could be removed in mercy. To Christians this is a. He durst not strike him, remembering that Jeroboam's hand withered when it was stretched out against a prophet, but gave him bad language, which was no less an affront to him that sent him. Elijah ran on foot before him. shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? 3. Those who are called to appear and act in public for God must yet find time to be private with him and keep up their converse with him in solitude. 30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. 4. Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or . 43Then Elijah said to his servant, Go and look toward the sea.. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. 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. Elijah vs. the priests of Baal. He takes it for granted that Elijah would again withdraw (1 Kings 18:12; 1 Kings 18:12): The Spirit of the Lord shall carry thee (as it is likely he had done sometimes, when Ahab thought he had been sure of him) whither I know not. Now if, upon trial, it appears that Baal is that one infinite omnipotent Being, that one supreme Lord and all-sufficient benefactor, you ought to renounce Jehovah and cleave to Baal only: but, if Jehovah be that one God, Baal is a cheat, and you must have no more to do with him." There are those who trouble Israel by their wickedness, whom the conservators of the public peace are concerned to enquire after. 5Ahab said to Obadiah, Lets check every spring and valley in the land. Blessed are those that have not seen what they saw and yet have believed and been wrought upon by it more than those that saw it. Ahab said unto all the Israelites and those prophets to Mount Carmel public peace are concerned to enquire.! 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