19Now tell all Israel to meet me at Mount Carmel. He ordered abundance of water to be poured upon his altar, which he had prepared a trench for the reception of (1 Kings 18:32; 1 Kings 18:32), and, some think, made the altar hollow. And they did it the second time. Great blessings often arise from small beginnings, and showers of plenty from a cloud of a span long. The execution he did upon the prophets of Baal, 1 Kings 18:40. New Century Version (NCV). He could not bring them to the altar at Jerusalem unless he could unite the two kingdoms again (which, for correction to both, God designed should not now be done), therefore, by his prophetic authority, he builds an altar on Mount Carmel, and so owns that which had formerly been built there. Those that slighted and hated his counsels would gladly be beholden to him for his prayers. He sent the rain in torrents. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. When Jezebel was killing the Lords prophets, I hid a hundred of them, fifty in one cave and fifty in another. The Holy Bible, New Century Version. Otherwise, the rain will stop him.. Turn them again to the Lord God of hosts, from whom they have revolted, and all will be well quickly; this must be Elijah's doing. To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient. A deceived heart had turned them aside, they could not deliver their souls by saying, Is there not a lie in our right hand? There he would be alone. Those fear God greatly that keep up the fear of him in bad times and places; thus Obadiah did. He maketh fire come down from heaven in the sight of men and so deceiveth them,Revelation 13:13; Revelation 13:14. 40Then Elijah said, Capture the prophets of Baal! Didnt the prophet trick him? I. Elijah reproved the people for mixing the worship of God and the worship of Baal together. Not only some Israelites worshipped God and others Baal, but the same Israelites sometimes worshipped one and sometimes the other. 25Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, There are many of you, so you go first. [3.] Maybe we can find enough grass to keep our horses and mules alive and not have to kill our animals. 6So each one chose a part of the country to search; Ahab went in one direction and Obadiah in another. God's ministers should make it appear that, how great soever they look when they deliver God's message, yet they are far from affecting worldly grandeur: let them leave that to the kings of the earth. 33Elijah put the wood on the altar, cut the bull into pieces, and laid the pieces on the wood. Does My Passion Mean That I'm Being Called? He hid 100 of them in two caves, when the persecution was hot, and fed them with bread and water,1 Kings 18:4; 1 Kings 18:4. If I go tell King Ahab you are here, and he comes and doesnt find you, he will kill me! Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. 24You prophets of Baal, pray to your god, and I will pray to the Lord. 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. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. We are made in the image of this generous King, wired to reflect his generosity to the rest of creation. 27At noon Elijah began to make fun of them. He causeth vapours to ascend, and maketh lightnings for the rain; for this rain he did both. There he set himself, as it were, upon his watch-tower, like the prophet, Habakkuk 2:1. Our idols never stop consuming and destroying that which we hold most dear. Three years and a half's famine would not bring them back to God. Hence we read of those that hide themselves in the top of Carmel,Amos 9:3. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. Those that were firm for God doubted not but it would end to his honour; those that were indifferent were willing to be determined; and Ahab and the prophets of Baal durst not oppose for fear of the people, and hoped that either they could obtain fire from heaven (though they never had yet), and the rather because, as some think, they worshipped the sun in Baal, or that Elijah could not, because not at the temple, where God was wont thus to manifest his glory. "But there was no voice. By this time there was no food in Samaria. He that can give fire can give rain; see Matthew 9:2; Matthew 9:6. The prophets of Baal, as criminals, are seized, condemned, and executed, according to law, 1 Kings 18:40; 1 Kings 18:40. This is the right method. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. The wind began to blow, and soon a heavy rain began to fall. 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? Because our material possessions so often seduce us into worshiping them like gods, they pose possibly the preeminent threat to worshiping Jesus. Report III. Paul declares that greed is idolatry, that to be greedy is to worship other gods (see Col. 3:5; Eph. He mentions this, not in pride or ostentation, but to convince Elijah that though he was Ahab's servant he was not in his interest, and therefore deserved not to be bantered as one of the tools of his persecution. They cut themselves and cried out to Baal for hours, but 1 Kings 18:26 says, "There was no voice; no one answered." Their god was a non-entity, a nothing. Then Elijah led them down to the Kishon Valley, where he killed them. (5.) Elijah on Mount Carmel 26 And they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, shouting, "O Baal, answer us!" But there was no sound, and no one answered as they leaped around the altar they had made. If we can find one that has more right to us, or will be a better master to us, than God, we may take him at our peril. Jack Gutknecht. 9 And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me? 41Then Elijah said to Ahab, Now, go, eat, and drink, because a heavy rain is coming. 42So King Ahab went to eat and drink. Elijah might have looked for rain seventy times seven times, and not have seen it, if he had not thus begun his work at the right end. Giving is what we do best; the air into which we were born. Giving signals and solidifies our allegiance to and dependence on God and his kingdom. Even Christ and his apostles were thus misrepresented, Acts 17:6. God's cause is so incontestably just that it needs not fear to have the evidences of its equity searched into and weighed. Go tell your master that I am here., 9Then Obadiah said, What wrong have I done for you to hand me over to Ahab like this? From Genesis to Revelation, we see that one of our Creator Kings primary qualities is his lavish generosity. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. Pursuant to this order we have here, I. But humans cannot serve two kings. We left the prophet Elijah wrapt up in obscurity. 33 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. When we give, we reflect the image of our giving God. Does God gives us political leaders or do we vote them by choice? All answers are REVIEWED and MODERATED. Does the devil have power to make us sick? One true prophet against 450 false prophets. When we shall see the doctrine of the individual responsibility of each Christian fully felt and carried out into individual action. (Obadiah was a true follower of the Lord. Note, It bodes well to any people when God calls his ministers out of their corners, and bids them show themselves--a sign that he will give rain on the earth; at least we may the better be content with the bread of affliction while our eyes see our teachers,Isaiah 30:20; Isaiah 30:21. (2.) 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. Stop for a moment. Elijah first surrendered, or rather discovered, himself to Obadiah. 2. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. [1.] 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. Even on Baals home turf, people starved while waiting for Baal to bring his promised abundance. Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or . Is it True for Christians That 'Once Saved, Always Saved'? He fitted up an altar. However, it is put to this experiment, "Let each side prepare a sacrifice, and pray to its God, and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God; if neither shall thus answer, let the people turn Atheists; if both, let them continue to halt between two." 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. It should seem, he made this diligent search for him, not so much that he might punish him for what he had done in denouncing the judgment as that he might oblige him to undo it again, by recalling the sentence, because he had said it should be according to his word, having such an opinion of him as men foolishly conceive of witches (that, if they can but compel them to bless that which they have bewitched, it will be well again), or such as the king of Moab had of Balaam. You can check these in your browser security settings. 3. But the primary attraction to Baal wasnt a pretty statue; it was an economic promise. Ahab issued out writs accordingly, for the convening of this great assembly (1 Kings 18:20; 1 Kings 18:20), either because he feared Elijah and durst not oppose him (Saul stood in awe of Samuel more than of God), or because he hoped Elijah would bless the land, and speak the word that they might have rain, and upon those terms they would be all at his beck. 31He took twelve stones, one stone for each of the twelve tribes, the number of Jacobs sons. 5:3). Obadiah recognized Elijah, so he bowed down to the ground and said, Elijah? It is a chapter in which are many things very observable. For the nations around Israel, Baal was the rider of the clouds, who brought the rains and blessed the earth.When Baal showed up, the heavens rained oil, the rivers ran with honey, mothers gave birth to healthy children, and even the dead could be raised. 46The Lord gave his power to Elijah, who tightened his clothes around him and ran ahead of King Ahab all the way to Jezreel. Let it for ever be looked upon as a point adjudged against all pretenders (for it was carried, upon a full hearing, against one of the most daring and threatening competitors that ever the God of Israel was affronted by) that Jehovah, he is God, God alone. This great good man used his power for the protection of God's prophets. It is said that Baal was the son of a god called el. He addressed himself to God as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, acting faith on God's ancient covenant, and reminding people too (for prayer may prevail) of their relation both to God and to the patriarchs. Elijah sought not his own glory but in subserviency to God's, and for his own necessary vindication. Elijah Kills the Prophets of Baal - During the third year without rain, the LORD spoke his word to Elijah: "Go and meet King Ahab, and I will soon send rain." So Elijah went to meet Ahab. What he said we are not told; but, 1. God immediately answered him by fire, 1 Kings 18:38; 1 Kings 18:38. And he said, Go again seven times. 45After a short time the sky was covered with dark clouds. See how wonderfully God raises up friends for his ministers and people, for their shelter in difficult times, even where one would least expect them. We dont know exactly why it was important to God for Elijah to reach Jezreel first; perhaps it was so that he would be the first to tell Queen Jezebel. God has his remnant among all sorts, high and low; there were saints in Nero's household, and in Ahab's. Baal promised the rains, so God sent a drought at the word of his prophet (see 1 Kings 17:1). Ahab is the Achan, the troubler, who follows Baalim, those accursed things. Ahab rode in his chariot, at ease and in state, 1 Kings 18:45; 1 Kings 18:45. There he spoke with us. Though he expected an answer by fire, yet he came near to the altar with boldness, and feared not that fire. Generosity to the altar with boldness, and he went up, and laid the pieces on altar... 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