Story 25
Elijah on Mount Carmel
I Kings 18:1-40
The Bridge:Even from the time the Israelites crossed the Jordan River, the worship of false idol gods, like Baal and Asherah, continued in Israel (Judges 2:11-13). About fifty years after Solomon’s reign, there was a wicked king over Israel named Ahab.
The Story:
- King Ahab’s wife was Jezebel, who was a devotee of Baal and Asherah [her father was a priest of Baal]. She and her husband, King Ahab, led the people to worship false gods of Baal and the use of Asherah (1 Kings 16:31-33).
- During his reign, Elijah told King Ahab there would be no rain for three years – not even any dew, except by his word (1 Kings 17:1).
- Three years later, Elijah told the 450 prophets of the god Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah to meet him on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:16-19).
- Elijah told the prophets of Baal to prepare an altar and sacrifice to Baal, and he would prepare one to his God. “And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, he is God – make sure you follow Him.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken” (1 Kings 18:24, ESV).
- The prophets of Baal prepared a sacrifice and began to cry out to him. Nothing happened. Elijah mocked them and said, “Maybe your god is asleep, on a trip or otherwise detained. Call louder.” (1 Kings 18:27) The people shouted even louder and cut themselves. Their blood flowed until mid-day. Still, there was no answer.
- Elijah prepared the sacrifice on the altar and soaked everything with water. Elijah prayed, “Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God” (I Kings 18:37). Fire came down from heaven and consumed everything…wood, the sacrifice, stones, and water.
- Everyone cried out, “The Lord is the only One True God.” All the false prophets of Baal were killed that day.
What is the point of this story?
