Topical Bible: Faith: Elijah, in his Controversy With the Priest of Baal

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The account of Elijah's confrontation with the priests of Baal is a profound demonstration of faith and divine power, as recorded in 1 Kings 18. This narrative highlights the unwavering faith of the prophet Elijah amidst a period of rampant idolatry in Israel, under the reign of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel.

Historical Context

During the reign of Ahab, the northern kingdom of Israel was steeped in idolatry, primarily due to the influence of Jezebel, Ahab's Phoenician wife, who ardently promoted the worship of Baal, a Canaanite deity. This apostasy provoked the Lord's anger, leading to a severe drought as a divine judgment upon the land (1 Kings 17:1).

Elijah's Challenge

In 1 Kings 18, Elijah, a prophet of the Lord, emerges as a pivotal figure in challenging the prevailing idolatry. He confronts Ahab and proposes a test to demonstrate the power of the true God. Elijah instructs Ahab to gather all Israel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, at Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:19).

The Test of Faith

Elijah's faith is evident as he sets the terms for the contest. He proposes that two bulls be prepared for sacrifice, one for Baal and one for the Lord. The prophets of Baal are to call upon their god, and Elijah will call upon the Lord. The God who answers by fire is the true God (1 Kings 18:24). The people agree to this test, setting the stage for a dramatic demonstration of divine power.

The Failure of Baal's Prophets

The prophets of Baal call upon their god from morning until noon, leaping around the altar they had made. Despite their fervent cries and self-mutilation, there is no response. Elijah mocks them, suggesting that Baal might be deep in thought, busy, traveling, or asleep (1 Kings 18:27). The futility of their efforts underscores the impotence of false gods.

Elijah's Prayer and God's Response

Elijah's faith is further exemplified as he repairs the altar of the Lord, using twelve stones to represent the twelve tribes of Israel. He then prepares the sacrifice and drenches it with water to eliminate any doubt of human manipulation. At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah prays, "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known today that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and have done all these things at Your command" (1 Kings 18:36).

The Lord responds with fire from heaven, consuming the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and even the water in the trench. This miraculous event leads the people to proclaim, "The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!" (1 Kings 18:39).

Aftermath

Following this decisive victory, Elijah commands the people to seize the prophets of Baal, who are then executed at the Kishon Valley (1 Kings 18:40). This act signifies the purging of idolatry from Israel and the restoration of the worship of the Lord.

Significance

Elijah's confrontation with the priests of Baal is a testament to the power of faith in the one true God. It serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and His ability to demonstrate His power in the face of overwhelming opposition. Elijah's unwavering faith and obedience to God's command exemplify the role of a prophet as a mediator between God and His people, calling them back to covenant faithfulness.

Nave's Topical Index

1 Kings 18:32-38
And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

"The Time of Trouble. "
... The prison will be as a palace; for the rich in faith dwell there, and the ... That God
who cared for Elijah, will not pass by one of His self-sacrificing ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /39 the time of trouble.htm

The Time of Trouble
... The prison will be as a palace; for the rich in faith dwell there, and the ... That God
who cared for Elijah will not pass by one of His self-sacrificing ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the great controversy/chapter 39 the time of.htm

Of Passages from the Holy Scriptures, and from the Apocrypha ...
... sincere, let them answer me in good faith,"in what ... us with full protection against
all his machinations. ... Elijah was interrogated whether it were not he that ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/of passages from the holy.htm

Papal Infallibility Explained, and Tested by Tradition and ...
... Majorities are not necessarily decisive in matters of faith. ... two or three who are
gathered in his name (Matthew ... Elijah and the seven thousand who had not bowed ...
/.../ 34 papal infallibility explained.htm

The Sovereignty of God in Salvation
... Apostle, Just as there was a "remnant" in Elijah's days "reserved ... Faith is God's
gift, and apart from this gift none ... for the sheep," to say He gave His life a ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter four the sovereignty of.htm

The Ascension of Isaiah.
... this worship, but no one who held the Nicene faith would have ... 285] The Apocalypse
of Elijah is mentioned ... has, "he turned aside all the power of his father from ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the ascension of isaiah.htm

General Index.
... Elijah, visited by angels, 512, 629. ... faith only, without works, a popular doctrine,
472. ... care of, for His people, 528-530, 560, 621, 626, 627, 633, 634. ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /general index.htm

A Traveler's Note-Book
... unanswered challenge to the current assertions of that faith. ... him from the tomb,
and Elijah slaying the ... delicately than the priest with his bloody sacrifices ...
/.../merriam/the chief end of man/iii a travelers note-book.htm

The Mystery
... here," says he, "is the patience and faith of the ... so much to that miracle of Elijah,
that they ... the pontifical anathema, by which he maintained his authority in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/the mystery 2.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... Chronicles, in addition to a letter from Elijah to Jehoram ... his allies, and that the
backbone of his kingdom was broken; the kings who had put faith in his ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm