Battle on Mt. Carmel


1 Kings 18:16-40
http://www.esvbible.org/1 Kings 18:16-40

After the final trumpet sounds and we are all situated in eternity, I’m rather hoping there are some “home movies” for us to watch. It would be great if God has a recording of some of the events we study in the Bible. I’m particularly interested in seeing the crossing of the Red Sea, Jonah being swallowed by a big fish, Samson pulling down the temple, Shadrach and boys in the fiery furnace . . . the list is long. I’m gonna need a big bowl of popcorn. But the one I want to see the most is the battle between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. This story contains all the elements of high drama. If you haven’t read the text, stop right here and click on the link above and read it! Even if you think you already know this story, read it. God always has something new in His Word for us, even when we think we already know the material. Go ahead – I’ll wait…
http://www.esvbible.org/1 Kings 18:16-40

Okay, now that we are all refreshed on the details, let’s dig in.

Elijah has followed through with his promise to Obadiah to be present when Ahab comes looking for him. We find that Ahab is going to lay the blame for the drought at Elijah’s feet. Since he is unwilling to bow to Baal, the rain is being withheld by Jezebel’s god. Ahab has the audacity to call Elijah the “troubler of Israel”. Elijah takes this opportunity to tell the truth and turns that blame back on Ahab. To prove his point, he suggests a contest and that gauntlet is taken up by Ahab. All of the players are gathered and the battle begins. The study note in the Concordia NIV Study Bible says of verse 24, “the god who answers by fire – he is God. Both the Lord and Baal were said to ride the thunderstorm as the divine chariot; thunder was their voice and lightning their weapon. Elijah’s challenge is direct.”

Television doesn’t tell a story this well. You can almost see the prophets of Baal gathered around their makeshift altar; yelling, crying out, dancing, cutting themselves - literally all day long. About noon, Elijah begins to taunt them and make suggestions as to how they might get Baal’s attention. He suggests that Baal might be sleeping, eating, even going to the bathroom, perhaps attending to other business. Obviously, it doesn’t work. The altar simply stands there without so much as a puff of smoke. Then, Elijah rebuilds an altar to the Lord that was already there, using 12 stones (which is symbolic in and of itself, as the nation of Israel is no longer 12 tribes but 10 and 2. God is the God of all His people.) He then utters a very short prayer that takes less than 30 seconds to say and down comes the fire in a most dramatic way. I’ve never seen rock burn (although a volcano proves it is possible) and I have been told by a fireman that water will burn – at 6,000 degrees! That is fire! God has now proven that He is Lord, without question.

The prophets of Baal were praying to a god who doesn’t exist – except within their own minds. Elijah was praying to Yahweh, the true and Living God. Whenever we engage a god of our own making, we are merely talking to ourselves – yet another form of idolatry. The prophets of Baal believed they were able to manipulate their god with displays of blood and dance. Since Baal has no power, their efforts failed. Elijah simply asks God to be God and the results are dramatic. When we call on the god that we have created in our own minds, we are doomed to hear no response. When we call on the true and living God, submitted to whatever answer He wants to give, we stand on solid ground. Jesus has cleared the path before us into the very throne room of God and brings our prayers before the Father for us. It’s a perfect system devised by a perfect God.     

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