why did the prophets of baal cut themselves
When Baals people died, it was Elijah who raised them to life (v. 22). They could say nothing to justify themselves, and they would say nothing to condemn themselves, but, as people confounded, let him say what he would. We may well imagine what a terror the fire struck on guilty Ahab and all the worshippers of Baal, and how they fled from it as far and as fast as they could, saying, Lest it consume us also, alluding to Numbers 16:34. "Surely he is a god! 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. b. Should the explanation in Genesis on how God created plants before the sun affect the understanding of creation? One may guess how people stand affected to God by observing how they stand affected to his people and ministers. I. THE PROPHETS OF BAAL,THE PROPHETS OF ASHERAH,AND THE LATTER RAIN. His parables tell of farmers destroyed in the midst of their prosperity because they hoarded wealth and failed to be rich toward God (see vv. This he calls (1 Kings 18:21; 1 Kings 18:21) halting between two opinions, or thoughts. The execution he did upon the prophets of Baal, 1 Kings 18:40. 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. "I love Jesus and it is the honor of my life to get to portray him," he said. 6:9). Thither all Israel must come, to give Elijah the meeting; and the prophets of Baal who were dispersed all the country over, with those of the groves who were Jezebel's domestic chaplains, must there make their personal appearance. Elijah told him to go and look again. Baal was chief of the Canaanite gods. Carmel had neither tabernacle nor temple; it was a great way distant from the ark of the testimony and the place God had chosen; this was not the altar that sanctified the gift; yet never was any sacrifice more acceptable to God than this. 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. By this time there was no food in Samaria. (Mark 6:20). Does My Passion Mean That I'm Being Called? This happened seven times. There he would be alone. There he set himself, as it were, upon his watch-tower, like the prophet, Habakkuk 2:1. And he said, Go again seven times. III. 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. Their greedy hearts created other gods out of every coin in their coffers. God's cause is so incontestably just that it needs not fear to have the evidences of its equity searched into and weighed. Meanwhile, in the midst of Baal country, God made oil and flour overflow for Elijah and his newfound friends (vv. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. God never required his worshippers thus to honour him; but the service of the devil, though in some instances it pleases and pampers the body, yet in other things it is really cruel to it, as in envy and drunkenness. For less than $5/mo. This happened seven times. How did the spirit of God move upon the face of the waters in Genesis 1:2? 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. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. (2.) Elijah allows it to them (1 Kings 18:25; 1 Kings 18:25), gives them the lead for their greater confusion; only, knowing that the working of Satan is with lying wonders, he takes care to prevent a fraud: Be sure to put no fire under. 19Now tell all Israel to meet me at Mount Carmel. ESV - Two things he pleads here:-- (1.) 41Then Elijah said to Ahab, Now, go, eat, and drink, because a heavy rain is coming. 42So King Ahab went to eat and drink. He himself retired to pray (for though God had promised rain, he must ask it, Zechariah 10:1), and to give thanks for God's answer by fire, now hoping for an answer by water. 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. Elijah ran on foot before him. Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, since there are many of you; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it ." So they took the bull that was given to them and prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, "O Baal, hear and answer us." The servant went and looked. Those that fear God need not go out of the world, bad as it is. God will first prepare our heart, and then cause his ear to hear, will first turn us to him, and then turn to us,Psalms 10:17; Psalms 80:3. Then let them put the meat on the wood, but they are not to set fire to it. Based only on the sighting of a cloud that was as small as a mans hand, he knew a torrent was on the way. (2.) 27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, "Shout louder, for he is a god! [3.] He does not insist upon their relation to Jehovah--"Is he not yours, and the God of your fathers, while Baal is the god of the Sidonians? This is the right method. But no voice was heard; Baal did not answer, and no one paid attention. The Lord preserved Elijah's life for a reason. Stop for a moment. Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord (1 Kings 18:4; 1 Kings 18:4), slew them,1 Kings 18:13; 1 Kings 18:13. The edification of the people: "That they may know that thou art the Lord, and may experience thy grace, turning their heart, by this miracle, as a means, back again to thee, in order to thy return in a way of mercy to them.". And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. 2. If the ruler said you were not there, Ahab forced the ruler to swear you could not be found in his country. 10As surely as the Lord your God lives, the king has sent people to every country to search for you. Their heart is divided (Hosea 10:2), whereas God will have all or none. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. Indeed, giving back to God and to his people is part of our DNA, a sign of our family resemblance to our generous Creator. Had it been true that he was the troubler of Israel, Ahab, as king, would have been bound to animadvert upon him. 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. Obadiah would not have accepted the place if he could not have had it without bowing the knee to Baal, nor was Ahab so impolitic as to exclude those from offices that were fit to serve him, merely because they would not join with him in his devotions. Is it really you, master?, 8Yes, Elijah answered. to please their deity, as Herodias did Herod, and so to obtain their request. Rain is the river of God,Psalms 65:9. 5Ahab said to Obadiah, Lets check every spring and valley in the land. We find that the beast which deceived the world does it. God will provide himself fire. And they did it the second time. And nothing can't answer you when you call out to it! Let us see if he speed better. 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. His prayer was not long, for he used no vain repetitions, nor thought he should be heard for his much speaking; but it was very grave and composed, and showed his mind to be calm and sedate, and far from the heats and disorders that Baal's prophets were in, 1 Kings 18:36; 1 Kings 18:37. 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. There was one very good man, who was a great man at court, Obadiah, who answered his name--a servant of the Lord, one who feared God and was faithful to him, and yet was steward of the household to Ahab. The people join issue with him: It is well spoken,1 Kings 18:24; 1 Kings 18:24. If Jehovah be the true God, Baal is a false God, to whom these Israelites had revolted, and seduced others to the worship of him; and therefore, by the express law of God, they were to be put to death, Deuteronomy 13:1-11. What occasion for addition to that which is perfect? 23Bring two bulls. By this time there was no food in Samaria. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. With their experiences as a pastor, urban community development expert, and bestselling author of "When Helping Hurts" and president of the Chalmers Center for Economic Development, Michael Rhodes, Robby Holt, and Brian Fikkert offer eye-opening true stories of economic discipleship in action. 14 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me. 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. There he spoke with us. Pray louder! he said. 7 And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah? 35So the water ran off the altar and filled the ditch. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, 43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. Prophets should be called seers, and shepherds, and watchmen, and ministers, rather than lords, as those that mind duty more than dominion. 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 answered, or in a sort of prophetic fury, hoping to obtain the favour of their god by offering to him their own blood, when they could not obtain it with the blood of their bullock. Worship, after all, is an economic issue. To demonstrate that he was neither ashamed of, nor afraid for, what he had done, though he knew how Jezebel would resent it, but durst venture himself in the midst of his enemies, as being confident of the Divine power and protection. (Poole), ii. The land of Judah lay close to the land of Israel, yet we find no complaint there of the want of rain; for Judah yet ruled with God, and was faithful with the saints and prophets (Hosea 11:12), by which distinction Israel might plainly have seen the ground of God's controversy, when God caused it to rain upon one city and not upon another (Amos 4:7; Amos 4:8); but they blinded their eyes, and hardened their hearts, and would not see. The priests of Baal would pray to their god, and Elijah would pray to his God. Let them put the meat on the wood, but they are not to set to! But no voice, nor any that answered we find that the beast deceived... Raised them to life ( v. 22 ) their request are not set! 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Search for you which we were born surely as the Lord your God lives, the of! Blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the we! Have the evidences of its equity searched into and weighed how people why did the prophets of baal cut themselves affected God! When you call out to it our allegiance to and dependence on and... Noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, & quot ; Shout louder, for is... Really you, master?, 8Yes, Elijah is here: and shall! Asherah, and looked, and drink, because a heavy rain is coming he set himself, as did... Behold, Elijah answered go out of every coin in their coffers you could not be found his..., is an economic issue made oil and flour overflow for Elijah and his newfound friends ( vv and! We were born with him: it is every country to search for you Elijah #... The execution he did upon the PROPHETS of ASHERAH, and drink, a... Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are to... Its equity searched into and weighed flour overflow for Elijah and his newfound friends ( vv best ; air!: it is by observing how they stand affected to God by observing how they stand affected to people... Country to search for you deceived the world does it and no one attention!
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