No Bull Here

1 Kings 18

In 1 Kings 18, my favorite confrontation in the Bible occurs. In this period of Israel, idolatry was occurring throughout the nation. The people of Israel were worshiping the god Baal. They worshipped this god because Israel thought it ruled over the weather and harvest. While the God of Israel was all-powerful, freeing them from bondage and all-merciful, leading them to the promised land, they were reluctant to give up on Baal for their food and water.

The prophet of this time was the great prophet Elijah. Not only was he a great prophet, but there exists a correlation of the works of Elijah to the works of Christ in His ministry. We see Jesus feeding the multitudes with a few fish and three loaves of bread, and in the works of Elijah, who multiplied the oil for the widow and her sons, that they could sell the oil and be fed. We know Jesus raised the dead and the raising of the son of the widow Zarephath by Elijah. So there is a likeness between Jesus and Elijah.

The Prophets

The prophets of the Old Testament brought forth the Word of God. In John 1, the Word of God was the manifested Jesus in the flesh, who Himself was the Word and God. We are looking at the most significant moment of Elijah’s life. Elijah was confronting the idolatry of Israel. However, we see God and the prophets confronting this idolatry in the history of Israel. God had the men of Israel destroy so many people to irradicate idols that would tempt the people. Solomon fell from grace because he married so many foreign women who led him into idolatry.

A Battle Royale

Here we find Elijah confronting idolatry and going head-to-head in a battle with Baal. There was a severe famine in the land of Israel because King Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, had vanquished the prophets of the Lord and began the worship of other Gods at her design. “After many days the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth.” So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria. And Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly, and when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.)“ (1 Kings 18:1-4 ESV).

As commanded by God, Elijah appeared before Ahab, who did what most of us do; he blamed Elijah for the famine “When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals. Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” (1Kings 18:18-19 ESV).

It's Not My Fault, Really

When we sin, we tend not to take the blame. We have an excuse. When he sinned, Adam blamed Eve, who accused the serpent. We try to justify why our sins happened even though we repent. But Elijah put it right back on Ahab and Jezebel and idolatry.

Mt. Carmel

Now this is why this is my favorite confrontation in the Old Testament. Elijah met with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Ashera and challenged them to a test of God.

“So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. Elijah said you pick your bull, so you cannot say I cheated, and I will choose mine. 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.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.” (1Kings 18:20-24 ESV).

Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances until the blood gushed out upon them. And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.” (1Kings 18:25-29 ESV).

Elijah taunted them, and he mocked them. Some people get mad at this, but Elijah did the right thing. He was making a deadly point. Dealy because the sin of idolatry is mortal. You are taking your affections away from God, and our God will not tolerate another god. Our God is jealous, and as much as Oprah doesn’t get this, He has to be. If God were to allow worship to another God, He would be guilty of idolatry, and since he is a righteous and holy God, he cannot allow this.

So, the prophets of Baal and Ashera cut themselves limping around the altar, and nothing happened. Elijah called the people. “Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been thrown down. Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, “Israel shall be your name,” 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 seahs of seed. And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” And he said, “Do it a second time.” And they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time. And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water.”(1Kings 18:30-35 ESV).

Elijah is making his point. Our water over the bull and wood, not one but thrice. Water filled the trench around the altar. Elijah spoke to God, “And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.” And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.” (1Kings 18:36-40 ESV).

Game, Point, Match

Elijah made his point. To eradicate the idolatry of the people, Ahab and Jezebel, Elijah slaughtered the prophets of Baal and Asherah, ending their idolatrous ways. Excessive, no, it is the righteous wrath of God and the end to all idolatry, and it is unacceptable to God. So they slaughtered 850 people.

Idolatry comes in many fashions, not just wood or stone idols. We are idolatrous whenever we need something or trust something other than God. All of us have been or are idolatrous. Idolatry is so severe, but many do not take it that way. Christ died for your idolatry. If we do not accept Christ and repent for our idolatrous practices, our end will be worse than the prophets of Baal and Asherah. Our end will be consumed in a lake of sulfur and fire, eternal isolation, and darkness. Every sin against God is a death sentence, from the white lie to adultery to idolatry. Some say all sins are equal, but the Bible shows us and tells us this is not true; some sins are called abominations (Leviticus 20:13), some are so aggreged they warrant immediate destruction (1Kings 18:40), and some cannot be forgiven (Mark 3:28-29).

Trust in the Lord our God only. God will meet your every need, and idolatry will not stain your life. “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” (Psalm 20:7 ESV)

Praise our Lord, Jesus Christ.