The Book of first kings

Chapter 18B

[17] And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?
[18] And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.
[19] Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.
[20] So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
[21] And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

Showdown on Mt Carmel I Kings 18: 17-40

Intro: After 3 1;/2 yrs of famine

Ahab said to Elijah “art thou he that troubleth Israel?” Elijah responds “you have forsaken the Lord”

1) Plan (19-21)

Elijah says to the king “gather all Israel, 450 prophets of Baal, 400 prophets of the grove” on Mt Carmel

Gather all those that “eat at Jezebel’s table” .... (supported by the gov’t and the people)

Ahab gets all the people to attend this meeting. All in attendance hate Elijah (thought he was famines cause)

Elijah asks “how long do you halt between 2 opinions?” Halt- limp,jump over, dance around, sidestep

How many more miracles, sermons, warnings, plagues & pestilences must come before you decide

The people answered not a word! No objections, no confessions, no repentance, no change, no courage

[22] Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
[23] Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:
[24] And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.

2) Proposal (22-24)

Elijah, the only prophet of the Lord, present at this particular gathering proposes a challenge

Baals men choose 2 bullocks, one for themselves and one for Elijah

* Elijah will give all potential advantages to Baal

The bullocks are to be killed and dressed and offered upon an altar but without fire

The one side will call upon their god and Elijah will call upon His God

The God that answereth by fire, let Him be God

To the proposal the people say “it is well spoken”......... acceptable

[25] And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.
[26] And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
[27] And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
[28] And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
[29] And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

3) Principles of the Prophets of Baal (25-29)

A. Presumption

Baal is the supposed “sky god”... it will be easy for him to send lightning

Baal is a creation of the mind (imagination) human reasoning, philosophy, man made religion

This took great faith for Elijah. But Elijah had grown in faith & learned to depend on God

1) Fed @ Brook Cherith in famine 2) Supplied @ poor Gentiles widows home

3) Following instructions (Vs 36b) 4) Fire sent before (Judg 6:20,21 & 2Chr 7:1-7)

B. Perversion

The prophets of Baal proceed first to dress the bullock and place it on the altar

They prayed to Baal for 6AM to 12 PM........ NO Voice, NO Answer

They leaped even danced upon the altar to generate activity ...... No Avail

They showed great enthusiasm, great energy of the flesh was exercised

But they had placed their faith in the wrong thing (they had great zeal but no knowledge)

Elijah mocked them - “Cry louder, maybe Baal is asleep, on vacation or just too busy”

C. Passion

The prophets of Baal sincerely cry louder and shouted

They began to cut themselves, shedding their own blood (the bullocks blood wasn’t enough)

They did this until 6PM and still.................... NO Answer

Demonstrated commitment, sincerity, devotion, enthusiasm and energy but NO Results, NO FIRE!

[30] And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.
[31] And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:
[32] 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.
[33] And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.
[34] And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.
[35] And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.

4) Preparation (30-35)

Elijah got folks attention so they could see that Elijah’s God was real

A. He repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down

* Grandma repaired her altar and the Lord met her and answered he prayer

This altar of the Lord once stood, but now it is diminished, but will be revived

Took 12 stones and built the altar in the name of the Lord

B. Dug a Trench

Put the wood in order, dressed the bullock in pieces and laid him on the altar

4 barrels of water filled and poured out on the sacrifice and the wood (3 times)= 12 barrel

Water was all over and saturated the place (Water= Word of God John 15:3, Eph 5:26)

No harder for God to ignite a wet sacrifice than a dry one

[36] And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
[37] Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
[38] Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

5) Petition (36-38)

Around 6PM, Elijah prayed to the Lord (63 words) and never said Amen!.... Then the fire of the Lord fell!

- Consumed the sacrifice on the Lord’s altar - Consumed the wood

- Consumed the stones on the altar - Consumed the dust

- Licked up the water in the trench God had answered! In fact, He had answered beyond expectation

[39] And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
[40] And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

6) Persuasion (39-40)

Obviously, by the answer of Fire, the Lord is the God & not Baal

The fraud of Baal and his servants has been exposed, Therefore the prophets of Baal are seized.

As King Ahab had killed many of the Lord’s prophets, now Baals prophets are put to death