After a drought of three years, Elijah presented himself to Ahab, the king of Israel, with the promise that the Lord would provide rain. Elijah then challenged 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah to a contest on Mount Carmel. “And Elijah came near to all the people, and said, ‘How long will you go limping with 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.” (1 Kings 18:21 [RSV])
Each side made sacrifices to their God without building a fire. The lighting of the fire was to be performed by the strongest god, and would thus reveal Jehovah as the true and liviing God.
During the battle between the Prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal and Asherah, Baal was silent. Elijah mocked the prophets of Baal. The Bible tells us, 27. And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is musing, or he has gone aside, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” 28. And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. 29. 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 heeded. (1 Kings 18:27-29 [RSV]) Elijah poured a large amount of water over his sacrifice and asked Jehovah to reveal Himself by consuming the sacrifice. 38. 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. 39. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God.” (1 Kings 18:38-39 [RSV])
Many people in this world who are seemingly successful and on the outside happy as can be are, in fact, completely miserable. They are miserable because they have placed their faith in the wrong things, just as those prophets of Baal and the Asherah did centuries ago. How tragic that is! Those prophets were sincere to the point of frenzy in their worship, but it was all to no avail. Elijah mocked them, but he also pointed out an important truth, which was that nobody was home. There was no voice and there was no answer to their please because there was no god to pay attention to their cries. Their religion was empty. And ultimately it caused their death (1 Kings 18:40).
Everything the world offers is likewise empty. The money, the fame, the “good times” cannot fill the void in our lives because they have no substance. They seem real when we casually observe them, but the moment the stresses of life hit, they dissolve like cotton candy. Eventually, they also lead to our death, which is eternal separation from the Father. Do not make the same mistake the prophets of Baal did! Make sure that what you put first in your life is real.
Each side made sacrifices to their God without building a fire. The lighting of the fire was to be performed by the strongest god, and would thus reveal Jehovah as the true and liviing God.
During the battle between the Prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal and Asherah, Baal was silent. Elijah mocked the prophets of Baal. The Bible tells us, 27. And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is musing, or he has gone aside, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” 28. And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. 29. 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 heeded. (1 Kings 18:27-29 [RSV]) Elijah poured a large amount of water over his sacrifice and asked Jehovah to reveal Himself by consuming the sacrifice. 38. 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. 39. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God.” (1 Kings 18:38-39 [RSV])
Many people in this world who are seemingly successful and on the outside happy as can be are, in fact, completely miserable. They are miserable because they have placed their faith in the wrong things, just as those prophets of Baal and the Asherah did centuries ago. How tragic that is! Those prophets were sincere to the point of frenzy in their worship, but it was all to no avail. Elijah mocked them, but he also pointed out an important truth, which was that nobody was home. There was no voice and there was no answer to their please because there was no god to pay attention to their cries. Their religion was empty. And ultimately it caused their death (1 Kings 18:40).
Everything the world offers is likewise empty. The money, the fame, the “good times” cannot fill the void in our lives because they have no substance. They seem real when we casually observe them, but the moment the stresses of life hit, they dissolve like cotton candy. Eventually, they also lead to our death, which is eternal separation from the Father. Do not make the same mistake the prophets of Baal did! Make sure that what you put first in your life is real.
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