Chapter 14: Day 5
This lesson appears in the book: The Holy Land Companion Guide Biblical Sermons & Lessons to guide you through the Holy Land and Egypt. By: Pastor and Christian Author Jessica Linhart available @ Amazon.com: Jessica Linhart: books, biography, latest update
I can’t wait for you to see the spectacular view from Mount Carmel. From Mount Carmel, you can see the territories that we have been studying thus far. Mount caramel is only 9 miles from the Mediterranean Sea. It is in the northern part of Israel. It is also about 22 miles southwest of the Sea of Galilee. You can see the Jezreel valley, Nazareth, Cana, Mount Tabor, and the Kishson Stream. Mount caramel is where Baal came down and God burned the altars, of Baal and Azra. Then, Elijah went down to the stream and killed the 850 profits.
King Ahab, Elijah, and the people needed to put an end to the drought. So, we see in verse 20 that all of the people in the kingdom headed to the top of Mount caramel. Scripture Doesn’t say how long it took for them to get there all it says is that they were there.
1 Kings 18:20-40
New King James Version
Elijah’s Mount Carmel Victory
20 So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel.
King Ahab was a worse than king Jeroboam, and all the kings before him. His character was bad, and it was totally against God.
Mount Carmel was on the top of the world in Israel. One of the practices that people got into was sacrificing their sons and daughters to Baal and Azra. They did this because they believe that these two gods controlled the weather. So God sent a drought on the land to prove who He is.
21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.
The world around us would say that there are multiple gods, and there is multiple ways of worship. But the Holy Bible is clear that there is only one one true God, there is only one son, and there is only one Holy Spirit. There are not three gods, but they are one. The world would answer who that god is whoever and whatever I want him to be. For example, I saw a personalized license plate the other day. It rubbed me the wrong way! The words, “My God” appeared on the plate. I thought, how sad that your truck is your God. Your truck is your God and man made it. Your God has a very temporary lifespan. It will do nothing for you, but rust and decay. A vehicle only takes you from one place to the next. It’s a very temporal object! It does nothing for your eternity, for your protection, and it doesn’t love you back. I immediately prayed for the owner.
Elijah was faced with a people who think that God is into beings who control the weather. That is almost as dumb as thinking that your God is your truck. This is a People who does not understand. There is only one true God.
22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 23 Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it.24 Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.”
So all the people answered and said, [a]“It is well spoken.”
Elijah called for this contest between God and Baal, because he knew the people needed to make a decision. They were straddling the fence. One time they were for bail, and another time they were for God.
Elijah gave every possible advantage to the prophets of Baal. He almost played favoritism toward that group, because he did not want them to be able to accuse Him of giving himself the upper hand.
25 Now Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare itfirst, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.”
26 So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, [b]hear us!” But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they [c]leaped about the altar which they had made.
27 And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Cry [d]aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 28 So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with [e]knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them.
The prophets of Baal had plenty of time to provoke their god into action. In fact, it took them at least eight hours. Then, they got nervous and began to inflict bodily harm on themselves. This is exactly what demons of Satan do to people they possess. Then, Elijah begins to mock their God. Again, this produces no results. Now, it is Elijah’s turn.
29 And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to 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, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.” 32 Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, “Fill four waterpots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood.” 34 Then 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. 35 So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.
The main goal of this event was to turn Israel back to God. Elijah rebuilt the altar using 12 stones to represent the 12 tribes of Israel. This proved that he was communicating withthe God that has been with the people all this time.
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 Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. 37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.”
38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He isGod!”
I could not imagine sitting there all day, waiting for a response and never getting it. Then the one true God brings fire down from heaven and burns up everything. In addition, my Fire Marshall friend said that it would have to be about 3000° Fahrenheit.
Elijah knew that God knew what was going on. God wanted his people to turn back to him. This is why he only needed a brief prayer. It was in great contrast to the groaning of Baals followers. Elijah simply called on the name of God and asked him to manifest himself.
Aren’t you glad that God does not need any flower and path in our prayers? That we can just come to God as who we are. We can talk to you about our creator just like we’re talking to a friend. God loves us and hears each prayer. He also answers each prayer.
So, there is nothing left, but a flat piece of strained ground. Then, all the people fell to the ground. I think I would’ve ran, but they honor God.
One of these days we will honor God, because every knee will bow, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. (Philippians 2:11.)
Now that God won the clean up had to begin.
40 And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape!” So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon and executed them there.
| The brook of Kishdon is about 15 miles from the top of the mountain. That is a long way! |
After the slaughter, God stamped an end to the drowned. It rained, and it rained.
Questions for discussion
1. What are some modern examples of gods or idols?
2. What is the goal of church today? How are you contributing?
3. What kind of miracles does God do today to reveal himself to people?
