Elijah the Prophet - Sunday School Stories part 7
Elijah the Prophet 1 Kings 17-19
Necessary Background
As we begin today, there is a bit of background information needed to bring us up to speed for Elijah’s setting. We have skipped past the founding of Israel’s monarchy through Saul and David. Solomon took the throne and became the last king over a united Israel, and now the Northern and Southern Kingdoms have separate kings and even separate religions for the most part. The Southern Kingdom of Judah has kept a monotheistic, Mosaic-centered Judaism, though even her kings have faltered many times in Judah’s history. The Northern Kingdom has shifted to a very syncretistic religious system that maintains token allegiance to Yahweh, however it has been coupled with the Canaanite religion, especially in its devotion to the Baals. The current king of Northern Israel is Ahab, and he has married Jezebel, princess of Tyre, as a means to solidify trading and foreign relations. Their marriage has also put the final nail in the coffin of Northern Israel’s idolatry.
Israel chose economic gain over devotion to their Lord.
So what is this new god Israel worships?
The Baal of Ahab and Jezebel was possibly a storm-god who was supposed to be in charge of bringing the rain. In the Canaanite religion, Baal submitted to Mot, the god of death, each year which caused drought and barrenness in the land. Eventually, Anat defeated Mot and freed Baal, which restored the land’s agriculture.
Now, before we go further, I want to expand a bit on this religious syncretism, because it speaks volumes for what we face today in our own culture. Consider:
The term ‘Baal’ is a generic name for a god, much like the English ‘god’.
The Baal of Ahab and Jezebel had the proper name, Haddad, however the Phoenicians considered the name too holy to pronounce, much like how Israel would use the name ‘Adonai’ instead of God’s proper name, ‘YHWH’.
It was economically, and contextually, more advantageous for Israel to allow for multiple devotions of the local gods rather than be exclusive.
There was enough similarities between the Canaanites and Israelites that without knowing the Law well, the people would be hard-pressed to tell the difference—which shows the failure of the priests to keep the kings and people in check.
Does this sound familiar at all?
Do we not live in a time where it is much more to our advantage to allow for multiple devotions and be inclusive of others’ beliefs?
Are there not many religious systems and cults which sound awfully similar to the Truth of Scripture, and yet, if we study just a bit we will realize there are major, salvific differences?
And are we not in a time when many of our leaders, teachers, and the general laity have become lazy in their studies, and so they cannot point out the differences between these cults?
I want to spend time in this background info, because hopefully you will see that Elijah’s time is not that far removed from our own. The lessons that we can learn from Elijah’s story are directly related to us today.
Elijah’s greatness as a prophet lies in his faithfulness in the face of a world that does not understand his convictions.
So, turn with me to 1 Kings 17.
Neither Dew nor Rain : 1 Kings 17:1-7
Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe[a] in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” 2 And the word of the Lord came to him: 3 “Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 4 You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” 5 So he went and did according to the word of the Lord. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. 6 And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. 7 And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
Elijah’s story begins rather abruptly in Kings. We have no indication of his life before confronting Ahab, only that he has been “a troubler of Israel” (18:17), and he belongs to the class of prophets. During this time, the Levitical priests served in the Temple, the kings and nobility served in the government, but it was a new class of religiously minded people who became the prophets of God. They were to be the checks and balances for both priests and kings. They were typically unaffiliated with either of the other two, however there is evidence that ‘prophesying’ became a career of its own during this time. The evidence we also will see in our story in that the varying gods had prophets assigned to them. What sets Elijah apart is that his devotion is still to YHWH, the true God of Israel and Heaven, but also he is not a part of the ‘mainstream’ system. He is off on his own, because he has been forsaken by Israel just as they forsook the Lord.
So, Elijah confronts Ahab and lets him know, there will be no dew or rain in the land, except until Elijah says so. The Lord then directs Elijah to a brook out of Ahab’s reach, and where he will have water and food delivered by ravens.
The Lord brought Elijah into total seclusion in order to prepare him for the spiritual battle ahead.
The rest of the chapter demonstrates Elijah’s growth as a prophet of God, even being able to heal a dying boy because God listens to his prayer. As the chapter closes, Elijah is acknowledged as a true prophet of God, and he is ready to confront Ahab once again.
Elijah calls out Ahab : 1 Kings 18:1-2, 17-19
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.” 2 So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria.
…
17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” 18 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. 19 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.”
The famine is severe in Samaria. The Lord tells Elijah that it is time to confront Ahab. And when the two finally meet, look how Ahab addresses Elijah—“troubler of Israel”. Ahab does not see the drought and famine is a result of his disobedience, not because Elijah has done anything. Notice that some time has passed, so it is noteworthy that stories of Elijah have circulated. Israel has been ‘troubled’ by Elijah’s protest against an idolatrous government.
But, Elijah lets Ahab know the true problem, Ahab and Ahab’s father have abandoned the commandments of God and followed the Baals. Now there is coming a showdown.
Elijah calls out the entire syncretist system as subject to God’s judgement.
Silence on the Mountain : 1 Kings 18:20-29
20 So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21 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. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal's prophets are 450 men. 23 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. 24 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.” 25 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.” 26 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. 27 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.” 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 paid attention.
Elijah challenges the people to stop ‘limping’ between two opinions—either YHWH is God or Baal. They cannot have it both ways. But, the people do not answer.
True devotion to the Lord cannot be mixed with devotion to other gods, or economic desires.
Jesus said, “You cannot serve both God and mammon”, and also “a house divided cannot stand.” The call is to us today as well. We cannot limp between who we serve. Either we will serve the Lord, because He is God, He is the Redeemer of our souls, or we should go serve something else. We cannot play ‘church’ any more than Israel.
As the story continues, the false prophets cut their bull in two and place it on the altar. They begin to call out to Baal from morning until noon, crying out “Oh Baal, answer us!”
At noon, Elijah begins mocking them. He has watched them for hours dancing around and yelling without a response. His mockery demonstrates a righteous sense of humor. “Perhaps he is musing, or relieving himself.” Maybe this god is sleeping, and the people need to wake him up.
The antics of the false prophets ramp up into a frenzy, as they cut themselves seeking to show their devotion and prompt the false god to respond. But, look closely at the god’s response in verse 29:
“There was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.”
The humor of Elijah’s mockery gives way to the pathetic hopelessness of Israel’s situation. They have forsaken the God of Heaven and Earth who brought them out of Egypt, led them by fire and smoke through the wilderness, established them as a nation by writing the Law on tablets from Mount Sinai. The Lord who gave them the Promised Land by bringing down the walls of Jericho, and who made the sun stand still so the army could continue the fight. This God whom exists and loves Israel, Israel has forsaken to follow a pathetic imitation with no power.
The gravity of Israel’s sin is felt in the silence of their new god.
Fire on the Mountain : 1 Kings 18:30-40
30 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. 31 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,” 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 seahs[a] of seed. 33 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.” 34 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. 35 And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water. 36 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. 37 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.” 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 said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.” 40 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.
We should note again the land is in the middle of a great drought. Elijah sets up the altar of the Lord that had been thrown down by Ahab’s people. He takes 12 stones to symbolize the 12 tribes of Israel (which is a nod to the Southern Kingdom), and then calls forth the bull and wood. He then orders the people to douse the altar with water—enough water to fill the trench around the altar.
Notice, the fire does not immediately fall, Elijah rebuilds the altar first and cleanses it of Baal’s stain. Notice, also, the timing of Elijah’s prayer—it is at the time of the offering of the oblation. Each day in the Levitical Law, there was an appointed time to offer God an oblation, or offering. The offering itself could be a number of things, depending on the household and what was available. Here, a bull is ready to be given to God.
For God’s Spirit and power to return to God’s people, they must return to what God has commanded.
These are not arbitrary commands from Elijah. They are purposeful to remind the people of what should have been occurring all along.
The fire falls and the offering, wood, stones, dust, and even the water in the trench! The people see it and fall in worship to the Lord. Elijah calls for the false prophet to be put to death in accordance to the commands in Deuteronomy 13. Though we should not see this as a command to kill false prophets in our land, (that would be inconsistent with Jesus’ teachings) we do see the truth about repentance.
Repentance includes purging what causes us to sin in the first place from our lives.
Whatever has led us astray from God should be removed from our lives so that we do not fall back into sin. If we take stock of what brings us temptation and what sins are hardest for us to rid ourselves from, then we can remove those temptations and move closer to maturity in Christ.
So, as we close on the story of Elijah, consider what has become a hindrance to your own walk with the Lord. First, answer the question, “Is Jesus Lord or not?” If we call on Jesus as Lord, then let’s live like He is. Next, take stock of what habits, things, and desires are in your life that bring you back into sin. For Israel, it was the lure of economic progress, and the desire to be like the nations around it. That desire is just as prevalent today in modern America. But for the Christian, we are called to be separated, to be holy. Our lives are not centered on living as everyone else, but rather on living in total devotion and dependence upon Christ our Lord who saves us.