The Contest on Mount Carmel Romans 11:1-4 Pg. 836 (pew Bible)

Yahweh vs. Baal 1 Kings 18

B AAL Baal was primarily a weather-god and hence responsible for the harvest; Baal was primarily a weather-god and hence responsible for the harvest; Yahweh, on the other hand, may have been popularly thought of as a god from the desert regions of Sinai. Yahweh, on the other hand, may have been popularly thought of as a god from the desert regions of Sinai. – D. A. Carson

B ACKGROUND Israel is Divided into Two Camps Israel is Divided into Two Camps Ahab is the King of Israel Ahab is the King of Israel – Obadiah is the King’s Steward – Jezebel (pagan idolater wife) Elijah is God’s Prophet Elijah is God’s Prophet Three Years of Drought Three Years of Drought

Background Obadiah & Elijah 1 Kings 18:7-16

Mt. Carmel King Ahab & Prophet Elijah The Spat Between the Two 1 Kings 18:17-20

1 K INGS 18:20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.

1 K INGS 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? 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. And the people answered him not a word.

Y AHWEH B AAL Y AHWEH B AAL K ING J ESUS MATERIALISM K ING J ESUS MATERIALISM

1 K INGS 18:22 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. 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. Don’t be surprised when you FEEL like you are in the minority!

1 K INGS 18:23 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: 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:

Here’s the Issue: Is there more than one true living God?

D ECIDING W HO IS G OD 1 Kings 18:24 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 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. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.

The Most Important ?s 1.Is there a God? 2.Has this God revealed Himself? 3.Is it the God of the Bible?

1 K INGS 18:25 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. 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.

1 K INGS 18:26 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. 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. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.

N O R ESPECT The complete absence of political correctness. The complete absence of political correctness. 1 Kings 18:27 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. 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.

No Respect I am not going to respect a religion that teaches you used to be a cockroach.

No Respect I am not going to respect a religion that teaches that if you give your life as a suicide bomber you get 10 virgins in heaven.

No Respect I am not going respect a religion where people are starving to death but the cows are eating well.

It would have seemed likely to the people that Yahweh was out of his depth [expertise] where agriculture was concerned, so it made good sense also to worship Baal, the acknowledged expert in such matters. Elijah swept away such syncretistic thinking. The people must make a decision: Yahweh or Baal. It would have seemed likely to the people that Yahweh was out of his depth [expertise] where agriculture was concerned, so it made good sense also to worship Baal, the acknowledged expert in such matters. Elijah swept away such syncretistic thinking. The people must make a decision: Yahweh or Baal. – D. A. Carson

NO Syncretism Allowed the combination of different forms of belief or practice

J EALOUS AND NOT SINNING Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

1 K INGS 18:28-29 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. 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. 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.

1 K INGS 18:30 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. 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. Desiring to influence more toward Yahweh he calls for a crowd.

Remember the 12 Tribes are Divided Northern Kingdom Southern Kingdom

1 G OD —1 P ROMISE —1 N ATION 1 Kings 18:31 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: 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:

1 K INGS 18:32-33 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. 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. 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. 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.

Eliminating All Doubt 1 Kings 18:33 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.

Eliminating All Doubt 1 Kings 18:34 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.

Why are we doing all this? Why is Elijah going to these great lengths?

1 K INGS 18:36 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. 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.

Why did Jesus perform miracles? Luke 5:24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

1 K INGS 18:37 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. 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. Now Elijah shows us how to pray!

1 K INGS 18:38 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. 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. Is this the ultimate miracle?

Turn to John 14:31

But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

C ONCLUSION 1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? 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. And the people answered him not a word.

Y AHWEH B AAL Y AHWEH B AAL K ING J ESUS MATERIALISM K ING J ESUS MATERIALISM F AITH IN C HRIST G OOD W ORKS F AITH IN C HRIST G OOD W ORKS