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The story of Elijah’s bust-up with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel is one of the most dramatic stories in Scripture. It’s got action, humor and suspense. Yet amongst all the theatrics it is a lesson in God’s unrivaled power and a call to unwavering faith in Him and His power to save. The story forces us to examine the idols in our own lives and to place our trust fully in the living God - who you’ll never find sleeping on the job.
It is a time of national crisis in Israel. King Ahab, described as doing “more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him” (1 Kings 16:30), has led the nation into idolatry. Alongside his wife, Jezebel, Ahab promotes the worship of Baal, a Canaanite deity associated with fertility and storms.
Think Thor but way uglier than Hemsworth,
and much less Norse.
Jezebel actively persecutes God’s prophets, seeking to replace the worship of Yahweh with devotion to this angry god.
Think the original bad-lady stereotype,
It’s Jezebel.
Amid this mess, Elijah appears as a prophet of uncompromising faith. In obedience to God, Elijah declares a drought over the land, challenging Baal’s supposed power over rain and fertility. After three years of drought, God instructs Elijah to confront Ahab and the prophets of Baal, culminating in the showdown on Mount Carmel.
And boy, is it a title fight.
Cue the popcorn.
Elijah summons the people of Israel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah, to Mount Carmel.
Standing before this massive assembly, Elijah calls them out:
“So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. 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.” I Kings 18:20-21 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/1ki.18.20-21.NKJV
Elijah’s question cuts to the heart of their issue and ours. The Israelites are attempting to worship both Yahweh and Baal, a practice that reflects divided loyalty. This dual allegiance is unacceptable to God, who demands wholehearted devotion. The same question applies to us today: Are we wavering in our commitment to God, trying to serve Him while also chasing worldly idols?
You can’t watch porn and pursue the purity that Jesus asks of you.
You can’t love your neighbour and be jealous of all their stuff.
God wants our attention.
Our hearts.
Our sacrifice.
Elijah proposes a fight to settle the matter once and for all. It’s not how you’d imagine it - it’s more like that movie, the Prestige than a boxing match.
Two altars will be prepared—
One for Baal.
One for the Lord.
Each side will place a bull on their altar, but neither will light the fire. Instead, they will call on their respective gods, and the one who answers with fire will be shown to be the true God.
“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. 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. 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, “It is well spoken.”” I Kings 18:22-24 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/1ki.18.22-24.NKJV
The prophets of Baal begin their ritual early in the morning, calling out to their god, “Baal, answer us!” (v. 26). Hours pass with no response. They dance around the altar, shout louder, and even resort to cutting themselves, a common pagan practice meant to elicit a response from their deity. Despite their frantic efforts, “there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention” (v. 29).
Baal is sleeping.
Elijah taunts them.
He’d taunt us too.
Elijah would taunt us too, for our wasted sacrifices, to idols that only take.
Elijah suggests that Baal might be deep in thought or busy.
Like in the toilet, in the days before cellphones, when you had to read a book in their or be lost in your own thoughts for eternity.
His sarcasm highlights their (and our) ridiculousness - trusting in a powerless idol. Baal’s silence reminds us that false gods—whether ancient deities or modern-day idols like wealth, power, sex or success—cannot truly satisfy or save.
Now comes the good part.
The prophets of Baal have failed to rouse their master.
It’s Elijah’s turn.
When it is Elijah’s turn, he approaches the altar with calm confidence.
He rebuilds an altar to the Lord using twelve stones, symbolizing the unity of the twelve tribes of Israel. He places the bull on the altar and does something that would’ve seemed insane: he orders that the altar be drenched with water—so much that it fills a trench around it. He’s making it ‘harder’ for God and minimising any accusations of manipulation. He’s also using precious water, in the midst of a drought to do it!
“And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Cry 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.” So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. 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. 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. 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.” 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. 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.” 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. So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water. 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. 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.”” I Kings 18:27-37 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/1ki.18.27-37.NKJV
Immediately, fire falls from heaven, consuming the sacrifice
and the wood,
the stones,
soil,
and even the water.
The people fall on their faces yelling, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!” (v. 39).
Takeaways on the beach.
Idols only take.
The prophets of Baal represent the futility of placing our trust in anything other than God.
While we dont bow to literal idols (most of us), we often look to things like our jobs, relationships, material possessions, or personal achievements to give us meaning and security.
These modern idols, like Baal, ultimately leave us empty and disappointed. Only God has the power to fulfill our deepest needs.
Are there areas where you are relying on something other than God for your sense of identity or security? How can you turn those areas over to Him?
God + Nothing = Everything
Elijah’s question, “How long will you waver between two opinions?” challenges us to examine our loyalties. Divided allegiance leads to spiritual stagnation.
God desires our full commitment, not partial devotion.
Jesus echoed this sentiment when He said, “No one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24).
Are you lazy in your faith? Take time to recommit yourself fully to God, asking Him to help you live with undivided loyalty. It’s a new year. Perhaps this is the resolution you’ve been looking for - and it’s the only one that matters!
God’s still powerful
Fire breathing from heaven is a powerful reminder that God is not only real but also actively involved in our lives.
He hears our prayers and demonstrates His faithfulness in ways that draw us closer to Him.
God responded to Elijah’s prayer,
He invites us to bring our needs,
fears,
and questions to Him,
trusting in His power to work in our lives.
I need to know God working in my life. I want to see that!
I need that power in my life.
We all need power. What situations in your life require a fresh encounter with God’s power?
Bring them to Him in prayer, trusting that He will act, according to His will, and that your faith in Him would increase.
God’s heart is for you.
Elijah’s prayer reveals God’s ultimate purpose: to turn the hearts of His people back to Him.
The on Mount Carmel is not merely about proving God’s existence; it is about restoring a broken relationship.
God’s heart is always for redemption and reconciliation, and He continues to pursue us with relentless love.
In what ways is God calling you or someone you know back to Him? How can you partner with Him in that process?
The story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal is more than a dramatic Netflix style historical account; it is a call to action.
Just as Elijah stood boldly for God in the midst of opposition, we are called to stand for Him in our culture today. The gods of the world are as competitive as ever for humanity’s attention.
They’re competitive but deeply flawed. They want our destruction and simply serve their own ends.
We must stand strong.
This may mean confronting the idols in our own lives or speaking truth in love to those around us.
It may mean stepping out in faith, trusting that God’s power will be revealed in our obedience.
