The Greatest Showman

Main Characters

Ahab - Seventh king over the northern kingdom of Israel. His reign was characterized as wicked. Also: Ahab

1 Kings 18:4–5 (NIV)

4 While Jezebel was killing off the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.) 5 Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive so we will not have to kill any of our animals.”

We see that Ahab was more concerned about the animals than he was about his wife killing the prophets of God.

Elijah - A prophet of God, was eventually taken into heaven on a chariot of fire. Never actually died.

Now that we know who is involved here lets look at what is going on.

BackGround

Israel is under a great drought and they are having a hard time to find enough water and grass for all of the animals and crops in the country

1 Kings 17:1 (NIV)

Elijah Announces a Great Drought

17 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”

We find out that the cause of this drought was due to Ahab being an evil King and not following Gods commands and instead worshipping Baal (the god of rain or storms).

Not only was Ahab not following God’s commands but we see that the people of Israel were split and some were following Baal, some were following God, some were mixing the two beliefs and not really following either.

Ahab then blamed Elijah for the trouble that Israel was having because God used Elijah to tell Ahab that the drought was coming and that it would not rain until Elijah said so from God’s command

The Accusation

Now we know what was going on in Israel and we know who the main characters are, now lets look at what is actually happens.

The New International Version Chapter 18

So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17 When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”

18 “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the LORD’s commands and have followed the Baals.

So Elijah and Ahab finally meet and Ahab tries to blame Elijah for the drought and famine that has plagued Israel for the past 3 years.

Now I find it interesting how Elijah responds to the Kings accusation.

Elijah responds with Boldness because he knows that he is not responsible for the troubles in Israel but they were due to the Kings own wickedness.

The Response

The New International Version (Chapter 18)

19 Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”20 So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”

But the people said nothing.

So Elijah tells King Ahab that he will prove that Baal is a false god and tells the people that he is going to prove it. He not only tells them to bring out the prophet of Baal but he tells them to bring them all.

The people of Israel were then stunned and didnt know what to say.

The Showdown

1 Kings 18:22–24 (NIV)

22 Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23 Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”

Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”

So now we have the rules for this epic showdown between Baal and God.

1 Kings 18:25–26 (NIV)

25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.” 26 So they took the bull given them and prepared it.

Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.

So Elijah allows the prophets of Baal to go first. and they cry out to baal over and over again from morning all the way until noon and they got nothing.

1 Kings 18:27–29 (NIV)

27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. 29 Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.

And this is one of the many passages in Scripture that let me know that God has a sense of humor different translations describe what Elijah said differently, one of them even translates what he said as maybe Baal is in the bathroom and cant hear you.

So we see Elijah on his own against these 450 prophets of Baal and he is mocking them, because he knows that Baal cannot answer them.

1 Kings 18:30–35 (NIV)

30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.” 32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed. 33 He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”

34 “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.

“Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time. 35 The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.

So now I kind of imagine Elijah just saying something along the lines of alright guys thats enough you have embarrassed yourselves enough, now lets let the real God take over.

Illustration

Pouring water over wood and trying to have a student light it on fire.

4 jars poured out 3 times, so twelve total jars of water

1 Kings 18:36–40 (NIV)

36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”

38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.

39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”

40 Then Elijah commanded them, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let anyone get away!” They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there.

Now we see that not only did God answer Elijah’s prayer and send fire down but it completely burnt up everything, the sacrifice, extra water, stones, and soil. Leaving no doubt who was the true God.

Then after all of this happened God spoke to Elijah and said prepare for rain.

Elijah sent his servant 7 times to look for evidence of rain coming, and 6 times he came back saying e did not see anything

1 Kings 18:44–46 (NIV)

44 The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”

So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”

45 Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. 46 The power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.

Take Aways

You may have opposition to your faith.

Jezebel, and Ahab

You can be bold in your faith.

Elijahs Response to Ahab and the Prophets

Trust God’s promise

Even though Elijahs servant did not see rain the first 6 times Elijah still trusted in God’s promise that he was going to send rain.