God of the Storm

Intro:

Would you turn your Bibles with me to 1 Kings 18. today, we will be going through a famous story from the Old Testament mostly because of its vivid imagery. There are elements in this story that we cannot help but love. We have a contest of who is most powerful. We have fire. We have drama. We have trash talk. And maybe most importantly, we do not have a tie. We have victory in shocking fashion. Today, we get to see who is the true God of the Storm. Let’s open in prayer.

Background:

Let’s begin with some background. This story begins in a dark time spiritually for Israel. This is under the reign of King Ahab in which the nation and the monarchy have turned from worship of Yahweh to Baal. King Ahab married Jezebel of the Sidonians, who brought in prophets of Baal and killed many prophets of Yahweh. This is especially significant given that there are not many references to religious persecution for the followers of Yahweh from followers of the Caananite religions, but especially not from within the monarchy of Israel. Because of this apostasy, the Lord sent a severe drought upon the land as (1 Kings 17:1). This leads up to a conversation with Elijah and Ahab.

Today, we have 4 scenes from 1 Kings 18 that show a contest where Yahweh proves to be the one true and only God.

The Challenge

1 Kings 18:17–18 LSB

17 Now it happened when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, “Is this you, you troubler of Israel?” 18 And he said, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, because you have forsaken the commandments of Yahweh and you have followed the Baals.

Verses 17-18 open with a disagreement between Ahab and Elijah, with each accusing the other of being the troubler of Israel. One who brings destruction upon Israel. In a sense, they are blaming one another for the drought in Israel. Elijah in verse 18 states that the trouble has come from forsaking the commandments of Yahweh in exchange for following Baal. Here we must introduce our contestants for this battle.

Baal

In the Canaanite religion, Baal was the storm god, who could speak with lightning and importantly controlled rain. It was taught that Baal was responsible for the fertility of the land and that worship to Him would provide such benefit. This is also the most commonly mentioned deity in the Old Testament besides of course Yahweh.

Now, it is important to ask ourselves the question, why it is so common for Israel to fall into idolatry and worship Baal. What is so appealing. There are two main reasons, the first relates to the accusation Ahab makes to Elijah. It could not be understated the important that rain had for ancient agriculture. If there was a drought, a worshipper of Yahweh might be accused of causing the drought out of neglect to worship Baal. Secondly, worship to Baal was heavily comprised of sexual activity. How convenient would it be for the lust of the flesh to have sexual relations outside of covenant of marriage to simply say that the goal was for a better harvest? This was not just about a mere accidental worship of idols. This was giving into sinful temptation in a convenient way.

Yahweh

Secondly, Yahweh is the God whom Elijah worships. The God of the Bible.

There are two things you need to know about the name Yahweh as well for this story. The first is that the name Yahweh comes from the verb to be. This could almost be explained as the existing one. This is certainly important because there is a contest between two gods and only one of them exists. Secondly, the name Yahweh stresses His covenantal nature with his people. His people have forsaken the covenant, yet Yahweh still speaks. The name Yahweh emphasizes that He speaks.

1 Kings 18:19–20 LSB

19 “So now then send and gather to me all Israel at Mount Carmel, together with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” 20 So Ahab sent a message among all the sons of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel.

Mount Carmel

This was the perfect setting for the competition. It had religious significance for the Caananite religion. Also, it is a place know for its beauty and scenery, receiving more rain fall than anywhere else in Israel. Where better can you notice a drought that in the most green area of the land? A perfect backdrop for the contest.

Asherah

The goddess of fertility from the Caananite pantheon. This is the same religion as Baal, and these prophets are here to petition Baal for rain.

1 Kings 18:20–21 LSB

20 So Ahab sent a message among all the sons 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 be limping between two opinions? If Yahweh is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word.

Elijah asks Israel, how long will you be limping between two opinions? What a great question to ask to many in our churches today. He asking Israel, make up your mind? Follow Yahweh or don’t! The people Israel in this story are indecisive. The just want rain. It does not matter who gives it, they will worship whoever will provide the benefit in the moment.

1 Kings 18:22–24 LSB

22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of Yahweh, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. 23 “Now let them give us two oxen; and let them choose one ox for themselves and cut it up, and place it on the wood, but place no fire under it; and I will prepare the other ox and put it on the wood, and I will not place fire under it. 24 “Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of Yahweh, and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people answered and said, “That is a good word.”

This contest is a burnt offering contest. Who can get their god to respond. However, this is truly a contest of rain as well. In essence, both sides are petitioning for rain to be restored to the land, and fire was a symbol of response.

This contest is tailor made for Baal. The god of lightning and rain should be able to complete such a task

You understand that especially in direct competition sports like football or basketball, the winning team often does so because it goes after a team’s weakness. In football, is you have a bigger, stronger receiver, you try to create a scheme that forces a smaller player to cover. Yet Elijah sets up something that goes after a strength.

The Offering to Baal

1 Kings 18:25–26 LSB

25 So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one ox for yourselves and prepare it first for you are many, and call on the name of your god, but place no fire under it.” 26 Then they took the ox which was given them and they prepared it and called on 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 about the altar which they had made.

After hours of trying, there was still no answer from Baal. And the prophets of Baal limped around the altar. The same word is used when Elijah accuses the people of Israel of indecision. Now the prophets of Baal are not being indecisive. What is happening is a play on words concerning the worship of Baal where a certain type of dance to Baal seemed to look like limping. Elijah takes this word and explains that if you are practicing the limping dance you are living a lame life. You cannot run as you were created to. When you devote yourself to a false god, you are not empowered but you are crippled.

1 Kings 18:27 LSB

27 Now it happened at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied or relieving himself, or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened.”

Now you may ask yourself, did Elijah just taunt the prophets by asking if Baal was in the bathroom? Yes. Yes he did. As funny as this taunt may sound, much of it lines up with Canaanite religion. In Ugaritic literature, there are instances of needing to wake up Baal, and there is recorded a time when he could not be reached because he was gone on a hunting trip. Elijah is simply pointing out that for a god, he sure has a lot of human qualities. So it could be possible he could be stuck in the bathroom.

1 Kings 18:28–29 LSB

28 So they cried with a loud voice and gashed themselves according to their custom with swords and lances until the blood gushed out on them. 29 Now it happened when noon had passed, that they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention.

The prophets of Baal begin stabbing themselves in an effort to get Baal to respond. Most likely an attempt at propitiating Baal, essentially saying, we are so sorry for whatever we did, we stabbed ourselves. Now please send fire and rain.

There is still no voice. Despite his strengths, Baal has a major weakness. That would be existence. Speaking specifically is something that cannot be done.

The Offering to Yahweh

It is now Yahweh’s turn. In the position of the home team because we need not just any win, but a walk off.

1 Kings 18:30–35 LSB

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 Yahweh which had been pulled down. 31 Then Elijah took twelve stones according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of Yahweh had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.” 32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of Yahweh, and he made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two seahs of seed. 33 Then he arranged the wood and cut the ox in pieces and placed it on the wood. 34 And he said, “Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” 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 flowed around the altar and he also filled the trench with water.

Elijah builds using symbols of the twelve tribes v.31, this is on the mind of Elijah. The writer explains that this was a covenant name given to the twelve tribes. Israel had made a covenant with God that the turned away from. These were dark times. The desire here was for remembrance and repentance

Elijah rebuilds the altar, pouring water on it to make it less flammable.

1 Kings 18:36–37 LSB

36 Now it happened at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your slave and I have done all these things at Your word. 37 “Answer me, O Yahweh, answer me, that this people may know that You, O Yahweh, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.”

Elijah prays to God. He prays for three things, but really one thing. He prays that Yahweh would show Himself to be God, that He would vindicate Elijah as prophet, and that the people would know who turned their heart. It is really a prayer that God would show Himself to be God.

There is a lot less talking going on a human side for this offering. On the Baal side, we have 850 prophets yelling, doing a dance, stabbing themselves but no answer. Just a simple prayer to Yahweh. Let’s read the answer.

1 Kings 18:38 LSB

38 Then the fire of Yahweh 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.

Not only did God answer the prayer, but He answer with fire. And not only did the fire consume the wood and the animal but also the water. And not only the water but also the stones and the dust. This was a strong answer

I was curious so I googled how hot it needs to be to consume stones and dirt. The answer is roughly the same for both, anywhere from 2000 to 7000 fahrenheit depending on the type of soil and rock. So at least that hot!

The first offering was very loud from the human side, and very quiet from the god. Yet this offering was a simple prayer, and the answer was loud.

Result

1 Kings 18:39 LSB

39 And all the people saw it and fell on their faces and said, “Yahweh, He is God; Yahweh, He is God.”

Makes sense. In response to this dramatic display they fall and there faces. They cry, “yahweh, He is God. Yahweh, He is God.” This is the point of the story everyone. It is so simple, so powerful, so important. Yahweh is God. He is the powerful God. He controls the fire. He controls the rain. He exists. He speaks. He is the only God.

1 Kings 18:40 LSB

40 Then 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 slaughtered them there.

All the prophets are killed for their idolatry. We must understand that this was deserved.

In fact Deut 16 commands the stoning of idolaters.

Now we are not called to do this in the church age. We are to show love and grace towards those of other religions or those who despise God. But that is not because sin is no longer a big deal, but it is because God’s judgment on sin has been graciously delayed. 2 Peter 3:9 says this:

2 Peter 3:9 LSB

9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some consider slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

God is being patient. But He will still judge. And make no mistake, idolatry is still a capital offense against God. And punishment is not lighter, only later.

When we see this text, do not only think to yourself, God’s judgment is severe. Understand that your sin is severe.

1 Kings 18:41 LSB

41 Now Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of the tumult of rain.”

The words here “tumult of rain” can also be translated “pelting rain”. Yahweh was loud when He answered with fire, and the rain will be loud as well. This is not a sprinkle, this is heavy rain. Something that the Canaanite god of the storm was unable to provide.

1 Kings 18:44–46 LSB

44 Now it happened at the seventh time, that he said, “Behold, a cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the rain does not stop you.’” 45 Now it happened that in a little while the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. 46 But the hand of Yahweh was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins and outran Ahab unto where you enter Jezreel.

God provides a great rain.

And interestingly, the Bible tells us that Elijah in leaving the mountain to return before the rain, outruns Ahab in his chariot unto Jezreel.

Interesting detail but based on the story I think it is significant. Why is this?

Because when you worship the one true God, when you praise the name of Yahweh, when you forsake all others, as you live your life, you do not limp, you run.

Conclusion

Today, we have looked at a dramatic demonstration of the objective fact that there is one God. This story is a very monotheistic sort of story. Why is this so important?

There are many reasons that it is important to be monotheistic. Many have shown that for absolutes to exist such as in science, nature, reason, or morals, we have to have one God. This is so fascinating and true that in polytheistic or atheistic religion, there is no real objective standards. There can’t be constants in nature because the gods disagree with each other and prefer different laws or moral truths.

But let me propose a true life changing principle from understanding the monotheism being taught from this passage. Ready.

Because there is only one God, and it is Yahweh, the triune God, who sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay for sin for all who might believe, you do not have to be confused who to worship!!

Isn’t this awesome! You do not have to be confused about which god to worship, because there is only one God who exists. You do not have to split your calendar between Yahweh, Baal, Zeus, Allah, and Thor because you know that Yahweh is the one true powerful God.

Maybe more specific to you today, you do not have to live in practical polytheism. You do not have to anymore split your worship into money, sex, comfort, selfishness, lust, self praise, pride, and whatever other sin you have in your life. You can give your worship to the one true God.

Maybe your worship is directed at things that seem good, but they are bad because you put them over God like family, work, friends, school, sports, but now you can over all, worship God!

Closing Call

So I ask you today, stop living a life where your worship is divided. Stop being indecisive on who or what gets your worship. Stop splitting your affections between God and the world.

Decide today to stop limping between two opinions, but instead devote your life to the one who exists, the one who speaks, to the one who is powerful above all. Devote your life to Yahweh, because He is god! Let’s pray.