As described in 1 Kings 18:25-35, after hundreds of prophets of Baal were unable to call down fire for their sacrifice, Elijah built an altar to God (Yahweh), but then he had people douse it with twelve large jars of water.
Next, it was time to see God in action, and Elijah called upon Him to do so.
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. Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”
1 Kings 18:36-37 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/1ki.18.36-37.NIV
Elijah put it all out there. He was “all in”. (After all, he could very well have been executed if God didn’t answer his prayer, here.) He didn’t say, “Well, God, if you want, could you maybe help out?” No, Elijah boldly put forth this challenge: in front of God, Ahab, and the people (including the false prophets, if they hadn’t yet passed out from self-inflicted blood loss).
Sometimes, we’re challenged to discern between when we should call upon God like Elijah did here, and when we should not put God to the test (see Deuteronomy 6:16, quoted by Jesus as recorded in Matthew 4:7 and Luke 4:12). When we “put God on the spot” without His direction, trying to force Him to do what we want without confirming if that’s what He wants, then we might be setting ourselves up for disappointment.
There are times, for instance, when I would like to tell someone that God will answer their prayers, but I hesitate because I don’t know if that’s God’s will (or, perhaps the reality is that my faith is too weak). However, I personally think that whenever God has made a clear promise to us, or when we are calling upon God’s nature (being holy, truthful, loving, caring, etc.), we can – and should – have confidence in who God is. (Consider also the impact of James 5:17-18, suggested by a commentator [Long, p.218].)
When God works, though, there is often no question about His involvement. Elijah didn’t have to yell or cut himself for God to hear him, and a little bit of wet wood and stone was nothing compared to the power of the Creator of the world!
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.
1 Kings 18:38 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/1ki.18.38.NIV
Elijah prayed, and God heard. And, when God heard, God answered.
Although the people might not have wanted to commit to God or to Baal earlier (see 1 Kings 18:21), this demonstration of God’s power was pretty obvious. Their reaction in 1 Kings 18:39 was natural, proclaiming that Yahweh is the real God! Elijah had asked them to decide, and the right decision had just become quite clear.
On the other hand, for the prophets who had tried to call upon a false god, having signed up to serve Baal, this was the end of the line for them. I find it ironic that they had been cutting themselves for Baal, but instead of getting Baal’s attention, they ended up being executed (per 1 Kings 18:40). They apparently couldn’t just blame Ahab or Jezebel, or claim to change their minds at the last minute.
These false prophet’s fate might seem harsh, but God is serious about the integrity of His people, and those who harm God’s people should expect judgment. God extends grace, but there comes a time when each person must face judgment if they have not accepted that grace. And, in this case, it was time for judgment upon these 450 prophets of Baal who were actively harming God’s people.
(By the way, I’m not sure where the prophets of Asherah were after being initially identified, or why Baal was specifically called out in this contest. Maybe the other false prophets snuck away when they saw that Baal wasn’t answering the call, or maybe they faced the same fate as their counterparts in Baal worship.)
False prophets are around us in this fallen world, but we must never let them dilute our commitment to the one, true God with their heresy. That might mean standing up for the truth when it is dangerous; however, both in life and in death, our God is powerful and faithful.
As Elijah trusted his life against God’s faithfulness, let us trust God to always be faithful to His promises.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for May 11, 2025
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – 1 & 2 Kings, by Jesse C. Long, Jr. © 2002 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 