Victories & Fears - Part 1!!!
1 Kings 18
Great victories in our lives are often followed by times of doubt, fear and discouragement. Many people suffer from ‘Imposter Syndrome’ which is where we are put into a position of responsibility based on our skills, talents, and knowledge, but we feel like we don’t belong there, or don’t deserve to be there - even though we know within ourselves that we are competent to do the role.
Most people will feel like they don’t fit, or deserve to be in a place of elevation at some time in their lives. It all happens to us at some point - that is unless our pride in ourselves overtakes our humility (which is a different discussion for a different day).
In the Bible, this situation occurs several times, however it is the story of Elijah and the Prophets of Ba’al and Asherah that reflects this most vividly. In the this two part study, we will look at which events lead up to Elijah’s victory, and his subsequent flight into the wilderness.
(artwork by Schism)
The story of Elijah and the prophets of Ba’al and Asherah is found in 1 Kings 18. The northern Kingdom of Israel was ruled by King Ahab and his wife Jezabel (who was not even of Hebrew origin, she was from Tyre, which is in the area of modern Lebanon). They were doing evil in the sight of God (Yahweh), much of which centred around idolatry and their worship of Ba’al and Asherah. Ba’al is the Canaanite/Phoenician male god for fertility and agriculture, to which animal and human sacrifices were made - he was often portrayed as a half-bull, half-man figurines. Asherah (also known as Ishtar, Ashtoreth) was said be the ‘mother’ of Ba’al, was also a fertility deity whose worshippers erected poles in her honour - she was portrayed as a fat/pregnant voluptuous woman in household figurines. The chapter starts off by noting that there were severe drought and famine conditions in the northern Kingdom of Israel, which were a punishment from God due to their idolatry and wickedness (as seen from the previous several chapters of 1 Kings).
It is into this situation that the prophet Elijah re-enters (having pronounced the drought/famine several years earlier). God instructs Elijah to (1 Kings 18:1-15) reconnect with King Ahab, and Elijah does so through one of the godly court administrators (Obadiah).
From verses 16-45 of 1 Kings 18, we see Elijah instruct King Ahab to bring all the people and all the priests of Ba’al and Asherah to Mount Carmel. Then in verse 21, Elijah offers up the people an ultimatum where it says, “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.” - it is an ultimatum of either you follow these demonic entities or you follow the Almighty God Yahweh.
Elijah, then ups the ante, and proposes a contest to see who’s god is supreme. In verses 22-38, we see the epic struggle between the false gods worshipped by the northern tribes. Elijah let the priests of Ba’al and Asherah spend hours trying to elicit a response from the two false gods, to send fire down to consume the sacrificial bull that lay on their altar. They even committed self-harm and the shedding of blood (which were normal parts of their worship). The result was…nothing. The gods they worshipped were false gods, and were instead demons. But Elijah knew that his God, Yahweh, was a living and powerful God - being the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings.
So, Elijah instructed people to pour a huge amount of water on the bull carcass and the firewood. Then he prayed. He prayed that God would reveal himself to HIS people once more, to lead them back to repentance (verses 37-38). Then the fire of the Lord (Yahweh) came down and consumed everything - the sacrificial bull, the wood, the water, even the stones that the altar was made from were consumed. Upon seeing this miracle from God, the people were repentant and worshipped God (Yahweh). Then they went and killed all the priests of Ba’al and Asherah.
So, how can this crazy story apply to us, especially now that we aren’t out there asking God to send fire from heaven to roast some beef?
There are several take-aways that we can apply in our own lives in relation to this.
We may not have to stand up against the priests of Ba’al or Asherah, but we do have to take stands against those who promote ungodly views, behaviours and beliefs. The same spirits that were Ba’al and Asherah, are still around today. Paganism is rising again and it is something that we, as Christians need to war against that in the physical realm as much as we need to war against it in the spiritual realm. We need to protect those around us from ungodly things that are everywhere on social media, the wider online media and streaming services and what is being taught in many schools.
We do not need to be afraid of what will happen if we make a stand for righteousness (there is too much fear in the church about being ‘cancelled’). Romans 8:31 informs us, “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Prayer must proceed everything we do, and repentance alongside worship need to be present for the power of God to truly act and work in our lives.
Dare to believe that God can do miracles in your lives, in your situations, and in your communities. Elijah was alone and went into battle because he trusted in God. Even if you are alone in your battles (for your family, or workplace).
Elijah stood strong, because he knew that he had heard from God (Yahweh) on this, and God honoured his prayer. But what was the final outcome of this battle between Elijah and the pagan priests?
Because of their repentance and turning their hearts back to God (Yahweh), rain came back to a drought-ridden, famine-plagued land. When we turn back to God, he does the same for us in our hearts, minds and souls.
Part 2 of this study will have a look at how Elijah went from victorious to hiding in a cave hundreds of miles away from the site of his greatest victory - all because he let his emotions and thoughts overtake his faith.