1 Kings 18:19-40, Elijah on Mt. Carmel

The story of Elijah on Mt. Carmel is a high point in the OT.  We say this not because the Northern Kingdom and Ahab were cleansed from all their idolatries.  Sadly, after Elijah killed the 450 prophets of Baal, there were still more that were killed in the time of Jehu (2 Kings 10:18-28), the result being that “Jehu destroyed Baal from Israel” (2 Ki. 10:28).

We say this because God received great glory in this event.  The mighty power of God as well as the fact that God alone is God are clearly shown here.  I don’t think the story is complicated.  But what I would like to call to your attention is the nature of Elijah’s ministry to the people of Israel. 

·       18:18: Elijah had identified the sin of Israel in his words to Ahab.  “You have forsaken the commands of the LORD” (this involved the worship of the gold calves established by Jeroboam) “and have followed the Baals” (this was the work of Jezebel and Ahab).

·       18:19: Elijah challenged the idolatry.  He was not willing to allow sin to continue without opposition.

·       18:21: Elijah clarified the options.  The two opinions involved the LORD and Baal.  Note that the people would not commit to either.  In Jezebel’s rule, resistance to Baal was an offence punishable by death, as we have noted before.

·       18:22-29: Elijah debated the enemy.  Debated?  Yes!  The debate topic was “Who is God” (v24).  The answer would be the one who answers by fire.  The debate is, of course, a bit comical, but only because trusting in a god of stone is so stupid that it is comical.

·       18:30:  Elijah repaired the altar, giving the people a place to worship God.  Mt. Carmel had been a “high place” used in the worship of God in times past.  That is likely the altar that was repaired.  The point is that Elijah knew this was not really a contest.  It was a calling of Israel to return to the LORD God of Israel.

·       18:31: Elijah declared the will of God.  He is dealing with the northern Ten Tribes; but he takes twelve stones for the altar.  He reminded the people that they were part of a nation that was God’s treasured possession. 

·       18:32-38: Elijah demonstrated God’s power. 

Elijah did the work of a prophet of God, speaking the word of the LORD so as to call His people to repentance.  There was a positive response.  The non-committed people (v22) who were willing to examine the evidence (v24) “fell on their faces, and they said, ‘The LORD, He is God! the LORD, He is God!’”  The 450 prophets of Baal were taken to the River Kishon at the base of Mt. Carmel (in the Jezreel Valley) and were killed (v40).  And the blessing of God returned (v41-46) with “the abundance of rain.” 

Elijah’s ministry can be helpful in a gospel presentation today.  People need to be clear on the options.  Sin needs to be identified, the sin of unbelief.  Their needs to be patience for the seeds planted to produce repentance.  In other words, people need to see the power of God in the lives of His people today. 

This event happened in a real place.  So, we will conclude with some pictures.

Statue of Elijah on Mt. Carmel today.

View from Mt. Carmel to Valley of Jezreel.

The River Kishon (not large today), where Elijah killed

the prophets of Baal, runs under the

highway bridge in the center of the photo.

Panorama of the Jezreel Valley from Mt. Carmel.  There are many

well known mountains and city sites and battlefields in this picture

because a lot happened there.