A Tale of Two Altars
A long time ago, after King Solomon was dead, the kingdom of Israel divided into two, Israel to the north and Judah to the south. Jerusalem remained the city of the king of Judah.
During the time when King Asa ruled in Judah, Israel had trouble keeping a king. In fact, during the 41 years that King Asa reigned in Jerusalem, Israel had seven kings.
That 7th king of Israel was a mean man named Ahab, who had a wife named Jezebel. Some say that Jezebel was even meaner than Ahab (if you can even imagine that)!
Well, this story takes place during the time of King Ahab, when Israel had a prophet named Elijah. There had been a drought in Israel – it hadn’t rained for three years. And one day, God told Elijah to go to mean King Ahab and tell Ahab that God would send rain on the land. So, Elijah went.
During the drought, Queen Jezebel had tried to kill all of the prophets of Israel that belonged to God, but a man named Obadiah had hidden one hundred of God’s prophets in two caves. Well, when Elijah went to find King Ahab, he ran into Obadiah. Now, Obadiah knew King Ahab well because Obadiah was in charge of King Ahab’s palace. So Elijah asked Obadiah to go tell mean King Ahab that he, Elijah, a prophet of the Living God, wanted to see him.
Now, Obadiah freaked out because if mean King Ahab knew that one of the Living God’s prophets was still alive mean King Ahab would have Obadiah killed. But Elijah convinced Obadiah to go to mean King Ahab anyway.
To make a long story sort of short, when King Ahab saw Elijah the prophet, Ahab knew he was in for trouble. And he was.
Elijah asked King Ahab to bring all the people of Israel to Mount Carmel, and to be sure to bring the 450 prophets of Baal (that’s what mean King Ahab and his followers served, a god they called Baal). When they all came, Elijah asked the people, “How long will you waiver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him, but if it is Baal, follow him.” But the people said nothing.
Then Elijah said, “I am the only prophet of the Living God remaining,” (you see, Elijah didn’t know that Obadiah had hidden those 100 prophets away in those two caves). So Elijah continued, “Bring two bulls and let the 450 prophets of Baal choose one and cut it into pieces and place it on the wood, but do not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on wood and I will not set fire to it. Then, you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Living God. The god who answers by fire – he is God.”
Then all the people said, “What you say is good.” So they got two bulls, the 450 prophets of Baal chose one and Elijah took the other.
The 450 prophets of Baal called on the name of Baal from morning until noon. They shouted, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no answer. Then they started limping around the altar they had made.
At noon, Elijah began to mock them, saying, “Shout louder! Surely he is a god. Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.”
So they shouted louder, and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. Midday passed, and they continued their raving until the time came for evening sacrifice. But there was still no voice, no answer, no response.
Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come closer to me,” and they came closer. Then, Elijah repaired the altar of the LORD, the Living God, which had been in ruins. Then he took 12 stones, one to represent each tribe of Israel and with the stones he built an altar to the LORD.
Then Elijah made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two measures of seed. Next, he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood. He said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the pieces of bull and on the wood.” And they did as he said. Then he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did. Then he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time, so that water ran all around the altar, and filled the trench with water.
When it was the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed, saying, ”O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your bidding. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.”
Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the pieces of bull, the wood, the stones, the dust, and even the water that had filled the trench. (Everything that the 12 jars of water had covered.)
When all the people saw it, they fell on their knees and said, “The LORD indeed is God; the LORD indeed is God!”
Then Elijah commanded them, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let any of them get away!” The people seized the prophets of Baal, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there.
1 Kings 18 adapted by Gye Miller
12 tribes, 12 stones, 12 jars of water
Notice how the number 12 appears in this story three times - two explicitly and the third if you know your arithmatic. Twelve is significant to those who study biblical numerology in that the number stands for governmental perfection. With the number three meaning resurrection, divine completeness, and perfection, the number 12 takes on even more significance because it appears three times.
Why did the people of Israel waiver back and forth between following Baal and following God?
Good question. At first blush we could say that it was because they were easily influenced by their surroundings. You know, when in Rome... But how does that explain us? We waiver back and forth. Maybe not another religious god, but how about things such as cars, jewelry, money, jobs, friends, hobbies, addictions ... need I go on? And even on the religious front, some of us worship our pastors and church leaders.
Why didn't Baal respond to the 450 prophets plea?
Perhaps Baal was not really a god. If Baal doesn't really exist how could he respond?
What are the Baals in your life?
Do you continue to believe in them even though they do nothing productive for you?
Quit calling on them. They are not real.
Seek instead the Living God.
Let the Peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
Gye
During the time when King Asa ruled in Judah, Israel had trouble keeping a king. In fact, during the 41 years that King Asa reigned in Jerusalem, Israel had seven kings.
That 7th king of Israel was a mean man named Ahab, who had a wife named Jezebel. Some say that Jezebel was even meaner than Ahab (if you can even imagine that)!
Well, this story takes place during the time of King Ahab, when Israel had a prophet named Elijah. There had been a drought in Israel – it hadn’t rained for three years. And one day, God told Elijah to go to mean King Ahab and tell Ahab that God would send rain on the land. So, Elijah went.
During the drought, Queen Jezebel had tried to kill all of the prophets of Israel that belonged to God, but a man named Obadiah had hidden one hundred of God’s prophets in two caves. Well, when Elijah went to find King Ahab, he ran into Obadiah. Now, Obadiah knew King Ahab well because Obadiah was in charge of King Ahab’s palace. So Elijah asked Obadiah to go tell mean King Ahab that he, Elijah, a prophet of the Living God, wanted to see him.
Now, Obadiah freaked out because if mean King Ahab knew that one of the Living God’s prophets was still alive mean King Ahab would have Obadiah killed. But Elijah convinced Obadiah to go to mean King Ahab anyway.
To make a long story sort of short, when King Ahab saw Elijah the prophet, Ahab knew he was in for trouble. And he was.
Elijah asked King Ahab to bring all the people of Israel to Mount Carmel, and to be sure to bring the 450 prophets of Baal (that’s what mean King Ahab and his followers served, a god they called Baal). When they all came, Elijah asked the people, “How long will you waiver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him, but if it is Baal, follow him.” But the people said nothing.
Then Elijah said, “I am the only prophet of the Living God remaining,” (you see, Elijah didn’t know that Obadiah had hidden those 100 prophets away in those two caves). So Elijah continued, “Bring two bulls and let the 450 prophets of Baal choose one and cut it into pieces and place it on the wood, but do not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on wood and I will not set fire to it. Then, you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Living God. The god who answers by fire – he is God.”
Then all the people said, “What you say is good.” So they got two bulls, the 450 prophets of Baal chose one and Elijah took the other.
The 450 prophets of Baal called on the name of Baal from morning until noon. They shouted, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no answer. Then they started limping around the altar they had made.
At noon, Elijah began to mock them, saying, “Shout louder! Surely he is a god. Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.”
So they shouted louder, and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. Midday passed, and they continued their raving until the time came for evening sacrifice. But there was still no voice, no answer, no response.
Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come closer to me,” and they came closer. Then, Elijah repaired the altar of the LORD, the Living God, which had been in ruins. Then he took 12 stones, one to represent each tribe of Israel and with the stones he built an altar to the LORD.
Then Elijah made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two measures of seed. Next, he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood. He said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the pieces of bull and on the wood.” And they did as he said. Then he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did. Then he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time, so that water ran all around the altar, and filled the trench with water.
When it was the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed, saying, ”O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your bidding. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.”
Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the pieces of bull, the wood, the stones, the dust, and even the water that had filled the trench. (Everything that the 12 jars of water had covered.)
When all the people saw it, they fell on their knees and said, “The LORD indeed is God; the LORD indeed is God!”
Then Elijah commanded them, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let any of them get away!” The people seized the prophets of Baal, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there.
1 Kings 18 adapted by Gye Miller
12 tribes, 12 stones, 12 jars of water
Notice how the number 12 appears in this story three times - two explicitly and the third if you know your arithmatic. Twelve is significant to those who study biblical numerology in that the number stands for governmental perfection. With the number three meaning resurrection, divine completeness, and perfection, the number 12 takes on even more significance because it appears three times.
Why did the people of Israel waiver back and forth between following Baal and following God?
Good question. At first blush we could say that it was because they were easily influenced by their surroundings. You know, when in Rome... But how does that explain us? We waiver back and forth. Maybe not another religious god, but how about things such as cars, jewelry, money, jobs, friends, hobbies, addictions ... need I go on? And even on the religious front, some of us worship our pastors and church leaders.
Why didn't Baal respond to the 450 prophets plea?
Perhaps Baal was not really a god. If Baal doesn't really exist how could he respond?
What are the Baals in your life?
Do you continue to believe in them even though they do nothing productive for you?
Quit calling on them. They are not real.
Seek instead the Living God.
Let the Peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
Gye
posted by Altar Fire / Golden Censer Media | 6:23 PM
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