The Battle on Mount Carmel
( 1 Kings 18: 16 ~ 29 )
Despite his calling from God, people hadnt listened to Elijah, so it came about that during the reign of king Ahab Elijah declared an all-out war against Baal on Mount Carmel, a mission Elijah had been trained for. Lets look at the war between Elijah and the prophets of Baal.
1. Elijah was called a troubler. Christianity is often described as a war against the devil in the world. For his ministry, Elijah had to risk his life because worshiping Baal was a sort of state religion in those days. On seeing Elijah, King Ahab called him troubler of Israel. Ahab considered him as the cause of the famine, not knowing that the true cause was Ahab himself who chased the world and its prosperity. Without looking back through our famine, we cant enjoy Gods mercy even in our blessing. Those who cant interpret their trials cant interpret their blessings either. Being kept from going on with their non-Christian marriage project or divorcing, people often say 'Stop bothering me! I have a good reason to do that!' Thus people treat us as an enemy when we bring the gospel to them. The Carmel match is not a none-of-my-business event. It can happen in our household. One deaconess has kept a callous attitude to our church because of her problem son unchanged for more than 10 years. To her, the trial is nothing but meaningless suffering. She confessed 'As I hate my son, I came to hate his wife as well as pastor Kim.' Without the Word working in us, we hate everyone.
2. It was a 850 to 1 match. It was time for Elijah to wage war after hard training from God. Blind obedience itself can be an idol for us. Therefore, we need to set up a clear goal of salvation in our ministry before we step forward. Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal who had no idea of their imminent fall, indulging in their physical prosperity. God wanted the Baal prophets to know through this match that He is the true Lord and their idol is a fake god. Notice that the match was 850 to 1. As John said, we all belong to our father, the devil. The measure of our faith is not telling lies. Yet worldly success depends on how skillfully we tell them lest they look like what they are. Lies are to make their way for truth as much as the truth settled in us. The Word coming into us makes us discern lies which distresses us. Therefore, by living according to the Word, we can dispell the heresy that had come to us in one way flee from us in seven.
3. It permitted no wavering. The Hebrew word of waver(v.21) implies to limp in the cracks between two rocks or sit in the fork of two branches. The phrase dance around(v26) has the same Hebrew etymology as waver, which implies that both mean limping. Likewise King Ahab was spiritually limping at the critical moment of famine in his kingdom, unable to discern friend from foe. Without the help of the Holy Spirit, no one can discern what to do in his crisis. We are also unable to discern between the two, one of whom does her daily QT, shares the gospel at every opportunity, and yet has lots of family problems while the other shows off her decent Christian manner talking about her pastor husband. The Israelites were unable to answer Elijahs question properly even though they knew what the truth was because it was the matter of their life. We also can turn away from the Word when it comes to our interests. Elijah let the Baal prophets choose which bull they wanted lest they should make any excuse later. Choosing the better bull has no direct link to peoples welfare. However, we often waver in choosing between the Word and our child.
4. It was against Baal, the unresponsive idol. Elijahs suggestion for the Baal prophets to choose their bull first, call on their gods name, but not light the fire was absolutely to their disadvantage because Baal was by no means true God. Yet the prophets danced around the altar, limping frantically in vain! They called on their idol not out of their love but for what they wanted to get while Elijah was taunting 'No answer from Baal? Whats up? Is he sleeping or moving his bowels?' In some respects, Elijah might look ignorant and crude as a believer. However, Satan is not the object of our negotiation but of our derision. The prophets action of slashing themselves (v.28) is one of the rituals of Baal worshipers. Its like carrying out their fasting project for what they desperately want till they are finally disappointed. The deaconess mentioned above had shut her ears to the advice of her community for 10 years, believing that she could correct her son through her constant forgiveness and trust. However, despite her bold application of not paying off her sons debt, her son committed an insurance fraud. Her family is waging its Carmel war. The parents and the son are limping. I hope we wont waver in our 850 to match and dont mind being called a troubler. May God bless us not be scared in our match against Baal, the unresponsive idol till we win the war by listening to the voice of God, our ultimate reward!
Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire--he is God.' Then all the people said, 'What you say is good. (1Kgs 18:24)
