Year One, November 19

The LORD, He Is God1

1 Kings 18:30-40

30Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down. (It was now Elijah’s turn. It was the time for Jehovah to work.) 31Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, “Israel shall be your name,” 32and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. (Elijah had commanded Ahab to “gather all Israel.”2 The challenge was made to all Israel and therefore twelve stones were used to build the altar. The whole nation was about to see if Jehovah would answer by fire. The prophet would have nothing to do with Baal’s altar. Christ has no harmony with Belial.3) And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs4 of seed.

33And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” 34And he said, “Do it a second time.” And they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time. (The twelve jars of water filled the trench and all the materials used for the sacrifice were soaking wet. Any thought that Elijah might start the fire by some trick was eliminated. All this water proved this was a fair and honest test.) 35And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water.

36And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.”

Bishop Hall5 correctly observes, “The prayers of the priests of Baal were as long and boring as Elijah’s was short and to the point. Elijah’s prayer reminded God of his duty to keep his promises, to uphold truth and to receive glory and honor.” The priests of Baal were full of outward strength and sensational action. Elijah’s strength was inward. His method was straightforward, but reverent. His faith was the power of his prayer. His God helped him to pray with complete confidence. There was no question about the outcome. Superstition overflows with rituals and ceremonies. Faith has no use for them.

38Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

The author of “The Days of Jezebel”6 has described this with admirable language:

“Scarce had he spoken when a broad white glare,

Scattering earth’s light, like darkness in its path,

Keener than lightning, calmer than the dawn,

The sword of God, that proves him by fire,

That proves him by fire in every age,

Stooped from above, and touched the sacrifice.

In the white blaze the sun grew dim, and hung

Like a pale moon upon the glimmering sky.

The fierce flame licked the water up, the wood

Crackled aloft, the very altar stones

Glowed fiery red!

Clear broke the shout from that great multitude,

‘Yahweh is the God! Jehovah, he is God.’”

39And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God.” 40And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.

Elijah had the law of God to authorize this execution. The men were false prophets and were justly doomed to die. Elijah bared his arm for that terrible task and made the dry bed of Kishon run with blood! We do not strike at people in this way, but oh that every one of sin’s errors and superstitions were put to death. Not one of them should be allowed to escape. Lord, do this killing work among evil systems in our day!

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¹ 1 Kings 18:39

² 1 Kings 18:19

³ A reference to 2 Corinthians 6:15. Belial is another name for Satan or the devil.

⁴ a seah was a little less than two gallons. The meaning appears to be that the trench was large enough to plant over three gallons of seed.

⁵ Bishop Joseph Hall (1574-1656).

⁶ The Days of Jezebel: An Historical Drama by Peter Bayne, 1872.