Thought for Today: Wednesday April 12:

Imagine what a world would be like if YHVH were only an Elohiym of love, Who never judged evil or tried to stop it. Evil people could carry out their plans without fear. They would never have to worry that YHVH would judge them or try to stop them. Secondly, imagine what a world would be like if YHVH were only an Elohiym of judgement, Who punished us every time we did wrong. If YHVH were like that, none of us would have a chance, for we all sin – every day! Sometimes however, YHVH does correct and discipline us – not because He hates us, but because He loves us and wants us to turn from the destructive path we are on.

SERIES M --- PROPHESIES AND MIRACLES --- LESSON 2

PROPHETS OF BAAL

ELIJAH AND THE PRIESTS OF BAAL

From 1 Kings 18

Three years passed without rain in the land. One day Adonai spoke to Elijah. [Go present yourself to King Ahab,] He Commanded. [Tell him that I will soon send rain upon the land.] By this time the famine was very severe in Samaria, where Ahab lived. Elijah arrived there with his message during the peak of the famine. On the way to see King Ahab, Elijah met Obadiah, the man in charge of the King’s household. Obadiah honoured Adonai in all that he did. Once when Queen Jezebel tried to murder Adonai’s prophets, Obadiah hid one hundred of them in two caves, fifty men in each cave and fed them with bread and water. On the day Elijah met Obadiah, King Ahab had started out to look for some grass. [Go throughout the land and check the streams in every valley,] he had told Obadiah, [We must find some grass so that my horses and mules will not all die.] Ahab himself went through one part of the land and Obadiah went through another part. When Obadiah saw Elijah coming, he recognized him and fell down before him with his face to the ground. [Is this really Elijah?] he asked. [Yes,] Elijah answered. [You must go now to King Ahab and tell him that I am here.] [Why do you want to send me to my death?] Obadiah argued. [Ahab has searched everywhere for you, in every kingdom. Whenever someone told him that you were not there, he made that person swear that he was telling the truth. You ask me to tell King Ahab that you are here, but as soon as I go to tell him, the Spirit of Adonai will take you to some secret place. When Ahab cannot find you, he will kill me. What have I done to deserve this? I have served Adonai since I was a young man. Haven’t you heard how I hid one hundred of Adonai’s prophets in a cave and fed them bread and water when Jezebel tried to kill them?] [As surely as Adonai is alive,] Elijah answered, [I will show myself to King Ahab today.] Thus assured, Obadiah went to tell King Ahab and Ahab came to meet Elijah. [So, it’s really you, the one who has brought such trouble upon Israel!] exclaimed King Ahab. [You are the one who has brought this trouble upon Israel,] replied Elijah. [You and your fathers turned from Adonai to worship Baal, so you have caused this famine to come. Now, assemble the people of Israel on Mount Carmel, along with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah whom Jezebel feeds. Ahab did as Elijah instructed him and assembled the people of Israel and the false prophets to Mount Carmel. There Elijah spoke to them as they gathered close to listen. [How long will you try to follow two gods?] Elijah demanded. [If Adonai is YHVH, follow Him. If Baal is god, then follow him.] When the people did not answer Elijah, he spoke to them again. [Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets, but I am the only prophet of Adonai,] he said. [Let us have a test. Bring two young bulls; let Baal’s prophets take one, cut it into pieces and lay it on wood with no fire under it. I will do the same with the other bull. Then they will call upon their god and I will call upon my YHVH. Whoever answers by sending fire is the true YHVH.] [That will be a good test,] the people agreed. Then Elijah spoke to the prophets of Baal. [Choose your bull first and prepare it, for there are many of you,] he said. [But build no fire under it.] The prophets of Baal chose one bull, prepared it and called all morning until noon. [O Baal, answer us!] they begged, but there was no answer. Then they began to dance around the altar which they had made. At noontime Elijah began to mock them. [Keep calling!] he urged. [You say that Baal is a god. If he isn’t listening, he must be meditating or has gone out or is away on a trip. Or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened.] The prophets of Baal began to shout louder and according to their custom, they cut themselves with swords and lances until the blood gushed forth. They kept doing this throughout the afternoon until the time of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice, no answer; nothing. [Come closer to me,] Elijah told the people. The people came closer and watched as Elijah repaired the altar of Adonai which had been torn down. He remade it with twelve stones, one for each tribe of Israel, in the Name of Adonai. Then he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two bushels of seed, placed the wood on the altar, cut the remaining bull into pieces and laid it upon the wood. [Fill four large jars with water and pour it over the meat and the wood,] Elijah ordered. The people did as Elijah said. [Now do it again,] he told them. They did it again. [Do it once more,] said Elijah. By this time the water was running about the altar, filling the trench with water. At the time of the evening offering, Elijah stood before the altar and began to pray. [O Adonai YHVH of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, let the people know today that You are YHVH, that I am Your servant and that I have done these things because You have told me to do them. Show these people that You are YHVH by answering me and turn their hearts back to You.] Immediately fire fell from Adonai and burned the offering, the wood, the stones, the dust and even burned up the water in the trench. When the people saw this, they fell with their faces to the ground. [Adonai is YHVH! Adonai is YHVH!] they cried out. [Seize the prophets of Baal,] Elijah shouted. [Don’t let any of them escape.] The people seized the prophets of Baal and at Elijah’s order, brought them to the Kishon River, where Elijah executed them. [Now go and have a good meal,] Elijah told King Ahab. [I hear the sound of a great rain coming. [Ahab did as Elijah had said. Elijah himself went to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed down to the ground, placing his face between his knees. He instructed his servant, [go up higher and look toward the sea.] [I see no clouds,] the servant said. [Go again and again until you have gone seven times,] said Elijah. The seventh time the servant returned with this message, [I see a small cloud like a man’s hand, rising from the sea.] [Go to Ahab and tell him to prepare his chariot and head for home,] urged Elijah. [Tell him to hurry for the rain may stop him.] Soon the skies were dark with clouds and a great wind swept across the land with torrents of rain. Ahab headed for Jezreel in his chariot, but Adonai gave Elijah such strength that he ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to Jezreel, a distance of at least twelve miles.

COMMENTARY

THE WORSHIP OF BAAL

Of all the Canaanite gods and goddesses, none was so powerful as Baal. According to his followers, he was the god of storms, the one who brought life-giving rain to the earth. Without his aid, the land turned dry and barren and the people starved. In Palestine, Phoenicia and Syria, nearly every village had a small hilltop shrine called the [high place.] Here Baal’s followers offered sacrifices to him. If he were not honoured properly, they thought, he would either turn against his followers or lose power and be destroyed by the gods of evil and destruction. The poorest worshipers offered fruit or vegetables. Others brought perfume, honey or wine. Young animals; kittens, puppies, lambs and kids; were common sacrifices. The most powerful was the sacrifice of a bull, the very symbol of Baal’s strength and fertility. Many shrines contained life-sized statues of Baal. In some representations, he wore a dagger at his waist, had bull horns set in his helmet and wielded a club over his head. In his other hand he held a spear that sprouted leaves. The horns meant power, the club represented thunder and the spear stood for both vegetation and lightning. So prepared, Baal; the [Rider of the Clouds]; was prepared to defend his followers. In addition to the open-air shrines, there were temples to Baal in the cities. Priests lived there, who could explain the gods wishes to the people. These priests took a portion of all sacrifices and charged fees for special services; they often grew rich. The priests acted out ancient myths of the gods. One served to explain the changing seasons. It said that Baal was once killed by Mot, the god of death, sterility and ruin. Without rain, the earth began to die. During these parched summer months, Baal’s sister searched the underworld for him. When she found him and restored him to life, the winter rains returned and the earth flourished again. This story of life and death was performed each new year. Male and female prostitutes acted out [sacred] marriage with the worshipers, believing the ritual would increase the fertility of their soil, flocks and families. During certain other special rituals, the priests would dance before the altars and slash themselves with knives. This was meant to arouse Baal’s divine pity and bring his aid immediately. At times of great crisis or danger, when even that was not enough, the priests encouraged families to make the greatest offering of all -- the sacrifice of their infant children in the flames of the altar. Even though it often seemed that Baal was a harsh god and hard to please, many kept on believing that he alone was responsible for their lives as he brought the rain that made their crops grow and flourish from year to year.

"My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgements."

Ps 119

I want to thank everyone whos been posting this past week or two. The scriptures quoted helped me adjust my attitude so i could relate to my teen better. Its premature to say it, but i think were finally through our rough patch! Thank you for the love, encouragement, advice, and prayers! May Yah use me to bless you all some way.