18:1 Some time later, in the third year of the famine, the Lord told Elijah, “Go, make an appearance before Ahab, so I may send rain on the surface of the ground.”
Baal was the god of rain, but he was powerless against Jehovah to bring rain to his worshipers. God gave King Ahab three years to repent and turn to God, but he had refused to do so. It took God three years to train Elijah for his encounter with satanism. Now, God will send His prophet to King Ahab.
2 So Elijah went to make an appearance before Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria.
The famine was very severe in Samaria. If God would have waited any longer, then Israel may not have survived.
3 So Ahab summoned Obadiah, who supervised the palace. (Now Obadiah was a very loyal follower of the Lord.
Obadiah means “servant of Jehovah.” He was not Obadiah the writing prophet. He was a believer, yet he supervised Ahab’s palace. If Jezebel knew that Obadiah was a believer, then she would have probably killed him.
4 When Jezebel was killing the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah took one hundred prophets and hid them in two caves in two groups of fifty. He also brought them food and water.)
The most evil thing that a person can do is to kill a prophet of God who was bringing divine revelation to the people. Obadiah worked behind the scenes, hiding prophets in caves. It would have been difficult to sustain them during this famine.
5 Ahab told Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grazing areas so we can keep the horses and mules alive and not have to kill some of the animals.”
The famine was so severe, that there was not enough grass available for the livestock.
6 They divided up the land between them; Ahab went one way and Obadiah went the other.
Even King Ahab surveyed half of the land himself. He must have really trusted Obadiah to give him this commission.
7 As Obadiah was traveling along, Elijah met him. When he recognized him, he fell facedown to the ground and said, “Is it really you, my master, Elijah?”
Finding Elijah would be like finding a needle in a haystack. Finding Elijah was a divine appointment.
8 He replied, “Yes, go and say to your master, ‘Elijah is back.’ ”
Obadiah was commanded to report to King Ahab that Elijah was returning to Israel.
9 Obadiah said, “What sin have I committed that you are ready to hand your servant over to Ahab for execution?
If Obadiah came back to King Ahab without arresting Elijah, then he would have been executed.
10 As certainly as the Lord your God lives, my master has sent to every nation and kingdom in an effort to find you. When they say, ‘He’s not here,’ he makes them swear an oath that they could not find you.
King Ahab had sent spies and search parties all over Israel to find Elijah.
11 Now you say, ‘Go and say to your master, “Elijah is back.” ’
This report would cause Obadiah’s execution.
12 But when I leave you, the Lord’s spirit will carry you away so I can’t find you. If I go tell Ahab I’ve seen you, he won’t be able to find you and he will kill me. That would not be fair, because your servant has been a loyal follower of the Lord from my youth.
Obadiah was aware of the miraculous protection that Elijah received. If King Ahab could not find Elijah, then Obadiah would be executed.
13 Certainly my master is aware of what I did when Jezebel was killing the Lord’s prophets. I hid one hundred of the Lord’s prophets in two caves in two groups of fifty and I brought them food and water.
Elijah had been away from the king’s court for three years living in the Gentile territory of Sidon. Sidon was the Phoenician sister city of Tyre. They were known for their Mediterranean shipping trade.
14 Now you say, ‘Go and say to your master, “Elijah is back,” ’ but he will kill me.”
Obadiah complained to Elijah that he would be executed if he returned alone.
15 But Elijah said, “As certainly as the Lord who rules over all lives (whom I serve), I will make an appearance before him today.”
Elijah promised that he would appear to King Ahab that very day.
16 When Obadiah went and informed Ahab, the king went to meet Elijah.
King Ahab had not seen Elijah for over three years.
17 When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is it really you, the one who brings disaster on Israel?”
King Ahab was a typical liberal. He blamed the problems of Israel upon the conservative Elijah. There are many liberal pastors today who blame the problems of the church on the conservatives, although it was the liberal who denied the basic bible doctrines of the Bible and broke away from the church.
18 Elijah replied, “I have not brought disaster on Israel. But you and your father’s dynasty have, by abandoning the Lord’s commandments and following the Baals.
King Ahab was from the line of Omri. Omri and Ahab were the most evil kings of Israel. Ahab brought Baal worship into Israel, causing God to judge Israel. The liberals are causing problems both in the church and in the secular world. When man denies the Word of God, then it makes man act stupidly. Stupid actions by men cause problems in society.
19 Now send out messengers and assemble all Israel before me at Mount Carmel, as well as the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah whom Jezebel supports.
Elijah alone was going to face 450 Baal prophets and 400 Asherah prophets. Asherah was the female consort of Baal. Mount Carmel was high in the mountains, so Baal would receive home court advantage.
20 Ahab sent messengers to all the Israelites and had the prophets assemble at Mount Carmel.
Jehovah was rounding up all of the Baal prophets so that he could exterminate them all at one time. Jehovah is more concerned with absolute divine truth than he is with multiculturalism.
21 Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long are you going to be paralyzed by indecision? If the Lord is the true God, then follow him, but if Baal is, follow him!” But the people did not say a word.
Many of the Israelites were into syncretism. They worshiped both Baal and Jehovah. They would pray to one, and if there was no answer, then they would pray to the other. Isaiah informed the people to follow the one true God, not the false gods of the pagan nations. Israel gave Isaiah no answer. The people thought that Isaiah was alone, but it was actually the 900 prophets who were alone. Isaiah was more interested in pleasing God and not men.
22 Elijah said to them: “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but there are 450 prophets of Baal.
Elijah thought that he was the only prophet left, but Obadiah hid 100 prophets in caves.
23 Let them bring us two bulls. Let them choose one of the bulls for themselves, cut it up into pieces, and place it on the wood. But they must not set it on fire. I will do the same to the other bull and place it on the wood. But I will not set it on fire.
Elijah was actually fighting against Satan. This contest would begin by each side cutting up a sacrifice and placing it upon the wood without fire.
24 Then you will invoke the name of your god, and I will invoke the name of the Lord. The god who responds with fire will demonstrate that he is the true God.” All the people responded, “This will be a fair test.”
Both groups were called to ask their god to bring rain upon the earth. Whichever god who could actually bring rain to end the drought would be considered the one true God.
25 Elijah told the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls for yourselves and go first, for you are the majority. Invoke the name of your god, but do not light a fire.”
Since Elijah was outnumbered 450-1, he allowed the Baal priests to go first. Elijah was not really outnumbered. As John Knox (Scotland Protestant leader) said, “One with God is a majority.”
26 So they took a bull, as he had suggested, and prepared it. They invoked the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “Baal, answer us.” But there was no sound and no answer. They jumped around on the altar they had made.
The Baal priests danced and jumped around all morning to get the attention of their god, but there was no answer.
27 At noon Elijah mocked them, “Yell louder! After all, he is a god; he may be deep in thought, or perhaps he stepped out for a moment or has taken a trip. Perhaps he is sleeping and needs to be awakened.”
God’s prophets often used sarcasm to teach divine viewpoint. Unbelievers and carnal Christians experience anger when mature believers use sarcasm, but it was used very effective by the prophets, John the Baptist, Paul, and Jesus Himself.
Elijah asked the prophets to yell louder, because Baal might be in deep thought. Maybe Baal was using the bathroom? Maybe Baal went on a trip with the Phoenician sailors? Maybe Baal was sleeping and he needed to be awakened?
28 So they yelled louder and, in accordance with their prescribed ritual, mutilated themselves with swords and spears until their bodies were covered with blood.
Pagan priests would mutilate themselves in order to arouse the sympathies of their gods. They were hoping that their pain would cause their pagan gods to notice them and possibly appease them.
29 Throughout the afternoon they were in an ecstatic frenzy, but there was no sound, no answer, and no response.
The Baal priests danced around, jumped around, mutilated themselves, and screamed in an ecstatic frenzy, but there was no answer from their pagan gods.
30 Elijah then told all the people, “Approach me.” So all the people approached him. He repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down.
It was now Elijah’s turn. He had been prepared for three years in the wilderness by Jehovah Himself for this battle. Elijah’s real opponent was Satan.
31 Then Elijah took twelve stones, corresponding to the number of tribes that descended from Jacob, to whom the Lord had said, “Israel will be your new name.”
Elijah took twelve stones, showing that even though Israel and Judah were divided, they were still one unity underneath Jehovah. Israel means “he will wrestle with God.” Israel was wrestling with God at this very moment, although they did not know that they were in a battle.
32 With the stones he constructed an altar for the Lord. Around the altar he made a trench large enough to contain two seahs of seed.
Elijah constructed the altar.
33 He arranged the wood, cut up the bull, and placed it on the wood.
Elijah prepared the sacrifice. The burnt sacrifice pointed to Christ.
34 Then he said, “Fill four water jars and pour the water on the offering and the wood.” When they had done so, he said, “Do it again.” So they did it again. Then he said, “Do it a third time.” So they did it a third time.
The priests poured twelve jars of water over the sacrifice, making sure that the sacrifice was saturated with water.
35 The water flowed down all sides of the altar and filled the trench.
The water not only doused the sacrifice, but it filled the trenches as well. Mount Carmel was close to the coast, so much of this water came from the Mediterranean Sea.
36 When it was time for the evening offering, Elijah the prophet approached the altar and prayed: “O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command.
Elijah prayed at the time of the evening offering, which was about 6 PM. Notice that Elijah prayed not to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. In this prayer, Elijah emphasized that the divided monarchy was still considered as one nation in the eyes of God. Israel was supposed to become one state who worshiped the same God as Judah in Jerusalem.
37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are the true God and that you are winning back their allegiance.”
The purpose of Elijah’s prayer was to ask God to perform a miracle to authenticate His presence.
38 Then fire from the Lord fell from the sky. It consumed the offering, the wood, the stones, and the dirt, and licked up the water in the trench.
The fire from heaven not only consumed the sacrifice, but it consumed all of the water in the trenches as well.
39 When all the people saw this, they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground and said, “The Lord is the true God! The Lord is the true God!”
God’s elect recognized Jehovah as the one true God.
40 Elijah told them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Don’t let even one of them escape!” So they seized them, and Elijah led them down to the Kishon Valley and executed them there.
The people on Elijah’s side arrested all of the false prophets.
41 Then Elijah told Ahab, “Go on up and eat and drink, for the sound of a heavy rainstorm can be heard.”
Elijah commanded the king to go eat and drink it up, because a thunderstorm was coming.
42 So Ahab went on up to eat and drink, while Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel. He bent down toward the ground and put his face between his knees.
Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel. This may have been a supernatural climb.
43 He told his servant, “Go on up and look in the direction of the sea.” So he went on up, looked, and reported, “There is nothing.” Seven times Elijah sent him to look.
Elijah told his servant to go look from the top of Mount Carmel down to the Mediterranean Sea seven different times.
44 The seventh time the servant said, “Look, a small cloud, the size of the palm of a man’s hand, is rising up from the sea.” Elijah then said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up the chariots and go down, so that the rain won’t overtake you.’ ”
The servant saw rain coming out of the Mediterranean Sea. Elijah sent the servant to King Ahab, informing him that he better hurry!
45 Meanwhile the sky was covered with dark clouds, the wind blew, and there was a heavy rainstorm. Ahab rode toward Jezreel.
As King Ahab was riding home in his chariot with rain pouring down upon him. He should have recognized and worshiped Jehovah as God.
46 Now the Lord energized Elijah with power; he tucked his robe into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
Jehovah energized Elijah with super-speed and super-endurance. King Ahab had no excuse for not obeying God.