Read the Passage: 1 Kings 18

Confronting Ahab (18:1–19)

Recall that as 1 Kings 17 concluded, Elijah was residing in Zarephath, at the home of an unnamed widow, and the land was in the midst of a lengthy drought. This drought had been brought about by the prayers of Elijah (cf. Jas. 5:17), and it was a form of judgment upon Ahab and the nation on account of idolatry. Just as earlier God had sent Elijah to Zarephath in Sidon (cf. 1 Kings 17:8–9), so now God sent Elijah back to Israel to announce the end of the drought and famine. 1 Kings 18:2 introduces a man named Obadiah, who was Ahab’s steward. Surprisingly, Obadiah feared God, and had rescued 100 prophets of God from the wrath of Jezebel. In 1 Kings 18:1–8 Ahab and Obadiah were searching throughout the land of Israel for grass and water to keep some of the king’s livestock alive. During this search, Elijah appeared to Obadiah and asked that Ahab be informed of his presence.

While we might assume that Obadiah would have been happy to see Elijah, his response was, “How have I sinned, that you are delivering your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me? . . . And now you say, ‘Go, tell your master, “Elijah is here.”’ He will kill me!” (1 Kings 18:9, 14). In this passage we learn the problem was that over the previous three years, Ahab had diligently searched for Elijah, without success. Obadiah’s concern, then, was legitimate, for he worried that if Elijah’s presence was announced, the prophet would vanish again, and then Ahab would execute the messenger. Note that Ahab had evidently neglected to search for Elijah in Zarephath, which was within his wife’s home region of Sidon. When Ahab and Elijah finally did meet, Ahab blamed Elijah for the drought and famine, as his pride blinded him to the fact that his own sins were the cause of the nation’s troubles.

Defeating Baal (18:20–40)

1 Kings 18:20–40 contains one of the more well-known narratives in this book, as here Elijah and 450 prophets of Baal faced off on Mount Carmel. The rules of this spiritual contest were simple: Elijah and the false prophets would each pray to their God, and the God who sent fire to consume their sacrifice would be recognized as being true. Before this contest began, Elijah confronted the people, as he asked them, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him” (1 Kings 18:21). While Elijah was greatly outnumbered, he allowed the false prophets to choose a bull to sacrifice, as well as to begin the contest. 1 Kings 18:26–29 notes that these false prophets spent time praying, prophesying, and lacerating themselves in an attempt to prompt Baal to send fire, “But there was no voice, no one answered, no one paid attention” (1 Kings 18:29).

When it was Elijah’s turn, he called the people together to witness his sacrifice. First, Elijah repaired a dilapidated altar of God, using twelve stones which represented the twelve tribes of Israel. Second, Elijah dug a trench around the altar and prepared a bull as an offering. Third, Elijah asked the people to dowse the offering and the altar with four water-pots of full of water, which was repeated three times. Finally, Elijah prayed that God would receive the offering and vindicate Himself before the people. In response to the prayers of Elijah, “The fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench” (1 Kings 18:38). Such an overwhelming response from God caused the people to bow down and to proclaim, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God” (1 Kings 18:39).

Proclaiming Rain (18:41–46)

Two results of God’s victory on Mount Carmel were the execution of the 450 prophets of Baal and the arrival of heavy rain. Note that while God was vindicated at this spiritual show-down, the results of this contest primarily benefited the people, not God. Observe the irony of the false prophets being executed at the Brook Kishon (cf. 1 Kings 18:40), which was dry on account of the Baal worship promoted by Ahab and Jezebel. Furthermore, there is no indication in the narrative that God’s victory on Mount Carmel moved Ahab to repent of his idolatry. Nevertheless, in His mercy, God did end the drought. Elijah’s confidence in God is clear, for before he even prayed for rain, Elijah declared to Ahab that rain was approaching (cf. 1 Kings 18:41). James 5:18 records, “Elijah prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.” Elijah was then empowered by God to run back to the city.

Application Questions:

1. Was it wise for Obadiah to remain in the employment of Ahab (cf. Ps. 1:1–2; Prov. 13:20; 1 Cor. 15:33)?
2. When sinners are confronted with the truth of Scripture, why do they often blame the messenger rather than repent?
3. Was Elijah correct when he claimed, “I alone am left a prophet of the Lord” (1 Kings 18:22)?
4. What does Scripture reveal about discerning true and false prophets (cf. Deut. 13:1–3; 18:21–22; Matt. 7:15–20)?
5. What are some dangers of being used by God? How can we stay humble in the midst of effective kingdom service?