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Elijah and the priests of Baal

Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal and Asherah.
Contributed by René Pfitzner
Story also available on our translated websites: Spanish, Polish, Hindi
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King Ahab and his wicked queen, Jezebel … – Slide 1
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… had been leading the people of Israel astray by worshipping other gods. – Slide 2
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The land is gripped by a terrible drought … – Slide 3
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… while the prophets of God have been under siege by Jezebel’s orders to kill them. – Slide 4
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The worship of Baal has flourished. – Slide 5
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Elijah, God’s prophet, who has been in hiding, demanded to see King Ahab. – Slide 6
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Ahab went to meet Elijah. – Slide 7
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And when he found him shouted, ‘There you are. The biggest troublemaker in Israel.’ – Slide 8
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Elijah answered, ‘You’re the troublemaker, not me.’ – Slide 9
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‘You and your family have disobeyed God’s commands by worshipping Baal. – Slide 10
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‘Call together everyone from Israel, and have them meet me at Mount Carmel. – Slide 11
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‘Be sure to bring along the 450 prophets of Baal … – Slide 12
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'… and the 400 prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel’s table.’ – Slide 13
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Ahab got everyone together. – Slide 14
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Then they went to meet Elijah at Mount Carmel. – Slide 15
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Elijah stood in front of them and said, ‘How much longer will you try to have things both ways. If the Lord is God, worship Him … – Slide 16
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‘… but if Baal is god worship him.’ – Slide 17
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The people did not say a word. Elijah continued … – Slide 18
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… ‘I am the Lord’s only prophet, but Baal has 450 prophets. – Slide 19
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‘Bring us two bulls. Baal’s prophets can kill one of them and cut it into pieces. Then they can put the meat on the wood without lighting the fire. – Slide 20
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‘I will do the same thing with the other bull and I won’t light a fire under it either. The prophets of Baal will pray to their god and I will pray to the Lord. – Slide 21
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‘The one who answers by starting the fire is God.’ Everyone agreed. ‘That’s a good idea.’ – Slide 22
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Elijah said to Baal’s prophets, ‘There are more of you, so you go first. Pick out a bull and get it ready, but don’t light the fire. Then pray to your god.’ – Slide 23
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They chose their bull then they got it ready. – Slide 24
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They prayed to Baal all morning asking him to start the fire. – Slide 25
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They danced around the altar and shouted, ‘Answer us Baal. But there was no answer. – Slide 26
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At noon, Elijah started to make fun of them. ‘Pray louder! Baal must be a god. Maybe he is dreaming, or using the toilet or travelling somewhere? – Slide 27
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‘Or, maybe he is asleep and you have to wake him up?' – Slide 28
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The prophets keep shouting louder and louder. – Slide 29
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And they cut themselves with swords and knives until they were bleeding. This was the way they worshipped. – Slide 30
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And they kept up their shouting all afternoon but there was no answer from Baal. – Slide 31
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Then Elijah called everyone to gather around him while he repaired the Lord’s altar. – Slide 32
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He used 12 stones to build the altar. Each stone stood for one of the 12 tribes of Israel, which was the name God had given to their ancestor Jacob. – Slide 33
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Elijah dug a ditch around the altar. Then he placed wood on the altar. A bull was cut into pieces and the meat was put on the wood. – Slide 34
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The Elijah told the people, ‘Fill four large jars with water and pour it over the meat and wood. – Slide 35
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After he did this he told them to do this two more times. They did exactly as he said and the water ran down the altar and filled the ditch. – Slide 36
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When it was time for the evening sacrifice. Elijah prayed, ‘Lord, you are the God of Isaac and Israel. Prove that you are the God of this nation and that I, your servant, have done this at your command. Please answer me so these people will know that you are the Lord God and you will turn their hearts back to you.’ – Slide 37
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The Lord immediately sent fire. – Slide 38
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And it burned up the sacrifice, the wood and the stones. – Slide 39
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It scorched the ground and everywhere around the altar and dried up every drop of water in the ditch. – Slide 40
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When the crowds saw it they all bowed down and shouted, ‘The Lord is God! The Lord is God!’ – Slide 41
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Just then Elijah said, ‘Grab the prophets of Baal. Don’t let any of them get away.’ – Slide 42
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So the people captured the false prophets and took them down to the Kidron river where they were all executed. – Slide 43
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Slide 44