1 Kings 18:18-39
{18} And he said, "I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father's
house have, because you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and
you have followed the Baals. {19} "Now then send and gather to me all Israel
at Mount Carmel, together with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of
the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table." {20} So Ahab sent a message among
all the sons of Israel, and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel.
{21} And Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you
hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal,
follow him." But the people did not answer him a word. {22} Then Elijah
said to the people, "I alone am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal's
prophets are 450 men. {23} "Now let them give us two oxen; and let them
choose one ox for themselves and cut it up, and place it on the wood, but
put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other ox, and lay it on the
wood, and I will not put a fire under it. {24} "Then you call on the name
of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD, and the God who answers
by fire, He is God." And all the people answered and said, "That is a good
idea." {25} So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one ox for
yourselves and prepare it first for you are many, and call on the name
of your god, but put no fire under it." {26} Then they took the ox which
was given them and they prepared it and called on the name of Baal from
morning until noon saying, "O Baal, answer us." But there was no voice
and no one answered. And they leaped about the altar which they made. {27}
And it came about at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, "Call out
with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied or gone aside,
or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened."
1. How had the King and the leaders troubled Israel? v1 ________________________________
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2. What two opinions did Elijah accuse the people of hesitating over. v 21 _________________
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3. What do you think of the odds Elijah has between him and the prophets of Baal? v 22
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4. Why do you think Elijah gave the prophets of Baal first choice? v 26-27 ________________
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5. Do you have a thought as to why the people cut them self? v 28 ________________________
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(28} So they cried with a loud voice and cut themselves according to
their custom with swords and lances until the blood gushed out on them.
{29} And it came about when midday was past, that they raved until the
time of the offering of the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice,
no one answered, and no one paid attention. {30} Then Elijah said to all
the people, "Come near to me." So all the people came near to him. And
he repaired the altar of the LORD which had been torn down. {31} And Elijah
took twelve stones according to the number of the tribes of the sons of
Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, "Israel shall be
your name." {32} So with the stones he built an altar in the name of the
LORD, and he made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two measures
of seed. {33} Then he arranged the wood and cut the ox in pieces and laid
it on the wood. And he said, "Fill four pitchers with water and pour it
on the burnt offering and on the wood." {34} And 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. {35} And the water flowed around the altar,
and he also filled the trench with water. {36} Then it came about at the
time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet
came near and said, "O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today
let it be known that Thou art God in Israel, and that I am Thy servant,
and that I have done all these things at Thy word. {37} "Answer me, O LORD,
answer me, that this people may know that Thou, O LORD, art God, and that
Thou hast turned their heart back again." {38} Then 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. {39} And when all
the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD,
He is God; the LORD, He is God."
6. Why a stone on the altar for every tribe? v 31-32
a. All tribes were guilty
of sin. c. So the fire
could burn easier.
b. It made a nice arrangement.
d. To represent the needs of all tribes.
7. Why did Elijah go to all this detail? v 36 __________________________________________
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8. What did Elijah pray concerning the people's heart? v 37 _____________________________
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9. Did the people choose God or Baal? v 39 ____________________________________________
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Prayer Request