And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made.
On Mount Carmel the prophets of Baal get the first turn, and they use it for a whole morning. Their failure raises the questions the whole scene turns on: what makes a god real, and what makes prayer more than noise?
The first turn deliberately given away
Elijah lets his opponents go first, and one writer notes he had a reason for insisting they light no fire themselves.
W. W. FeredayThe people knew well that Baal was the reputed god of fire, and said, "It is well spoken." Elijah then turned to the prophets of Baal and said, "Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it" (1 Kings 18:25). It was important to stress that last clause when dealing with unprincipled villains. Priestly "miracles" have a bad name for fraud. In the calmness of faith, Elijah could afford to let Satan's agents move first. He knew very well that the god they served had no power.
Everything staked on a god who cannot speak
The prophets shouted for a whole morning and got nothing back. A psalm says why.
W. W. FeredayWhat a day it was! From morning until noon the prophets cried, "O Baal, answer us!" — knowing that for them everything was at stake. Their god's silence threw them into a frenzy, and they leaped about the altar they had made. "The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them" (Ps. 135:15-18).
Why the leaping began
One writer names the reasoning behind the leaping, and finds the same habit in all false worship.
The Christian's FriendHaving taken their bull and dressed it, they called on Baal from morning to noon to step in and prove his claims. "But there was no voice, and no one answered." They thought, as in all false worship, that more energy was needed from them. So they leaped on the altar they had made.
Volume is not power
Baal's side had every advantage that day: numbers, the court's backing, first pick of the sacrifice.
The Bible TreasuryAt the start, Baal's cause seemed to have everything in its favour. He had his choice of the sacrifice, the sympathy of the court, and a large priesthood, eager for his interests — that is, their own. All day they tore their throats, if not the heavens, with their cries, "O Baal, answer us." They waved their arms like madmen. They leaped in a frenzy on the altar and cut themselves with knives until the blood gushed out on them. But the sheer excess of what they did only showed how useless their efforts were. There was no reply. A mountain of zeal produced not even the smallest result.
An empty image with something real behind it
The idol was lifeless, yet something real stood behind the worship of it — and the blood it cost settled nothing.
H. L. RossierBaal does not answer (vv. 25-29). See the irony in how the prophet treats this lifeless object! Through it Satan was working his terrible influence on the hearts of men. The blood of the false prophets flows (v. 28), but neither their blood nor the blood of any man can atone for Israel's sin or open heaven to this poor people!
The same mistake in prayer today
The Lord warned His disciples about empty repetition in prayer. One writer points back to this scene as the example.
Arend RemmersIf the Lord had to charge the Jews with hypocrisy, He had to judge the nations for their empty repetitions and many words in prayer (see 1 Kings 18:26-29). Beyond that, He also warns His disciples against thoughtless prayers. He knew in advance what would develop in Christianity. Pagan religions are not the only home of empty repetition of pre-written prayers. Christian churches practise it too.
Everything that is not Christ is false
One writer defends the way Elijah dealt with the prophets, and turns it into a test for today.
W. T. P. WolstonI think Elijah was right in the way he treated them. He knew the whole thing was false, just as today everything that is not Christ is false. What you and I want is the truth. And Christ is the Truth.
Summary
- Cry — From morning until noon they called on Baal. Everything was at stake for them.
- Silence — No voice, no answer: the idol has a mouth that does not speak, and those who make idols become like them.
- Frenzy — When a false god stays silent, his worshippers supply more energy. They leaped on the altar and cut themselves, and a mountain of zeal produced not even the smallest result.
- Repetition — The Lord judged the nations for empty repetitions and many words. Repeated pre-written prayers carry the same fault in churches today.
- Contrast — Elijah gave his opponents the first turn in complete calm. He knew their god had no power, and that everything which is not Christ is false.