Tests to Determine God’s Truth – 1 Kings 18:20-46

Should we set up tests with unbelievers to demonstrate the truth of our belief in God and Jesus Christ? Elijah set up just such a test to show whether Baal or Yahweh was the true God. Of course, if, like Elijah, God told us to do it we should do it. But it has to be more objective than the test Mormons offer people, the test of asking God to give them a feeling about the Book of Mormon as to whether it is true or not.

Here is how Elijah did it.

So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.” Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “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.” 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. And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.

Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down. Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, “Israel shall be your name,” and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs of seed. And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” 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. And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water.

And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” 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. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God.” And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.

And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times. And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’” And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. (1 Kings 18:20-46, ESV)

Why would Ahab agree to call all Israel to meet with Elijah when he had been looking for him to arrest and execute him? I’m not sure.  But Elijah had just called Ahab the true troubler of Israel because of his endorsement of Baal worship to the people. And Elijah had set up a conclusive test to prove who was God, a test that Ahab was willing to engage in because Ahab genuinely believed in Baal and that Baal would prove himself.

The test itself is amazing. There will be no question if one of the altars burns up that the true and genuine God answered, either Baal or Yahweh. When Yahweh alone answers the fear upon all the people is instant and they fall on their faces and declare Yahweh God. But that is not enough. Those who worship falsely and lead in false worship must be executed, according to Deuteronomy 13:5, which says,

That prophet or dreamer must be put to death for inciting rebellion against the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. That prophet or dreamer tried to turn you from the way the Lord your God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from among you.

If further proof was needed it comes when Elijah then calls on Yahweh to bring rain that ends the long drought. This would have been the appropriate time for king Ahab to repent and lead a campaign against all false worship in his kingdom. Oh, what God might have done with him and through him then!

Would God use similar means to make Himself known today? He seems to be doing just that. Many Muslims who have come to faith have related that God sent them dreams telling them about Jesus and I have heard the same from the mouth of a former Hindu who, as a result of a dream his mother had, went to a Christian missionary and was saved. God has been giving miracles of healing and knowledge to demonstrate His love and power.

But just as important as this means of defending the truth of our faith is the intellectual demonstration of it, called apologetics. Are you prepared to defend the faith like Elijah, whether by miraculous demonstration or intellectual demonstration?