Elijah and the Disappearing Stones
by Eric Engelmann
All content © 2024 Static Force, LLC
When Are We?
About 865 BC, give or take a few years. This is after King David and before Elijah is carried up to heaven in a fiery chariot.
Where are we?
Mount Carmel. It's west of the Sea of Galilee very close to the Mediterranean Sea.
Why are we here now?
We're going to see some stones disappear in a burnt offering.
Some History
More than 500 years ago, Joshua put 12 stones into the Jordan river, and pulled 12 stones out from the Jordan. These 12 stones represented the 12 tribes of Israel, and reminded the following generations that the Most High had brought Jacob's descendants into Israel.
Roughly three centuries ago, Gideon spoke with the angel of the Lord and offered a young goat on a rock. Fire came from the staff of the angel and burned up the goat and the broth poured on it.
About three years ago, Elijah told Ahab that no rain will come except by Elijah's own word. The people and the livestock of the northern kingdom are desperate.
The Scripture
1 Kings 18
Verse 19 (Elijah is talking to King Ahab)
Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel to Mount Carmel, and four hundred fifty of the prophets of Baal, and four hundred of the prophets of the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
Note: I don't see the 400 prophets of the Asherah being mentioned in this chapter after this verse.
Verse 20 So Ahab sent to all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together to Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you waver between the two sides? If Yahweh is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.”
The people didn’t say a word.
22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left as a prophet of Yahweh; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred fifty men.
Verse 24 You call on the name of your god, and I will call on Yahweh’s name. The God who answers by fire, let him be God.”
All the people answered, “What you say is good.”
25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves, and dress it first; for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.”
Skipping to Verse 29 When midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the evening offering; but there was no voice, no answer, and nobody paid attention.
Note: Now listen for the word "stones" and pay attention to what happens to them.
Verse 30 Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me!”; and all the people came near to him. He repaired Yahweh’s altar that had been thrown down.
31 Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom Yahweh’s word came, saying, “Israel shall be your name.”
32 With the stones he built an altar in Yahweh’s name. He made a trench around the altar, large enough to contain two seahs of seed. 33 He put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood. He said, “Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the burnt offering, and on the wood.”
34 He said, “Do it a second time;” and they did it the second time. He said, “Do it a third time;” and they did it the third time. 35 The water ran around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.
Note: It hasn't rained for three years. Looking at this much water may have been a hard thing to do.
Verse 37 Hear me, Yahweh, hear me, that this people may know that you, Yahweh, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again.”
38 Then Yahweh’s fire fell, and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces. They said, “Yahweh, he is God! Yahweh, he is God!”
– 1 Kings 18:20-39
That’s the end of the passage.
The fire that came to Mt. Carmel is different than the fire Gideon saw when he offered a young goat. Elijah's fire did not involve a visible staff, and the flames devoured the 12 stones of the altar.
In the Future
Not all of Elijah's prayers will be answered immediately. Elijah will pray seven times to get a rainstorm to fall on Ahab.
After Jesus’ resurrection, there will be fire from heaven on the heads of everyone in a prayer meeting in Jerusalem. The number will include 12 apostles.
Just as all the water in the trench was consumed, may we all behold the fire and the glory of the Most High.
All content © 2024 Static Force, LLC