Lesson 5: Three Lies of Idolatry

In Exodus 32 we saw how Israel broke the second commandment by trying to make a likeness of God, a futile attempt to bring Him down to their level. However, Israel’s idolatry would not be limited to making likenesses of the Lord; God’s people would give their allegiance to other gods throughout their history. And Baal would be the god they chose to serve more than any other. Israel’s flirtation with Baal began even while they were journeying to the Promised Land, for Moabite women would seduce them to worship their idol (Numbers 25.1-9). Throughout the period of the Judges, Israel would turn away from Jehovah to worship the Baals (Judges 2.11-13; 3.7; 6.25-32; 8.33; 10.6). And while the people put their Baals away during the days of Samuel (1Samuel 7.2-6), by the time we arrive at 1Kings 17 Baal worship is the official religion of Israel (see 1Kings 16.29-33).

If you were to visit Mt. Carmel you’d come across a statue commemorating Elijah’s victory over the prophets of Baal. Except it wasn’t Elijah’s victory over the prophets of Baal, it was Jehovah’s victory over Baal. How did God’s people become so devoted to an idol? To understand why they became idolaters, and why we do as well, we need to consider three lies that go hand-in-hand with idolatry.

Lie #1: You Haven’t Forsaken Jehovah

1Kings 12 details how the kingdom of Israel divided following the death of Solomon, the 10 northernmost tribes rebelling against the rule of Solomon’s son Rehoboam and choosing Jeroboam as their king. Significantly, the Lord had foretold this and even promised that if Jeroboam would “listen to all that I command you… I will be with you and will build you a sure house” (1Kings 11.38). Yet, Jeroboam quickly departed the Lord by creating two idols for the people to worship, setting them in the cities of Dan and Bethel (1Kings 12.26-29). It would seem that Jeroboam’s intent was that his golden calves were representations of Jehovah, and thus to worship them was to worship Israel’s true God. However, since these calves broke the second commandment (Exodus 20.4-6) they were a sin to Israel (1Kings 12.30). Israel had forsaken Jehovah, even though they had not intended to do so.

It would even seem that Ahab did not intend to completely forsake Jehovah. The worship of Baal instituted by Ahab and Jezebel was certainly a direct provocation to Jehovah (1Kings 16.31-33), but it would seem that Ahab wasn’t trying replace worship of Jehovah with worship of Baal. Rather, he was instituting a syncretic system of worship where Israel would worship multiple gods; they would worship Baal AND Jehovah. Note the names that this wicked king gave to his children:

• Ahaziah (1Kings 22.40): Yahweh has taken hold
• Jehoram (2Kings 1.17): Yahweh is high
• Athaliah (2Kings 8.26): Yahweh is exalted

Jeroboam and Ahab were notoriously evil kings who led the people into apostasy, but they serve as a warning to all of us: we can think we are worshiping Jehovah when we are not. Even “good people” can be idolaters; people who worship God regularly, are considered moral and are charitable. For if we allow anything to keep us from loving the Lord with all of our being, then we’ve become idolaters (Deuteronomy 6.5; Matthew 22.37-38).

Lie #2: Your Idol Will Provide What You Need.

Why Baal? What was it about this god that constantly vied for Israel’s affection? Much of our information regarding Baal comes from excavations at the ancient city of Ugarit. It’s important to note that Ugarit was a city in Syria, so their beliefs regarding Baal may have some differences from Canaanite beliefs, but it would seem they were mostly in line with each other. There was a pantheon of gods including:

• El, the head of the pantheon.
• Dagon, father of Baal and best known to us as principle deity of the Philistines (Judges 16; 1Samuel 5).
• Asherah, fertility goddess and consort of El.
• Baal. “As the storm god and bringer of rain, Baal was recognized as sustaining the fertility of crops, animals, and people. His followers often believed that sexual acts performed in his temple would boost Baal’s sexual prowess, and thus contribute to his work in increasing fertility.” (Lexham Bible Dictionary)

That Baal and Asherah would be the principle gods worshipped by the Canaanites is due to their association with agriculture and fertility. In a society dependent on rainfall and the fertility of both the ground and livestock, these “gods” would have constantly vied for the affection of any people, including Jehovah’s people. But Baal could not provide what Israel needed! Note how as punishment for Ahab’s promotion of Baal, Jehovah declared a drought (1Kings 17.1). This was a direct confrontation! Furthermore, while Israel suffered the devastating effects of the drought (see 1Kings 18.5), the Lord provided miraculously for his faithful servant Elijah (1Kings 17.3-16). The Lord had promised that if Israel would follow Him, the land would provide bountifully (see Deuteronomy 28.4-5). Their worship of Baal was robbing them of God’s blessings!

Why do we turn to our idols? Could it be that we’ve believed the lie that anything other than Jehovah can provide what we really need? Do we think money is going to give us security? Not only will money fail us, it will rob us of true treasure (Matthew 6.19-21,24). Do we think our physical appearance will gain us acceptance? Not only will our appearance diminish, it will rob us of His acceptance (1Timothy 4.8). Do we think we will find satisfaction in various pleasures? Not only will those pleasures prove unsatisfying, they will rob us of His joy (Matthew 25.23).

Lie #3: Something / Anything Is Greater Than Jehovah

Several reasons could be given why Ahab (and other kings) turned to Baal. A significant reason would be that the nations surrounding Israel were typically stronger than her, and they all worshipped some variant of Baal. Perhaps, if Israel worshipped Baal she would be mighty too? Perhaps Baal was greater than Jehovah? However, everything in 1Kings 17-18 speaks to one absolute fact: Jehovah is greater! We’ve already noted how the drought was a direct challenge from Jehovah to Baal, now note how the events of chapter 18 further show Jehovah’s superiority:

• Vs. 19, Mount Carmel may have been chosen for a few reasons. It rose 1600 feet above the sea, thus providing a broad view of the Jezreel Valley. It was a lush region, but it would have also experienced some affects of the 3 year drought. Finally, it formed part of the boarder between Israel and Phoenicia, making it the perfect location for this contest between gods.
• Vs. 23, note how Elijah allows the Baal prophets the choice of ox. Every action is taken to avoid the risk of fraud.
• Vs. 24, “The people believed Baal to represent the sun-god also and in their epics thought he rode the thunderclouds and sent lightning (as did the Hebrews the Lord, Pss 18:14; 104:3–4).” (Tyndale)
• Vs. 27, perhaps Elijah’s taunts relate to the myth of Baal and Mot. “Although Baal could withstand virtually anyone, he could not resist Mot, the god of death. Baal recognized that fact and once in Mot’s grip, he died. The other gods were grief-stricken and dismayed. Since Baal was a storm god, there was no more rain, and the longer he remained dead, the longer the drought… Anath then visits Mot, hacks him into tiny pieces, and sows them all over the countryside. As new life emerges, Baal is revived.” (Lexham Bible Dictionary) Had Baal left his house for the underworld? Was he possibly dead?
• Vs. 29, Baal is completely impotent. Note Jeremiah 10.5.
• Vs. 32, each “measure” would have been the equivalent of 11 quarts.
• Vss. 36-37, contrast Elijah’s simple prayer with the ravings of the Baal priests (vss. 26-29). Also note that not only does Elijah pray that Jehovah would respond, but that the people may turn back to Him.
• Vs. 38, “In one passage from Ugarit, Baal states, “I understand lightning, which not even the heavens know.” (ZIBBC) Baal could not respond with fire from heaven, Jehovah could!
• Vs. 40, “As a result of this contest, the petition of Elijah is heard (the sacrifice is consumed), Yahweh sends rain (the drought ends), and the warfare with Baal is concluded (prophets are slain), with Yahweh having demonstrated himself superior to Baal in Baal’s own terms.” (ZIBBC) Note that death was the punishment for false prophets (Deuteronomy 13.5,13-18; 17.2-5).

We are constantly being told that there are things greater than God. Government is the answer to our problems, social causes will bring about justice, your needs and wants are what is really important. But all are lies because they rely on trusting man rather than God; they assume that man is greater than the Lord. “To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him?” (Isaiah 40.18).