how did god defeat the priests of baal through elijah?

But we can be around the Word, hear it taught, and even experience the work of God in our lives and still grow lukewarm or callused (cf.

There are those going around today claiming that things like this can’t happen to believers, that our new life in Christ immunizes us. The futility of these mighty acts on this callused and vile king should be a warning to all of us as well because Scripture shows the same laws of hardening which affect unbelievers, can affect believers as well. King Ahab had been privileged to see the mighty power of God displayed, the name of Yahweh vindicated, and the prophets of Baal severely defeated and destroyed. Let’s look at the text and see what we can learn.

But something really shattered Elijah’s focus and his faith. With the power of God so clearly manifested perhaps Elijah thought there would be some change in Ahab, some positive response with the result there were going to be changes in the kingdom of Israel. Have you ever been there, in the gloom of despair and defeat when all your expectations exploded in your face? I don’t know what Elijah was expecting. Leaving his servant, he continues another day’s journey further into the desert, crawls under a scrubby tree and, in deep depression, asks God to let him die. Elijah runs for his life down to Beersheba in the desert in the southern most part of Judah. She reacts with vengeance and threatens Elijah’s life. King Ahab tells the notorious Jezebel what Elijah had done. In the section before us we see the cause of the change in Elijah. But in chapter 19, we find Elijah fearful, running scared, exhausted, depressed, and wanting to die. In one Elijah is bold and courageous, victoriously facing all kinds of odds with the chapter concluding, “the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins and outran Ahab to Jezreel.” Elijah experienced God’s supernatural strength to do the extraordinary. As brought out in the last lesson, the contrasts between 1 Kings 18 and 1 Kings 19 are sharp and startling.

How did god defeat the priests of baal through elijah?