Evening star., 1922-01-14
BY REV. HUGH It. STEVENSON.


/, One Of the most dramatic scenes in
human history has been assigned for
our study this week. Romance may
be challenged to rival the weird trag-
edy, with it's strange contrasts, in
tense competition, crushing defeat
and miraculous victory, that was en-
acted upon Mount Carmel. with the
priests of Baal and the prophet OF
God for actors and the people OF
Israel for spectators. One must study
the whole chapter to see how Elijah
succeeded in convincing the nation
by his challenge to the priests OF
Baal. The prophets complete vic
tory over the followers of Baal ex-
plains why they accepted Jehovah as
God and then completely destroyed
the defeated champions and devotees
of Baal.
Elijah was summoned by Divine
command to leave the shelter. secur-
ity and safety which he had enjoyed
during his three years sojourn in the
home of the widow of Zarephath to
return to Israel. Three and half
years had passed by since the prophet
started his campaign against the
idolatry and licentiousness that
threatened the destruction of the ma
tion by an appeal to the people. He
had predicted famine, which was al
ways recognized as sign of Jeho-
vahs displeasure, hoping that it would
result in the restoration of the wor-
ship of God. 1t required courage for
him to return, for the court held that
BILE for the horrors of famine which
had all but destroyed the nation
They had sought him as a criminal
escaped from justice among the ma
tions and put price upon his head
The fearless champion of Jehovah
did not stop to count the cost, but
obeyed Gods command that called
upon him to return.
His providential meeting with Oba-
dfah, whose loyalty to the Lord had
been demonstrated in his efforts to
save the prophets Of Jehovah. re-
vealed that Elijah had not returned
as a supplicant seeking an audience
with Ahab. 1t was as a representa- =
tive of Jehovah that he demanded
that the king should Immediately
meet him in conference concerning
the conditions of Israel
Ahab hastened to confer with the
prophet. whom he charged with being
servant of God denied the charge and
proved that he had only uncovered
the trouble. He charged the king
with being the cause of the nation S
distress. despair and desoIation. 1t
was Ahab'S desire for gain and glory
that caused him to marry Jezebel
Her malign influence had introduced
Baalism. which was fatal TO the ma
tion's existence. because it inter
fered with Israel's fulfilling her
unique mission to the world. Deter
mined to eradicate the pernicious in
fluence, the prophet ordered that the
king summon the nation to Mount
Carmel, together with the priests of
Baal. Ahab acknowledged the au-
thority of Elijah, for he commanded
the people to assemble at Carmel and
ordered the devotees of Baal to ap-
pear there. as the prophet had de-
handed.
Carmel. the garden of God. was an
ideal site for staging the greatest
drama in human history. 1T rises in
gentle undulations from the south
east sweeps seaward. and plants it
self bold headland immovable in
the sea. A triangular block of
mountains. with its apex crowned by
monastery. seen from the most
parts of the land, it is clothed in YER
dure and groves of great trees. rocky
dells with jungles of copse. In an
cient times it was we'll cultivated,
rich in grapes and olives. At its
southeast extremity stands the cliff
and plateau of FL Mahrakah tplace
of burning). twelve miles from the
sea" In obedience to the king s
command. the gaunt and hungry hosts
of Israel assembled upon Mount Car
mel. They were joined by the priests
of Baal, $50 strong, and the priests of
AShtoreth. the obscene Tyrian god
dess. whose ceremonial services and
teachings, under the direction and
support of Jezebel. were so much like
the worship offered to Jehovah at the
shrineS erected in Bethel and Dan
that the difference could not be de-
tected by the ordinary worshper.
Immediately upon the convenlng OF
the national assembly of Israel, Eli
jah condemned the hypocrisy in life
and worship of the nation. He char
acterized their religious activities to
be like a bird hopping from branch
to branch, appearing now to be for
Baal and now for Jehovah. He de-
manded that they make a decision
concerning whom they should wor-
ship. There was only one person
present that realized the crisis that
Israel faced at that moment. 1t was
battle to preserve his country. His
experience at Cherith and in Sidon
had demonstrated the security and
safety of trusting in jehovah. Below
him was the plain of Esdraleon, the
battlefield of sacred history, contain
ing Megiddo and Jezreel. through
which winds the Kishon. where De-
borah and Barak, and also Gideon
had won battles for the glory of
Israel and the honor of Jehovah. The
memory of their victories must have
encouraged Elijah as he fought one
of the worlds greatest battles sim
gle-handed against the numerous foes
assembled that early morning upon
Carmel. When the people were so
oyerawed nv his presence that thev