As we continue with this series, post # 2 reveals what the bulls that were prepared for sacrifice represented for each side that was calling on their god. We saw that the bull that the false prophets cut was offered to Mammon, their god of greed, false power, and covetousness. But in the times of the Old Testament, the bull Elijah prepared represented a sin offering on his behalf and also on behalf of the people of Israel because the sin of idolatry was the root cause of the severe famine in the land.
Leviticus 16:6,11 tells us once again, “Aaron will present his own bull as a sin offering to purify himself and his family, making them right with the Lord.” NLT
Another example of sins atoned for by the sacrificing of bulls in the Old Testament is found in the Book of Job. The scenario here is that Job had been put through a tough test to see if he would forsake his trust, reliance, and devotion to God. After being considered the wealthiest and most influential person of his time, Job lost everything: his family, marriage, his good name, and his health. Nothing was off-limits for the enemy regarding Job’s life except that he couldn’t be killed.
Job had suffered great losses, but he still chose to trust the Lord. Contrary to that, his three friends were continually blaming him for his misfortune. They kept accusing him of great sin that must’ve ignited the wrath of God against him. They also accused him of not doing enough to solve his problems. It seems that they would’ve preferred that Job entered into dead works to stop the mouths of his accusers.
Their arguments against Job were unceasing, until one day, the Lord Himself confronted them about the unfounded accusations that were igniting His wrath against them and gave them a command that would keep them from suffering the consequences of their folly. Being true to the laws of the time, the command was that they would bring seven bulls and seven rams for a sacrifice that would make them right with God again as Job prayed for them because God was not listening to their prayers. Job 42:7-9 shows this,
“It came about that after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, ‘My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him [and his prayer] so that I may not deal with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me the thing that is right, as My servant Job has.’ So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.” AMP
But going back to the meaning of the bulls for both the idolatrous people who served evil Queen Jezebel and for the prophet Elijah who served the Most High God, the time of the confrontation to show who was the One true God had finally come. So, the false prophets of Baal took the center stage first to perform their rituals of dead and illegal works that were not recognized by God and His Kingdom. Those things only arouse demonic activity to keep them that performed them in deeper bondage to sin.
That is why no shouting, no leaping and dancing, no pleas, and no raving was able to cause the fire to come down. This must’ve looked funny to God and the prophet Elijah because he made fun of what he knew would cause no reaction. After all, first, it was to a false god, and second, it was not based on recognizing their need to be forgiven of their idolatry. It is also disturbing to see that the lies of the enemy made them believe they needed to cut themselves and bleed to sacrifice to their god. 1 Kings 18:26-29 highlights,
“So they took the bull that was given to them and prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, ‘O Baal, hear and answer us.’ But there was no voice and no one answered. And they leaped about the altar which they had made. At noon Elijah mocked them, saying, ‘Cry out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied, or he is out [at the moment], or he is on a journey. Perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened!’ So they cried out with a loud voice [to get Baal’s attention] and cut themselves with swords and lances in accordance with their custom, until the blood flowed out on them. As midday passed, they played the part of prophets and raved dramatically until the time for offering the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention.” AMP
Proper Protocol for the Restoration of the People of Israel Back to God
There was a specific protocol to follow to properly offer the sacrificial sin offering that would restore the people and the land of Israel to God and would stop the famine in the land. Here are some strategic things the prophet Elijah did by the leading of the Lord and under the Old Testament law to restore the people to God and turn them away from idolatry. These included:
Ahab, king of Israel was present for the confrontation
1 Kings 18:19-20
“‘Now summon all Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who are supported by Jezebel.’ So Ahab summoned all the people of Israel and the prophets to Mount Carmel.” NLT
King Ahab represented the established governmental authority in the land, though during his leadership he and his wife Queen Jezebel led the people to idol worship. Thus, the king also had to be restored to the Lord as the governmental head of the people of Israel with his repentance. Although he was later cut off along with his household, the king repented of his wrongdoings (See 1 Kings 21:17-29).
The Priest that performed the sacrifice could only be approved by God
1 Kings 18:36
“At the usual time for the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, ‘O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command.” NLT
According to the Old Testament law in Leviticus 16:32-34, the Lord commanded Moses to establish this protocol for the offering of sacrifices to make the priests and the people right with the Lord. The Scripture says, “In future generations, the purification ceremony will be performed by the priest who has been anointed and ordained to serve as high priest in place of his ancestor Aaron. He will put on the holy linen garments and purify the Most Holy Place, the Tabernacle, the altar, the priests, and the entire congregation. This is a permanent law for you, to purify the people of Israel from their sins, making them right with the Lord once each year.’ Moses followed all these instructions exactly as the Lord had commanded him.” NLT
While Elijah followed the proper protocol for the sin offering, the prophets of Baal and Asherah on the other hand, violated this protocol with their idolatry. They all appointed themselves to make the sacrifice. There was no ranking order like with the prophet Elijah who was God’s chosen prophetic voice and office to perform the sacrifice. 1 Kings 18:25-26 states,
“Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “You go first, for there are many of you. Choose one of the bulls, and prepare it and call on the name of your god. But do not set fire to the wood.” So they prepared one of the bulls and placed it on the altar. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning until noontime, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no reply of any kind. Then they danced, hobbling around the altar they had made.” NLT
Today, according to Scripture, turning from idolatry and to God begins with our repentance for our sins and receiving by faith the sacrificial offering of Jesus for our sins with the shedding of His blood and death on the Cross at Calvary. Let’s also remember what Jesus, our High Priest offered Himself to do for us. Hebrews 9:11-15 reminds us,
“So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever. Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.” NLT
Romans 10:9-11 also declares, “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.’” NLT
Restoration of the altar to the Lord
1 Kings 18:30
“Then Elijah called to the people, ‘Come over here!’ They all crowded around him as he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down.” NLT
The altar of the Lord needed to be rebuilt. This action would re-dedicate and set apart the land and the people of Israel to God and the Kingdom of heaven would once again become the spiritual government over them. Because of their idolatry, the king and the queen had destroyed the altar to the Most High God and replaced it with altars or monuments to their pagan gods. Thus, Elijah rebuilt the altar to the Almighty and made the sacrifice that would restore their right standing with God and bless the nation for Psalm 33:12 says, “Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people whom He has chosen as His own inheritance.” AMP
Elijah set up 12 stones
1 Kings 18:31-32
“He took twelve stones, one to represent each of the tribes of Israel, and he used the stones to rebuild the altar in the name of the Lord. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold about three gallons.” NLT
The Scripture says that these 12 stones represented the twelve tribes of Jacob. They were a memorial to the generations of the wonderful works of God, for He showed His extraordinarily powerful hand to deliver His people from Egypt and also as they were conquering their promised land, that the people may reverently fear Him, worship, and obey Him all the days of their lives (Joshua 4:24).
In addition, according to Genesis 35:9-15, God made a covenant with Jacob where as part of His blessings, He changed his name to Israel. This name change also included the command to be fruitful and multiply (have children, or multiply ourselves in others through our influence in them for the Kingdom) so he would become a nation. The Lord promised Jacob at that time that a company of nations was coming from him and kings would be born from his loins. Besides, God promised him the land He gave to Abraham and Isaac and also to his descendants after him. In this place where Jacob encountered God, he set up a pillar of stone as a memorial (a monument) where he poured a wine and oil offering to declare it sacred and for God’s purpose. That place was named Bethel (the house of God).
Therefore, during the sacrificial offering at Mount Carmel, Elijah remembered the covenant God made with Jacob that later birthed the twelve tribes which became the nation of Israel and the land He gave to them throughout their generations. The number 12 means government and with the twelve stones, Elijah built the altar in the name of the Lord. This is important to highlight because by his action, Elijah was establishing the government of God in the land and over the people which were once again declared sacred and for God’s purpose.
The 12 pitchers of water
1 Kings 18:33-35
“He piled wood on the altar, cut the bull into pieces, and laid the pieces on the wood. Then he said, ‘Fill four large jars with water, and pour the water over the offering and the wood.’ After they had done this, he said, ‘Do the same thing again!’ And when they were finished, he said, ‘Now do it a third time!’ So they did as he said, and the water ran around the altar and even filled the trench.” NLT
Elijah had four pitchers poured on the trench three times. This adds up to twelve pitchers. Again, because 12 means government, God was bringing a representation of what the water of His Word and the mighty works of His Holy Spirit would do in the hearts of the people in the new covenant through the death of Christ to cleanse them from the filthiness of idolatry and dead works according to Ezekiel 36:25-32. And by their repentance and obedience to God and His statues they would never have to suffer famine again.
All of this worked to eradicate the government of Satan and whatever legal right he had over the people and over the land of Israel through the sinful acts of those who governed it as well as those who followed them. Therefore, Elijah knew that in order to complete the sacrifice God needed to send the fire. He knew that God would answer his prayer because Leviticus 16:27 says,
“The bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Holy Place (Holy of Holies), shall be taken outside the camp; their skins, their meat, and their waste shall be burned in the fire.” AMP
God indeed answered with fire and consumed everything on the altar—the wood, the stones, the dust, and the water in the trench. This caused the people to fall face down and say, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!” (1 Kings 18:39). The people’s hearts were turned back to God.
More on the next post. To God alone all the glory. *
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