Who is baal in the bible

This trend would continue throughout the Old Testament. For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. God had warned His people to avoid the religious practices of their neighbors before entering the Promised Land Deuteronomy Unfortunately, the influence of Canaanite culture, religion, and idolatry proved too pervasive and attractive to resist.

The Israelites had also not done themselves any favors by intermarrying with Canaanite women and allowing their religious practices to infiltrate their homes. In the time of the Judges, Baal worship became even more prominent Judges Influenced by the religion of his Phoenician wife Jezebel, Ahab allowed Baal worship to become a dominant religion in Israel, as he erected altars, temples, and statues to Baal and Asherah throughout the land.

On Mount Carmel, Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a showdown to settle once and for all who was God over Israel 1 Kings In the challenge, Elijah and the prophets of Baal were each to call out to their god to send fire from heaven to ignite the altar erected in their name. Exhausted, the prophets of Baal finally gave up.

Then, in a simple prayer, Elijah called out to God and God swiftly answered with fire from heaven, putting the prophets of Baal and Baal himself to shame. The Israelites would continue to worship idols and look to foreign gods, influencing their brothers in Judah to the South with their pagan practices 2 Kings Historical evidence and the Bible tell us that those who worshipped Baal looked to the pagan god for rain to water their crops, strength to defeat their enemies, and fertility to produce children.

He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in doing wickedly. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord , as the house of Ahab had done. For after the death of his father they were his counselors, to his undoing. You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the Lord. You cannot serve God and money. And she did not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the wine, and the oil, and who lavished on her silver and gold, which they used for Baal.

After the death of Ahab, Moab rebelled against Israel. Now therefore thus says the Lord , You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die. How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?

It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.

Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them.

Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal and the prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. The Chaldeans who are fighting against this city shall come and set this city on fire and burn it, with the houses on whose roofs offerings have been made to Baal and drink offerings have been poured out to other gods, to provoke me to anger.

The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.

Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.

The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

The people of Israel killed the prophets of Baal, turning back to their true God. The fire of the Lord burned everything as soon as Elijah asked for it, where the prophets of Baal called for hours, but there was no one to hear them. After the death of Jezebel, the worship of Baal would see resurgences throughout Israel until the time of the exile centuries later. It is interesting to note how the worship of Baal comes in cycles in the history of Israel, and it often comes when they invite sinful influence.

For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? When the men of Israel began having relationships with women from pagan countries, they were unequally yoking the nation to cultures that did not recognize their God. Ahab married Jezebel, yoking Israel to Tyre, and idolatry easily crept in. The encounter with the priests also showed how futile the worship of false gods is.

No matter what the priests of Baal did, nothing happened, because there was no one listening. An idol is inanimate. At best, worshipping a false god is worshipping a rock given a personality through human imagination.

At worst, it is open rebellion against God by choosing to worship an evil entity — an entity that does not have power over the earth, just to deceive. The Lord God lives, while Baal was made of stone. While people do not worship Baal today, it is common to worship nature, other gods, or even oneself. Recognizing the patterns of idolatry of old can help believers recognize the temptation in their lives.

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia. Coogan, Michael David. Stories from Ancient Canaan. Louisville: The Westminster Press, Shrier, Priscilla. Evil practices never go away. They simply evolve. Baal transformed into Zeus who transformed in Jupiter, etc. In addition to Baal still having an influence over religions and pagan practices today, we need to take note of what happened to the Israelites and vigilantly watch our churches.

How many pagan ideas have we let seep in? What modern-day Baals have we worshipped in place of God? How could you worship Baal? Hope Bolinger is an editor at Salem, a multi-published novelist, and a graduate of Taylor University's professional writing program.

More than 1, of her works have been featured in various publications ranging from Writer's Digest to Keys for Kids. She has worked for various publishing companies, magazines, newspapers, and literary agencies and has edited the work of authors such as Jerry B.