Idols

So Ahab summoned all the people of Israel and the prophets to Mount Carmel. Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent.

Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but Baal has 450 prophets. Now bring two bulls. The prophets of Baal may choose whichever one they wish and cut it into pieces and lay it on the wood of their altar, but without setting fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood on the altar, but not set fire to it. Then call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by setting fire to the wood is the true God!” And all the people agreed.

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. [I Kings 18.20-26]

The prophets of Baal evidently genuinely expected Baal to respond to their request. They apparently believed he would indeed respond. It would appear they felt they had some reason to believe such a thing - perhaps even that they had seen such a reply before! Maybe?

Even so, Elijah also had great confidence in the Lord Almighty. Had Elijah had the Bible as we know it today, he would likely have been quoting Psalm 135.5: I know the greatness of the Lord—that our Lord is greater than any other god.

And, the Psalmist goes on to address idols as follows in Psalm 135.15-17: The idols of the nations are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell.

But still people were following Baal!

Why?

Father, help me to grasp why people follow other so-called deities.