Who was the God Baal?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Baal, the main god of the Canaanites, was worshiped in Israel and Judah, leading to moral decline and divine judgment. Despite God's warnings, Baal worship persisted, even involving child sacrifice. In a famous showdown, God proved His supremacy over Baal through Elijah. Similarly, Pharisees accused Jesus of demonic power, but He affirmed His works were through God. These accounts teach us to wholeheartedly worship and follow God, rejecting anything that leads us away from Him, prioritizing obedience, and finding true fulfillment in Him alone.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Baal was the name of the main god of the Canaanites in Old Testament times. Baal worship was a problem for Israel throughout the period of the judges (Judges 3:7) and was prevalent in the reign of King Ahab of the northern kingdom of Israel (1 Kings 16:31–33).
• Judah, the southern kingdom, also struggled with Baal worship. In 2 Chronicles 28:1–4 we read, "Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as his father David had done, but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. He even made metal images for the Baals, and he made offerings in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom and burned his sons as an offering, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel. And he sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree." The Lord judged Judah by allowing the king of Syria and the king of Israel to defeat Judah in battle and enslave hundreds of thousands of captives (2 Chronicles 28:5–7).
• In Canaanite belief, Baal was the son of El and the goddess Asherah. Baal became more powerful than even El, defeating various other gods in battles. Baal was often worshiped as a sun god or storm god.
• The name Baal was used of gods all over the area. For example, in Numbers 25:3 there is a Baal of Peor. In Judges 8:33 Baal-berith was worshiped by the Israelites after the death of Gideon.
• Tragically, Jeremiah 19:3–5 notes child sacrifice to Baal: "Behold, I am bringing such disaster upon this place that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. Because the people have forsaken me and have profaned this place by making offerings in it to other gods whom neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah have known; and because they have filled this place with the blood of innocents, and have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as burnt offerings to Baal, which I did not command or decree, nor did it come into my mind."
• The best-known account regarding Baal in Scripture is the showdown between his priests and the God-fearing prophet Elijah. Elijah challenged 450 of Baal's priests—whichever god answered the call to send fire down from the sky would be declared the true God. When the Lord answered Elijah, sending enough fire to consume offering, altar, and the surrounding water, the people worshiped the Lord and put the prophets of Baal to death (1 Kings 18).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• In the New Testament, the Pharisees used the term Beelzebub (also translated Baal-zebub and Beelzebul) to slander Jesus, accusing Him of casting out demons by the power of the "prince of demons" (Matthew 12:24). Baal worship, as seen in the Old Testament was an abomination and a false god whose worship led to much sin and debauchery. The connection between Baal and Satan is made in the accusation the Pharisees make. The Pharisees attributed Jesus' miraculous works to Satan, which He refuted by pointing out the illogical nature of Satan opposing himself and affirming that His works were through the Spirit of God (Matthew 12:26–28). Jesus warned His followers that they would face similar slander and opposition, emphasizing that if He, the master, was called Beelzebul, His followers would also be maligned (Matthew 10:25). He further explained that this hatred was because His followers were chosen out of the world, leading to the world's hostility towards them (John 15:18–19).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

God is the only one to be worshiped, and only His ways are to be followed (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). From seeing Baal and Baal worship in the Bible, we learn to wholeheartedly devote ourselves to worshiping the one true God. Just as God demonstrated His power over false gods such as Baal, we are reminded to submit our lives to His truth and to reject anything that leads us away from Him. This means prioritizing our worship, obedience, and allegiance to God above all else. We should strive to live in a way that honors Him in every aspect of our lives, seeking His guidance and following His teachings faithfully. This application urges us to consistently choose God over the false idols and distractions that vie for our attention, knowing that true fulfillment and purpose are found only in Him.

UNDERSTAND

• Baal, a Canaanite god, was worshiped in Israel and Judah, associated with child sacrifice and idol worship.
• In a showdown between Elijah and Baal's priests, God proved His superiority over Baal.
• Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons by Beelzebub, attributing His miracles to the Devil.

REFLECT

• Reflect on the story of Elijah's showdown with Baal's priests. What does this account teach you about God's supremacy and the dangers of idol worship?
• How do the accounts of Baal worship challenge you regarding distractions from true worship?
• What can you learn from the Pharisees' accusations against Jesus regarding Beelzebub, and how does it relate to challenges Christians face today?

ENGAGE

• Who was the god Baal according to biblical accounts, and what were the consequences of following him?
• How did Baal worship influence the Israelites during different periods of their history, and what were the consequences they faced?
• How can we apply the lessons from the accounts of Baal worship to our lives today, both individually and as a community of believers?