THE SUPREMACY OF GOD

Supremacy is the state of having ultimate authority, power or lordship. It could also mean sovereignty or ability
to dominate or defeat. The supremacy of God in this context shows that God is the supreme being, who has
power over everything He created. It indicates the absolute rule of God, and the power to control everything in
the world.
This sovereignty was expressed when God instructed the Israelite never to worship any other God but Him.
The supremacy of God was less regarded when king Ahab approved the worship of Baal and other gods in
Israel, as against the order of God to His people,hence attracting the anger of God.
Knowing clearly that God is the creator and we are the creation, He is the potter and we are the clay. Though
man tries to humanize God, thinking that God can be moved to discard His attributes or thwart His plans, God
is absolutely supreme, having power over ever thing, both living and dead. He has absolute and unlimited
power over all things He created. In many cases, men try to thwart the plans of God, yet God shows His
supremacy by proving His power over men. The supremacy of God is plainly and positively affirmed in many
scriptures where men try to doubt His supremacy by undermining God. Furthermore, the palmist portrays the
supremacy of God in Psalm 135 : 6 where he said, “He does whatever He wishes in heaven and on earth, in
the sea and in the depths below” Also in Romans 11 : 36, the supremacy of God was prove n “For all things
were created by him and all things exist through him and for him.”
Israel was one of the nations that worshiped God as the supreme Being. However, during the reign of king
Ahab, the so Omri,who reigned for twenty two years, he promoted pagan worship and was imposed on the
people of Isreal, and this cause religious tension, where Prophet Elijah courageously stood firm and restored
the faith of Isrealites in God as the supreme God who is mightier than baal.

AHAB’S APOSTASY AND GOD’S REACTION – 1KING 16 : 29 – 34

Apostasy is the renunciation of a belief or one’s religious or faith. Ahab, the son of Omir who reigned over
Israel in Samaria did more evil in the sight of the Lord more than those who reigned before him. He took as
wife, Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, king of Sidon. With the influence of his wife, Ahab encouraged the
worship of Baal in Israel, built a house for Baal in Samaria and erected an altar in it for its’ worship. He also
made for Jezebel, an Asherah altar which is the female counterpart of Baal, and also imposed the worship on
Israelites. He allowed Hiel of Bethel to rebuild Jericho which was a cursed city, but Hiel lost his first son Abiram
at the laying of it’s foundation, and lost his youngest son, Segub at the setting of it’s gate according to the word
of God spoken through Joshua the son of Nun. (Joshua 6:26)

RELIGIOUS TENSION IN ISREAL.

Tension is a state of conflicting or opposing beliefs or views, thus religious tension exist when the people are
forced to abandon their own religion for another religion.
After the introduction of Baalism i.e the worship is Baal, there was religious tension in Israel. Firstly The
prophets of God were persecuted by Jezebel. Obadiah, the officer in charge of the king’s household, had to
hide hundred of those prophets, in fifties inside a cave. He also fed them with bread and water, morning and
evening. Secondly, there was unsafe atmosphere for the worshipers of God - Jezebel with the support of
Ahab, was determined to make Baalism prevail in Israel by all means. The Israelites were no more free to
worship God. This largely reduced the number of Israelites who worshiped the supreme God.

Elijah announced drought – 1kings 17: 1 – 7 , 1kings 18 : 1 – 19

Now, Elijah the prophet of God from Tishbite announced a drought in Israel as directed by God. His prophesy
came to fulfillment. God caused the drought in Israel for about three years and the people suffered greatly.
God used the drought to show HIS supremacy over Baal and prove Himself the owner and controller of
everything. During the drought , God directed Elijah to brook Cherith, to the east of the Jordan. There, he hid
himself and was fed by the revens, with bread and meat, morning and evening. He also drank from the brook.
At a time, the drought became so severe that the king’s animals were dying. King Ahab and his officer in
charge of his household , Obadiah went in search of green pasture for the animals.
Elijah then received the divine message, as he was sent to king Ahab, ending the drought.1Ikings 18:1-2 “ In
the third year of the drought the word of the Lord came to Elijah saying, Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will
send rain upon the earth”. Now, the drought was so severe in Samaria, the capital of Israel (the southern
kingdom)
On his way to see the king, Elijah met Obadiah on his way in search of green pasture for the king’s animals.
Elijah told Obadiah to go and inform the king, that Elijah was around to see the king. But Obadiah was afraid to
take the message to the king, thinking that he might be killed by the king if Ahab did not see Elijah on getting
to the place. He feared that the spirit of God might take Elijah away to another place as Ahab was desperately
in search of him. Obadiah also feared that the king may have been told how he hid the prophets of God and
fed them when Jezebel was killing them. When Elijah assured Obadiah that he would remain there waiting,
Obadiah went and called king Ahab. On seeing Elijah, the king said to him, “Is it you?” you troubler of
Israel?” Elijah in reply, told king Ahab that he (Elijah) did not cause the drought but that it was caused by
Ahab himself and his father’s household because they forsook the commandments of God and followed Baal.

ELIJAH ON MOUNT CARMEL – 1 KING 18 : 18-46

During Elijah’s meeting with Ahab, Elijah asked Ahab to gather on Mount Carmel, all the Isrealites, the
prophets of Baal and the prophet of Asherah (Female counterpart of Baal). Elijah reason for gathering them
was to organise a contest through which he would prove God as the only true God and prove His Supremacy
over Baal and it’s worshippers. After this contest, God would end the drought.
King Ahab gathered four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, four hundred prophet of Asherah and all the
Israelites for the contest. On seeing the Israelites, Elijah rebuked them for their infidelity, saying, “How long will
you go on limping with two different opinions?” If Lord is God, follow Him, but if Baal, then follow him. The
condition for the contest was that two bulls would be offered to their gods, one bull for each god (God and
Baal). The worshippers of each god would call upon their god. Any god that answers by fire to consume the
offering would be the true God. They agreed.
The prophets of Baal were the first to make their offering to their god. They cried from morning till post
noon, but Baal did not answer them. They limped about the alter they made crying, “O Baal answer us.” But
there was no voice and no one answered. At noon, Elijah began to mock them saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a
god, either he is musing, or he has gone aside, or he is on a journey or perhaps he is asleep and must have
awakened” they cried aloud and cut themselves with woods and lances until blood was gushing out , but there
was no voice, no one heeded, the bull laid on the altar, unconsumed. As it got to Elijah’s turn to call on his
God, be built the altar with twelve stones, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. He laid the bull on the altar
and dug a trench around it. He ordered the people to pour four jars of water on the offering. This they did
repeatedly for three times and the trench was filled with water. After this Elijah knelt down and called on God to
consume the offering by fire to prove Himself as God in Israel and prove himself as the true servant of God.
Immediately, the fire of the Lord came down from heaven and consumed the offering, the woods, the stones
and the dust, even licking the water that filled the trench. Seeing what happened the people fell on their faces
and cried, “The Lord He is God, the Lord, He is God” vs 39.
This proved to them, the supremacy of God and their lost faith in God was restored. Elijah ordered them to
seize the prophets of Baal and execute them. They were all killed at the brook of Kishon. After the contest
Elijah went to the top of Mount carmel and prayed. There was heavy rain to mark the end of the drought, after
Elijah had announced to them to prepare for rain.

Significance
I. We must trust in God even when we are in the minority.
II. We should avoid apostasy because it attracts the wrath of God.
III. God is the only controller of the universe.
IV. God is more powerful than baal
V. The Supreme God would intervene in any matter, why other god can go to sleep.
VI. As christian we should have strong faith in God.
VII. We should be courageous in the face of persecution
VIII. God has the power to protect all who are faithful to him, if we remain faithful to him.
IX. Apostasy attract the anger of God, for it’s a sin to forsake God.
X. The contest put back on course the true worship of God