Baal is one of the most popular deities in the Bible. If you are a believer and you are fond of stories, especially in the old testament, then you should be familiar with this false god. This is because the story of the children of Israel, which takes a large proportion of the old testament, is not complete without the story of Baal.
Who was Baal and what kind of god was it in the Bible? Let’s find out below.
Who was Baal in the Bible?
If you take a quick gloss over the old testament, you will agree that the worship of baal was very popular among the Phoenicians, and the worship of the deity brought great consequences upon the Israelites each time they celebrated its worship.
A close reading of the Bible defines Baal as a deity of Canaan and Phoenicia’s origin. It was a highly regarded god among the Canaanites. This is because they believed it wielded power over the rain and dew, which are responsible for fertility. As such, it was called the prince and Lord of the Earth.
Archeological findings also show that the Phoenician god took the shape of a bull or ram and that its image, usually made of brass and other precious items, sat on a cliff. The worship of baal was very popular during the time of King Ahab, Manasseh and other judges in the Book of Kings.
As we learned from its history, however, Baal brought more woes than blessings upon its worshippers. For instance, the story of the 450 prophets of Baal and Jezebel in the Bible shows that no god can contend with God the Almighty and win.
That said, the likes of valiant men like Gideon, Elijah and king Hezekiah were instrumental in the wiping out of strange gods like Baal and Asherah in the Bible.
Who is Baal in Christianity Today?
Did you know that people still worship the Baal idol today? In fact, idolatry has infiltrated Christianity today so that many people who identify as believers are not authentic.
To answer the question about the practice of Baalism today, recall that Jesus Christ, Matthew 6:24 says that man cannot serve two masters, i.e God and mammon.
Christians who have idols set up in their hearts, who love and cherish money and material things of this world more than God are not different from the worshippers of Baal. Therefore, Baal is anything that takes the place of God in your heart. It could be your wife, properties, profession, wealth, hobbies, etc. that rob you of quality time with God.
Frequently asked Questions on the Worship of Baal in the Bible
1. What Does Baal Represent?
Baal is a Canaan deity that is associated with fertility. As such, the deity is associated with rain, dew, thunder and lightning. The belief is that this god is responsible for their soil’s fertility and bountiful yields every harvest season. Artistically, worshippers of Baal carve a bronze or brass-like bull or ram to represent the idol.
As mentioned earlier, brave men and prophets like Gideon, Hezekiah and Elijah were instrumental in the abolishment of Baal in the Bible. Among these people, however, the character of Gideon stands out from the rest. Even his name, Jerubbaal, meaning contender with Baal, confirms that he is a strong opposition to the worship of vain gods.
Conclusion
This Bible exegesis tries to explain Baal and the kind of idol it was in the Bible. As shown earlier, the Biblical history of this Canaan god shows that it is not one to associate with. This is because every instance of its worship brought woes to the children of Israel. Typically, today, Christians who love other things more than God are also worshippers of Baal.
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