cheka.
24th March 2017, 10:25 AM
a little background info on baal
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/christiancrier/2016/08/28/who-was-baal-a-bible-study/
If there was one god above all the ancient gods of this time period, it was Baal who was the half-bull, half-man god of fertility. Baal is the god that is most often referred to in the Bible. Baal apparently had many powers.
At Ras-Shamar, Baal was referred to as the son of Dagon, the Philistines chief god. The Bible tells us that there were dire consequences for Israel worshiping a false god (Judges 2). Today, that might be a job, car, status, possessions, money, and such things that can “do” things for us. It’s still idolatry and we’ve all been guilty of it, but the point is that Baal is no god at all.
The cult of Baal was widespread in the ancient Semitic nation of Israel due to the surrounding nation’s influences. Baal was the pagan god of choice because Baal controlled (supposedly) so much of what was vital for the people to survive that he was worshiped more than any other, however, when you discover their religious practices, you can see why they are condemned so strongly in Scripture.
The worshippers would gather around a statue or figure of Baal (a half-bull, half man god), but apparently, to get Baal’s undivided attention, they would sacrifice live infants into the burning hands of Baal with fire in his belly. When his hands would reach a white-hot temperature, the infant would be placed into Baal’s white-hot hands. While the infant was being burned alive, the worshippers were engaging in sexual intercourse with multiple partners (orgies) in the hopes of enticing Baal to bring life-giving rains for their crops, gardens, and orchards.
Of course, these practices caused many unwanted pregnancies, but then they solved that problem by making these unwanted babies, babies that conceived during their “religious services,” part of the following Baal worship where these infants would also be burned alive. How evil can it get!? Today, none worship that way (that we know of), but we are still sacrificing unwanted babies and placing them onto the altar of convenience. Is no price too high to pay, just so we can preserve a lifestyle (often, one of sexual immorality)?
Why would Israel choose Baal over God?
What was it about Baal that the Israelites were drawn too?
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/christiancrier/2016/08/28/who-was-baal-a-bible-study/
If there was one god above all the ancient gods of this time period, it was Baal who was the half-bull, half-man god of fertility. Baal is the god that is most often referred to in the Bible. Baal apparently had many powers.
At Ras-Shamar, Baal was referred to as the son of Dagon, the Philistines chief god. The Bible tells us that there were dire consequences for Israel worshiping a false god (Judges 2). Today, that might be a job, car, status, possessions, money, and such things that can “do” things for us. It’s still idolatry and we’ve all been guilty of it, but the point is that Baal is no god at all.
The cult of Baal was widespread in the ancient Semitic nation of Israel due to the surrounding nation’s influences. Baal was the pagan god of choice because Baal controlled (supposedly) so much of what was vital for the people to survive that he was worshiped more than any other, however, when you discover their religious practices, you can see why they are condemned so strongly in Scripture.
The worshippers would gather around a statue or figure of Baal (a half-bull, half man god), but apparently, to get Baal’s undivided attention, they would sacrifice live infants into the burning hands of Baal with fire in his belly. When his hands would reach a white-hot temperature, the infant would be placed into Baal’s white-hot hands. While the infant was being burned alive, the worshippers were engaging in sexual intercourse with multiple partners (orgies) in the hopes of enticing Baal to bring life-giving rains for their crops, gardens, and orchards.
Of course, these practices caused many unwanted pregnancies, but then they solved that problem by making these unwanted babies, babies that conceived during their “religious services,” part of the following Baal worship where these infants would also be burned alive. How evil can it get!? Today, none worship that way (that we know of), but we are still sacrificing unwanted babies and placing them onto the altar of convenience. Is no price too high to pay, just so we can preserve a lifestyle (often, one of sexual immorality)?
Why would Israel choose Baal over God?
What was it about Baal that the Israelites were drawn too?