Who Was Baal?

Baal was a prominent pagan deity worshiped by the Canaanites and the people of Tyre and Sidon. According to Canaanite mythology, Baal was believed to be the son of El, the chief god, and Asherah, his consort. Baal came to be revered as a powerful god, central to the religious systems of these ancient cultures.

The name Baal literally means “lord” or “master.” He was regarded as the god of fertility, rain, and agricultural abundance. People believed that Baal controlled the seasons and the ability of the land to bear fruit. In times of drought or agricultural failure, worshipers would offer sacrifices and prayers to Baal, hoping he would restore the land’s productivity. Similarly, those struggling with infertility would turn to Baal, seeking children as a blessing from him.

Baal worship was widespread in the ancient Near East and eventually crept into Israel, despite God’s clear commands against idolatry. The first notable instance of this is found during the period of the Judges:

“Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. They forsook the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They aroused the Lord’s anger because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.”
— Judges 2:11–13 (NIV)

Though initially limited, Baal worship among the Israelites intensified dramatically during the reign of King Ahab. Ahab, under the influence of his wife Jezebel—the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians—led Israel into deep apostasy:

“Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him.”
— 1 Kings 16:30–33 (NIV)

It was during this period of rampant idolatry that God raised up the prophet Elijah to confront the false worship and call the people back to Yahweh. The showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel vividly revealed the impotence of Baal and the absolute supremacy of the true and living God:

“So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. ‘Baal, answer us!’ they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.”
— 1 Kings 18:26 (NIV)

Despite their loud cries and frenzied rituals, Baal remained silent—because he was not a real god. Scripture affirms that idols are nothing but the work of human hands and that behind them are demonic forces meant to deceive:

“They sacrificed to false gods, which are not God—gods they had not known, gods that recently appeared, gods your ancestors did not fear.”
— Deuteronomy 32:17 (NIV)

“No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.”
— 1 Corinthians 10:20 (NIV)

In truth, there is only one God—Yahweh, the Creator of heaven and earth. All other so-called gods are false and powerless. Baal was not a god; he was a demonic deception meant to lead people away from the truth.

The story of Baal serves as a strong warning even today. Worshiping anything other than the one true God is idolatry and an offense to Him. God calls His people to exclusive loyalty:

“You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Exodus 20:3 (NIV)

The apostle Paul also warns that idolaters will not inherit the kingdom of God:

“Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men… will inherit the kingdom of God.”
— 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 (NIV)