Did you know?

Baal

Baal, a pagan god, against whom a lot is mentioned in the Bible, is a fertility god. The Canaanites, who were predominantly farmers, worshiped Baal for the fertility of the soil, animals and humans. Baal was thought to go underground during the summer. For the rains to come, people used to offer sacrifices to please him enough to return. Animals and even human sacrifices were offered. Human sacrifices were usually in the form of babies given to the searing hot iron hands of Baal idol.

God said to the Israelites not to worship any other gods. But they forgot God and went after the gods of the surrounding nations, sacrificing babies, indulging in public sexual acts in order to please Baal. Male and female priests were available for this purpose. Jeremiah the prophet, warned of this and prophesized the judgment of God, if they did not repent (Jeremiah 19). Later we see the prophesy fulfilled and the Assyrian army, one of the brutal in ancient times, invading thus making the place a “Valley of slaughter”, just as God said he would.

We live in a time where these things happen in our society - families broken, indulging in immoral ways and unborn children killed. In other words, we do Baal worship. Let us repent and come back to God of the Bible. Let us seek forgiveness which is given freely.