1 Kings 18:25-27 Gone to the bathroom?

 “Now Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.” So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us!” But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made. And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.”” I Kings‬ ‭18‬:‭25‬-‭27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us”: The prophets of Baal had a devoted prayer life. Here, they prayed long and with great passion. Yet because they did not pray to the real God, their prayer meant nothing. There was no voice; no one answered.

b. They leaped about the altar which they had made: The prophets of Baal had an energetic prayer life. Their worship was filled with enthusiasm and activity. Yet because it was not directed to the real God, their prayer meant nothing.

c. Elijah mocked them: Elijah could not resist the opportunity to mock the prophets of Baal for their evidently foolish faith.

i. “Elijah’s irony bordered on sarcasm” (Patterson and Austel). The words meditatingand busy can be translated “to be engaged in business” and may be a euphemism for bodily elimination.

ii. “Rabbi S. Jarchi gives this the most degrading meaning; I will give it in Latin, because it is too coarse to be put in English; Fortassis ad locum secretum abiit, ut ventrem ibi exoneret; ‘Perhaps he has gone to the -------------.’ This certainly reduces Baal to the lowest degree of contempt, and with it the ridicule and sarcasm are complete.” (Clarke)

(Guzik)

Gone to the bathroom?

I used Ai to translate this from Latin to English, so if it’s incorrect blame Ai! 🤣

“The Latin phrase "Fortassis ad locum secretum abiit, ut ventrem ibi exoneret" translates to "Perhaps he has gone to a secret place to relieve himself." This phrase is used in a context of mockery regarding Baal in the biblical narrative.”

Going to the bathroom is no laughing matter especially when you are old, sick or infirm. It humbles you when you require assistance which is what recently happened to me with two separate visits to the ER and I had to relieve myself!

But In these verses Elijah mocks their man made god with ridicule and sarcasm because he’s not responding to their prayers.

The good Lord always hears our prayers if we confess our sin and humbly ask them. I’ve attached a link that explains, Does God hear my prayers?

I personally have had prayers answered, have you?

Blessings 

Does God hear my prayers?