A Prophet Recommending Idolatry?

Rabbi Moshe Ben-Chaim

Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you keep hopping between two opinions? If the Hashem is God, then follow Hashem; and if Baal, follow Baal!” But the people answered him not a word (Kings I, 18:21).

Elijah says it’s better to follow Baal alone, than following Baal and God together. How could he suggest to violate the worst sin of idolatry by following Baal?

The people's inability to respond expressed their incapacitated minds. And this is precisely Elijah's message. Because when people can accept both God and an idol, it displays their absence of critical thinking. It's like saying that one equals two. But if the people would at least make a decision, using critical thinking and accept even an idol instead of both God and an idol, then at least their minds are engaged and there's something to work with to correct their path. But if a person cannot distinguish between reality namely God, and between fantasy, meaning an idol, then there is no mind to work with. In this sense Elijah was correct to tell the people at least to use some critical thinking, even if it means accepting Baal because then they were subject to correction.