The story of Elijah and Ahab in the book of 1 Kings 18 offers a powerful narrative of inner conflict, the importance of assumption, and the manifestation of desires. When interpreted through the teachings of Neville Goddard, it becomes a striking example of how imagination, faith, and persistence lead to the fulfillment of our desires. In this post, we will explore key verses from 1 Kings 18, applying Neville’s interpretation to reveal deeper insights into the creative power of the mind.
1 Kings 18:1-2 – The Lord Sends Elijah to Ahab
“After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: ‘Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.’ So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.”
Neville Goddard Interpretation:
In this passage, the "word of the Lord" represents the inner guidance of imagination—the "Word" within us that directs us toward our desires. The "word" can be understood as the assumption we make about what is true. Elijah’s action—going to Ahab—symbolizes the inspired action we take when we firmly assume that our desire is already a reality. The rain represents the manifestation that follows this faithful assumption.
1 Kings 18:17-18 – Elijah Confronts Ahab
“When he saw Elijah, he said to him, ‘Is that you, you troubler of Israel?’ ‘I have not made trouble for Israel,’ Elijah replied. ‘But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals.’”
Neville Goddard Interpretation:
Ahab’s accusation symbolizes the clash between old beliefs and new awareness. Ahab, as the king, embodies the dominant state of consciousness—one that follows false beliefs (the Baals - The closest description to the devil that occurs in the Bible). Elijah’s response represents the moment of awakening when we realise that the real "trouble" comes from false assumptions, not the true inner power aligned with imagination and creation.
1 Kings 18:21 – Elijah’s Challenge to the People
“Elijah went before the people and said, ‘How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.’ But the people said nothing.”
Neville Goddard Interpretation:
This moment illustrates the importance of committing to a singular, focused assumption. Elijah challenges the people to choose between two opposing assumptions: the assumption of divine truth (the Lord) or the false assumption of an external force (Baal). Neville teaches that indecision prevents manifestation; only through firm belief can we create change in our lives.
1 Kings 18:22-24 – The Challenge on Mount Carmel
“Then Elijah said to them, ‘I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has 450 prophets. Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.’”
Neville Goddard Interpretation:
Elijah’s solitary stand against the 450 prophets of Baal symbolizes the inner conflict between competing assumptions. The "two bulls" represent two opposing assumptions: one aligned with true creative power (God) and the other with external influences (Baal). The fire Elijah calls upon represents the manifestation of an assumption—our desires becoming tangible. Neville teaches that assumptions, like the offering on the altar, must be prepared and offered up to the imagination for manifestation.
1 Kings 18:26-29 – The Prophets of Baal’s Attempt
“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. At noon Elijah began to taunt them. ‘Shout louder!’ he said. ‘Surely he is a god. Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.’ So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.”
Neville Goddard Interpretation:
The futile efforts of the prophets of Baal demonstrate the ineffectiveness of relying on external forces and desperate actions. Neville’s teachings emphasize that manifestation cannot be achieved through frantic efforts or negative assumptions. It is only through calm, unwavering faith that true results manifest. The absence of fire from Baal signifies the failure of external beliefs to create change.
1 Kings 18:30-32 – Elijah Prepares the Altar
“Then Elijah said to all the people, ‘Come here to me.’ They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down. Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, ‘Your name shall be Israel.’ With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed.”
Neville Goddard Interpretation:
Rebuilding the altar symbolizes returning to the foundational assumptions of our consciousness. The twelve stones represent the twelve faculties of the mind (represented by the 12 tribes and 12 disciples) that form the basis of our imagination. Just as Elijah repairs the altar, we must realign our assumptions with the true creative power to manifest our desires. The trench represents the mental preparation necessary to make space for our assumptions to take root and manifest.
1 Kings 18:33-35 – Elijah’s Sacrifice
“He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, ‘Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.’ ‘Do it again,’ he said, and they did it again. ‘Do it a third time,’ he ordered, and they did it the third time. The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.”
Neville Goddard Interpretation:
The pouring of water on the sacrifice represents the purification of the mind and the removal of doubts. Neville teaches that our assumptions must be firm, even when external evidence contradicts them. The water symbolizes doubt, which, though initially present, will eventually be washed away as we persist in our assumption.
1 Kings 18:36-37 – Elijah’s Prayer
“At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet stepped forward and prayed: ‘Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.’”
Neville Goddard Interpretation:
Elijah’s prayer exemplifies the assumption of the desired outcome. By invoking the names of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, he aligns himself with the divine promise and reinforces the belief that his prayer has already been answered. This reflects Neville’s teaching of assuming the feeling of the wish fulfilled and affirming the truth as if it has already happened.
1 Kings 18:38-39 – God Answers by Fire
“Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, ‘The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!’”
Neville Goddard Interpretation:
The fire represents the manifestation of the assumption. Just as the fire consumes the offering, the firm assumption, once believed with conviction, transforms our circumstances. This moment of realization demonstrates that what we believe to be true becomes our reality.
1 Kings 18:40 – The Death of the Prophets of Baal
“Then Elijah commanded them, ‘Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let anyone get away!’ They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there.”
Neville Goddard Interpretation:
The destruction of the prophets of Baal symbolizes the elimination of false beliefs and contradictory assumptions. In Neville’s framework, this represents the cutting off of thoughts that oppose the desired manifestation, ensuring that only aligned, true assumptions remain.
1 Kings 18:41-46 – The Rain Returns
“And Elijah said to Ahab, ‘Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.’ Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. ‘Go and look toward the sea,’ he told his servant. And he went up and looked. ‘There is nothing there,’ he said. Seven times Elijah said, ‘Go back.’ The seventh time the servant reported, ‘A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.’ So Elijah said, ‘Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”
Neville Goddard Interpretation:
Elijah’s persistence reflects the importance of maintaining the assumption despite external evidence. Neville teaches that even when there is no immediate sign of manifestation, persistence is key. The small cloud signifies the first signs of manifestation, and through continued belief, we witness the full unfolding of our desires.
This story, rich in symbolism, serves as a powerful guide in understanding how assumptions, faith, and persistence in our inner creative power can transform our external world. Through these passages, we see how Neville Goddard’s principles of manifestation play out in the biblical narrative, urging us to align our assumptions with divine truth and trust in the creative process.
Numerical Interpretation: The Hebrew Alphabet and the Law of Assumption
In the context of 1 Kings 18, the Hebrew numbers embedded in the verses provide additional layers of symbolic meaning, particularly when viewed through the lens of Neville Goddard’s teachings and the Law of Assumption. By understanding these numbers through Mather’s table of Hebrew alphabetic numerology, we can uncover deeper insights into the manifestation process.
The Number 12 (Twelve Stones)
When Elijah rebuilds the altar with twelve stones (1 Kings 18:31), he is symbolically calling upon the twelve tribes of Israel. The number 12 corresponds to the Hebrew letter Lamed (ל), which signifies teaching, guidance, and the highest spiritual understanding.
In the context of the Law of Assumption, the twelve stones represent the foundation of our inner guidance system, each stone symbolizing a different aspect of our consciousness. These twelve faculties of mind, when properly aligned with the Law of Assumption, create a solid foundation upon which our manifestations can stand. Rebuilding the altar signifies the conscious effort to align our assumptions with the truth, clearing away doubt and allowing our true desires to take form.
The Number 3 (The Water and the Drought)
The number three plays a crucial role in the story, particularly when Elijah instructs his servant to pour water over the offering three times (1 Kings 18:34-35). The number three in Hebrew corresponds to the letter Gimel (ג), which represents the movement of the spirit, and is associated with the principle of balance, harmony, and completeness.
In the context of the Law of Assumption, the number three indicates the finality and completeness of the manifestation process. The three acts of pouring water over the altar symbolize the firm establishment of one’s assumptions, ensuring that doubt is cleared and the groundwork is fully laid for manifestation. This act of completeness prepares the offering for divine intervention—just as, in Neville Goddard’s framework, our firm and unwavering assumption creates a fertile ground for the manifestation of our desires.
The three acts also reflect the spiritual law of repetition. Elijah did not stop after the first or second act but insisted on a third. This shows the importance of persistence in the creative process. In the Law of Assumption, the third time symbolizes the final solidification of our desires into reality.
The Number 7 (The Seventh Time, The Small Cloud)
In 1 Kings 18:43-44, Elijah sends his servant to look for signs of rain seven times before a small cloud appears. The number seven in Hebrew corresponds to the letter Zayin (ז), which represents divine intervention and spiritual completeness.
Seven indicates perfection and the divine order of things. In the Law of Assumption, this number reflects the persistence and faith needed to bring our assumptions into physical manifestation. Elijah’s repeated acts of sending the servant to check for rain represent the act of holding firm in the assumption of the desired outcome, even when there is no immediate evidence. The small cloud that appears after the seventh attempt symbolizes the first sign of manifestation—the beginning of the materialization process.
The number seven also suggests the completion of a cycle. The rain, as the ultimate manifestation, follows a process of spiritual completion, much like how our assumptions gradually become reality after a period of inner work and faith.
The Number 40 (The Long Drought)
The drought in Israel lasted for three years, but the number 40 also plays an important role in the broader biblical narrative, associated with periods of trial, transformation, and spiritual growth. In Hebrew, the number 40 corresponds to the letter Mem (מ), which represents the womb, nurturing, and transformation.
While the drought lasted for three years, the number 40 suggests the completion of a spiritual test or trial. In Neville Goddard’s interpretation, this period symbolizes the time required to mentally shift and transform our state of being. The prolonged drought, though seemingly a trial, was a time of necessary internal work—just as we must often hold on to our assumptions for a period before we see the desired results manifest externally.
This period of 40 reflects the transformative power of persistence, as we refine and cultivate our assumptions until they begin to materialize in the physical world.
Conclusion: The Power of Numbers in the Law of Assumption
The numbers in 1 Kings 18 reveal deep connections to the principles of the Law of Assumption and the creative process. Whether it's the foundational 12 (Lamed), the completeness of 3 (Gimel), the persistence of 7 (Zayin), or the transformative 40 (Mem), each number reflects a key aspect of manifestation.
By aligning our assumptions with these principles and understanding the deeper meanings behind these numbers, we can unlock the full potential of our imagination and bring our desires into physical reality. Just as Elijah’s faith, actions, and assumptions led to the manifestation of rain, so too can we create the transformation we desire by persisting in our assumptions, clearing away doubt, and waiting for the signs that our desires are coming to fruition.
Through this process, we learn that the power of assumption is not just about wishful thinking but about embodying the truth of what we desire, patiently nurturing that truth, and persisting in faith until the physical manifestation becomes inevitable.
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