* Back in this culture everyone worshiped a god or gods.

* Your identity was tied to the god you worshipped.

* Why did Israel struggle with Baal?

* A number of reasons, but specifically one:

* Baal was the god of rain and fertility.

* Since the Israelites were mostly farmers Baal could help them with their business.

* They also wanted big families so they looked to him for help here as well.

* Baal was a Canaanite god, and Canaan was a land flowing with “milk and honey.”

* The Israelites could have seen the land so blessed because of Baal, not because of God’s promise to them.

* Essentially, Baal was a god of growth - he could help them grow their wealth and their families.