(Part 1)
For a long time, there was no rain.
After three years, God told Elijah to go see Ahab. God also told Elijah that there would be rain again. King Ahab saw Elijah and said Elijah is trouble in Israel, but Elijah replied that King Ahab was the one causing trouble! He and his father has been worshipping Baal, and not God!
Elijah told King Ahab to pick either God or Baal to worship. He couldn’t worship both. Elijah said “I am the only prophet for God, but Baal has 450 prophets. Elijah told King Ahab to gather all the people of Israel and meet at Mount Carmel. Elijah told King Ahab to bring the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah.
Elijah asked the people, “How long are you going to be undecided? You can’t worship God and Baal! You have to pick who you will worship!” But the people wouldn’t answer Elijah. Elijah said he was the only prophet for God and Baal had 450 prophets. Elijah suggested that they each take a bull, cut it up into pieces and lay it on the wood, without a fire under it. You can call your gods to light the fire and then I will call my God.
King Ahab did what Elijah suggested, and Elijah told them to go first. They prepared the bull on the wood but didn’t start the fire. They called out to Baal from morning until noon. No answer! No fire! Elijah mocked them and told them “Maybe your god is sleeping or busy or something. Shout out louder!” They called louder for Baal to start the fire and they cut themselves. They kept calling for Baal to start the fire until the evening, but still no fire. Nothing happened!
(to be continued.)