Elijah On Mount Carmel

1 King 18

            After Solomon’s death, the kingdom split into two separate nations – the kingdom of Israel in the north and the kingdom of Judah in the south.  King Ahab of Israel was wicked.  He married a wicked woman named Jezebel, and together they worshiped the false god Baal.  Elijah, God’s prophet, went to see Ahab.  “You have made trouble in Israel, Ahab,” Elijah said.  “Bring all the people to Mount Carmel, and with them bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and all the other prophets who are friends with Queen Jezebel.”

            Elijah spoke to the people who were gathered at Mount Carmel.  “Why can’t you make up you’re minds?” he asked.  “If the Lord is God, worship him, but if Baal is god, worship Baal.”  The people were silent. 

            Then Elijah had two bulls brought up.  He told the prophets of Baal to choose one.  He took the other.  “Let us each place our own bull on an altar, but do not set fire to the wood.  Then you will call on Baal and I will call on the Lord.  The god who burns the sacrifice is the one true God.”

            The prophets of Baal prepared their bull.  They shouted to Baal and danced around the altar, but nothing happened.

            “Maybe he is asleep, or away on business,” cried Elijah.  “Shout louder so he will hear you if he is busy!” From morning until afternoon, they called to Baal, but no one answered their cries.

            Elijah built his altar with twelve stones for the twelve tribes of Jacob.  He dug a trench around it, and had the people drench the bull with water until water ran off the altar and even filled the trench.

            Then Elijah prayed to God, “God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, show these people that you are the one true God.  Please answer my prayer.”

            Fire fell down and burned the sacrifice up, along with the altar, the wood, the soil, and even the water in the trench!

            All the people saw what happened and said, “The Lord really is God!”

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(From Classic Bible Stories, A Family Treasury retold by Lise Caldwell (c) 1998 Standard Publishing.  Used by permission.  This book may be purchased at your local Christian Bookstore or from Standard Publishing (800-543-1301).