The Story of a Prayer Answered by Fire, Part 1 (1 Kings 18)

Over three years had passed since God stopped rain from falling in the land of Israel because the people worshipped a false god called Baal. Things were really bad, and King Ahab was in big trouble. Without rain the grass couldn’t grow, the animals had no water to drink, and food was very scarce in the land. Ahab had been looking for Elijah all this time; but he could never find him because it was God that hid him, first at the brook called Cherith and then in the home of the widow from Zarephath. Ahab and his servant Obadiah were out walking through the land one day trying to find a little water for their cattle so they would not lose them all. That’s when God told Elijah to show himself to Ahab because it was now time to send rain upon the land. When King Ahab saw Elijah he accused him of being the one that troubled Israel. In other words, he was saying it was all Elijah’s fault that they had no rain. Was King Ahab telling the truth? No, and Elijah told him it was really Ahab’s fault and those in his household because they had failed to keep the commandments of the Lord and had followed Baal. Elijah also told Ahab to bring all 450 of the prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of the groves to Mount Carmel. Ahab did as he was told because he was willing to do anything if only the rain would start falling again. When everyone had gathered together, Elijah suggested a show-down between Baal and the God of Israel. He asked the people how long they would go back and forth between two opinions; and he said “If the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.” I think you already know who will win, but please come back tomorrow to witness the show-down between Baal and the God of Israel.