Elijah & the Prophets of Baal

After three long years of drought, the Lord sent Elijah back to Ahab. "Gather all Israel to Mount Carmel," Elijah said, "and bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal."

On the mountain, Elijah said to the people, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him. If Baal is god, follow him." He set the test. Two bulls on two altars. No fire lit. The god who answered by fire would be God.

The prophets of Baal went first. From morning till noon they called, "O Baal, answer us." They danced around the altar. They cut themselves. They shouted louder. No voice. No fire. No answer.

Then Elijah built his altar with twelve stones, one for each tribe of Israel. He dug a trench around it. He laid the wood and the bull. He had the people pour four large jars of water over the offering. Three times. Twelve jars. The water filled the trench.

Elijah prayed a short prayer. "O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, Lord, so this people will know that you are God."

Fire fell from heaven. It burned up the offering, the wood, the stones, and the water in the trench. The people fell on their faces. "The Lord — He is God. The Lord — He is God." And soon the long-awaited rain came sweeping across the land.