• When Israel's King Ahab accused Elijah of troubling the land (v. 17), Elijah declared that Ahab was responsible for troubling Israel because he had forsaken the LORD and had turned to the baals (v. 18). Elijah called the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah to meet him at Mount Carmel (v. 19).
• Elijah and the prophets of the false gods both prepared sacrifices on Mount Carmel, and the one who received an answer by fire (i.e., lightning) would be declared to worship the true deity. Since Baal was a storm god and considered to be the "rider of the clouds," his followers assumed that they would receive an answer. But after crying out all day and cutting themselves, there was no answer.
 |
| Mount Carmel |
• Elijah prayed to the LORD: "Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again." Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. When all the people saw it, they fell on their face; and they said, "The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God" (vv. 37-39).
• Elijah declared that a heavy shower soon would come, demonstrating that the LORD is the true rider of the clouds. He is the only God! To you it was shown that you might know that the LORD, He is God; there is no other besides Him (Deuteronomy 4:35).
No comments:
Post a Comment