1 KINGS 18

ELIJAH’S EPIC DUEL WITH AHAB

During the third year of the drought, God instructs Elijah to return to King Ahab and reveals that the drought would soon end.

Back in Israel, Ahab calls for Obadiah, one of the palace leaders. Obadiah is a faithful man who loves God. Earlier, Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, wants to kill the prophets, but Obadiah hides one hundred faithful people in a cave and provides for them.

Ahab asks Obadiah to help him search for springs and streams to provide water for their livestock. In their search, Obadiah found Elijah. Because Elijah has been hiding, Obadiah is shocked to see him. Not long afterwards, Elijah confronts Ahab, telling him that his wickedness was the cause of Israel’s troubles.

Elijah challenges Ahab, summoning him to gather his false gods, idols, and prophets for a duel. Elijah plans to show Ahad the power of the one true God! In the duel, Ahab would pray to Baal and his other false gods, while Elijah would pray to the Lord. Whoever responds with fire is deemed the true God.

After setting up altars, it is Ahab’s time to call upon Baal to bring fire on his offering. All morning long, Ahab and his people call out to Baal, praying and pleading for fire. They become desperate, jumping and stomping in frustration. As time passes, Elijah taunts Ahab, asking why his gods haven’t responded. Ahab and the Baal worshippers start cutting themselves with knives, offering their blood to Baal. After attempting everything they could fathom, there is still no response, not even a flicker of fire.

Now it is Elijah’s turn. Elijah builds his altar with twelve stones, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Elijah has so much confidence in God that he soaks the wood with water, making it even less likely to catch on fire. Not only is this a bold move, it is an insult to Ahab’s leadership, since his rebellion was the source of the drought. By pouring the water, Elijah was also mocking Baal, who was believed to be god over rain and weather.

Elijah prays to God, remembering his ancestors and calling Him the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Elijah asks God to answer him boldly and prove that He is the one true God. Immediately upon Elijah’s prayer, God brings fire to the altar, burning up the offering! God did what only God can do! Everyone sees what happened and falls to the ground in awe and reverence, proclaiming that God is the one true God.

All of the prophets of Baal are killed, while the followers of God celebrate in victory! Just as God told Elijah, a cloud starts forming above Israel, showing that rain was on the way and the drought was over.