Elijah Challenges Baal's Prophets
When Ahab, son of Omri, became the king of Israel, he made the Israelites worship the false gods Baal and Asherah. Because what he did made the Lord God angry, He sent Prophet Elijah to tell him that there would not be any dew or rain for several years until Elijah says so. God then instructed Elijah to leave and go across the Jordan River to hide near Cherith Creek where he can drink water and the ravens would bring him food. But the creek eventually dried up because there was no rain. God told him to go to Zarephath in Sidon and met a widow whom Elijah asked for bread and water. But she only had a small amount of flour and oil and was meant to be the last meal for her and her son. But Elijah assured her that God would not let her jar of flour and bottle of oil run out until He sends the rain. The widow trusted in Elijah and their food lasted until it rained. But the son of the woman got sick several days later and eventually died. The widow blamed Elijah for what happened. Then Elijah prayed to God to bring the boy back to life and the boy started breathing again. The widow believed that Elijah is a true prophet of God. Then Elijah went to confront the evil king, Ahab.(I Kings 16:29-33; 17:1-24)
ELIJAH’S MESSAGE TO AHAB
ELIJAH SAID, “I’m a servant of the living Lord All-Powerful, and I swear in his name that I will meet with Ahab today.”
Obadiah left and told Ahab where to find Elijah.
Ahab went to meet Elijah, and when he saw him, Ahab shouted, “There you are, the biggest troublemaker in Israel!”
Elijah answered:
You’re the troublemaker—not me! You and your family have disobeyed the Lord’s commands by worshiping Baal.
Call together everyone from Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. Be sure to bring along the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel’s table.
ELIJAH’S MOUNT CARMEL VICTORY
Ahab got everyone together, then they went to meet Elijah on Mount Carmel. Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you try to have things both ways? If the Lord is God, worship him! But if Baal is God, worship him!”
The people did not say a word.
Then Elijah continued:
I am the Lord’s only prophet, but Baal has 450 prophets.
Bring us two bulls. Baal’s prophets can take one of them, kill it, and cut it into pieces. Then they can put the meat on the wood without lighting the fire. I will do the same thing with the other bull, and I won’t light a fire under it either.
The prophets of Baal will pray to their god, and I will pray to the Lord. The one who answers by starting the fire is God.
“That’s a good idea,” everyone agreed.
Elijah said to Baal’s prophets, “There are more of you, so you go first. Pick out a bull and get it ready, but don’t light the fire. Then pray to your god.”
They chose their bull, then they got it ready and prayed to Baal all morning, asking him to start the fire. They danced around the altar and shouted, “Answer us, Baal!” But there was no answer.
At noon, Elijah began making fun of them. “Pray louder!” he said. “Baal must be a god. Maybe he’s daydreaming or using the toilet or traveling somewhere. Or maybe he’s asleep, and you have to wake him up.”
The prophets kept shouting louder and louder, and they cut themselves with swords and knives until they were bleeding. This was the way they worshiped, and they kept it up until time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no answer of any kind.
Elijah told everyone to gather around him while he repaired the Lord’s altar. Then he used twelve stones to build an altar in honor of the Lord. Each stone stood for one of the tribes of Israel, which was the name the Lord had given to their ancestor Jacob. Elijah dug a ditch around the altar, large enough to hold about 14 liters. He placed the wood on the altar, then they cut the bull into pieces and laid the meat on the wood.
He told the people, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it over the meat and the wood.” After they did this, he told them to do it two more times. They did exactly as he said until finally, the water ran down the altar and filled the ditch.
When it was time for the evening sacrifice, Elijah prayed:
Our Lord, you are the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Now, prove that you are the God of this nation, and that I, your servant, have done this at your command. Please answer me, so these people will know that you are the Lord God, and that you will turn their hearts back to you.
The Lord immediately sent fire, and it burned up the sacrifice, the wood, and the stones. It scorched the ground everywhere around the altar and dried up every drop of water in the ditch. When the crowd saw what had happened, they all bowed down and shouted, “The Lord is God! The Lord is God!”
Quoted from I King 18:15-39 Contemporary English Version, Emphasis Added)
IN CONCLUSION
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WE KINDLY EXTEND our visitors an invitation to explore the pristine, unadulterated teachings of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) as they were taught by Christ and His apostles in the first-century Church Of Christ. Learn the truth about the One and ONLY True God — The Father, and “…the simplicity that is in Christ” (II Cor. 11:3), His Son. These teachings presented here are the path that leads to eternal life for all on that appointed day of Judgment:
Our 'Fundamental Beliefs'
WITH THE AIM of aiding others in achieving a more comprehensive understanding of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, a series of readings has been developed. These readings encompass a range of significant topics, from the nature and work of Christ to apostasy. We encourage all those who are curious or in search of truth to engage with these articles. They are designed to encapsulate the comprehensive doctrines and beliefs of the Iglesia Ni Cristo.
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Through the Bible, we learn how God wants us to live and serve Him. Here, you will find many exciting and interesting stories to choose from. As each story unfolds, you will see the splendor in God’s character, love and compassion for his creation, His hate for sin and the punishment that follows it, and many other adventurous stories designed for people who thirst for His love, guidance, and ultimately salvation.
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(Eph. 4:29, Amplified Bible)
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(1 Corinthians 13:4-5, Amplified Bible)